Deaf World Championships - Regulations

WC1. GENERAL INFORMATION

  1. The Deaf World Championships may take place every four (4) years for Deaflympics sports and every two (2) years for non-Deaflympics sports.
  2. In no case may a Deaf World Championship take place during the same year as the Summer Deaflympics where the Championship is a Summer Deaflympics sport. The same rule shall apply for Winter Deaflympics and the Winter World Championships.
  3. In no case may the Deaf World Championships be postponed to another year.
  4. The date in the year during which the Deaf World Championships is to take place is not predetermined. The hosting of a WC must be proposed to the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) Executive Committee (EC) by the candidate Federation and the EC shall inform the Congress.
  5. The Deaf World Championship can only take place where there are five or more ICSD members from at least two regions taking part. Where there are less than five ICSD members from at least two regions taking part in the event, the host nation shall have the responsibility of terming the sporting event as an international competition or canceling the event.
  6. The Deaf World Championship is the exclusive property of the ICSD. The ICSD may, amongst other things, grant licenses in respect of these Championships.
  7. Participation in the Deaf World Championships shall be restricted to persons who are:
    1. deaf, defined as a hearing loss of at least 55dB in the better ear (3 tone frequency average of 500, 1,000 and 2,000 Hertz, ANSI 1969 standard), and
    2. members of a national member of the ICSD.
  8. Athletes taking part in the Deaf World Championship shall be forbidden from using any hearing aids or cochlear implant aids during competitions.
  9. There is no age limit for competitors except where stated in the rules of the relevant International Sports Federation.
  10. An associate member with bona fide membership to the ICSD shall be responsible for the hosting of Deaf World Championships and abide by Deaf World Championships regulations.

WC2. BIDDING PROCEDURES

  1. Only full and associate members of the ICSD are eligible to bid for the Deaf World Championships in sports that are officially recognized by ICSD.
  2. Bids for Deaf World Championships can also be accepted from cities of nation members (i.e. Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau).
  3. An ICSD member applying for the Deaf World Championships event must submit its application (PDF Form) to the Secretariat at least two (2) years prior to the Championship and is subject to approval by the ICSD Executive Committee.
  4. A bidding application to host the Deaf World Championships shall be accompanied by the following:
    1. a certification of support from the proposed city and;
    2. a certification of support from the National Sport Federation of the applicable sport.
  5. An application for the Deaf World Championships must contain details as to the:
    1. location of the Championships;
    2. dates of the Championships; and
    3. current price list for hotels, meals and transport for that city.
  6. An ICSD member applying to host the Deaf World Championships must in writing agree to abide with the existing ICSD "Deaf World Championships - Regulations".
  7. The bidder for a Deaf World Championship must arrange for a site visit to the city by the Sport Director or Technical Director in respective sports prior to the Congress at which the bid will be presented. The site visit must take place during the same month in which the proposed Championship is to take place. At Congress, the EC's decision as to the conferral of the right to host the Deaf World Championship will be presented for ratification.
  8. In the event that a bid is accepted, the host organiser shall also arrange for a site visit by the ICSD Technical Director (TD) not less than one year prior to the Championship. The visit must take place during the month in which the Championship is to take place.
  9. The Bidding Committee may be required to make a presentation to the EC with information pertaining to its application.

WC3. ORGANISING COMMITTEE

  1. The bidder awarded the Deaf World Championships may appoint an Organising Committee (OC) and delegate to it the responsibility of organising the Championships.
  2. The OC shall be comprised of persons with management experience (deaf and hearing). The OC shall enter into direct dialogue with the Secretariat by electronic communication facilities.
  3. The OC may form a centralised Secretariat with telephone/fax and electronic communication facilities. The numbers of these communications should be advertised on the Organising Committee's letterheads and web site, if any.
  4. The OC is responsible for the organisation of the Championships and must enter into dialogue with the National and International Sports Federation in regard to obtaining support for the work of the Committee.
  5. The OC shall seek, whenever appropriate, sanction and support from International Sport Federation (IF). Request to put the WC event in the IF's Calendar of Event.

WC4. REPORTING

  1. Progress reports shall be submitted with the ICSD Secretariat in March and September of each year leading up to the Championship.
  2. A report detailing the technical organisation of the Championships shall be submitted with the ICSD Congress that is held prior to the conduct of these Championships.
  3. A final report outlining the following:
    • complete results;
    • competition report;
    • operational report;
    • finances (including revenue and expenditure details) within six (6) months after the event; and
    • statistical information including the number of competitors, officials and spectators at country, athlete/spectator and gender level shall be presented to the ICSD Secretariat within one (1) month after the conduct of the Championship.
  4. The National Federation (or its OC) shall forward to the ICSD within thirty days, a provisional result for the Championship, which then will be published by ICSD.

WC5. FORMAL INVITATIONS

  1. The invitations to take part in the Championships must be sent out by the National Federation (or its OC) at least two years prior to the Championship.
  2. All documents (including invitations, competition lists, entry cards and programs) printed for the Championships as well as any promotional products including badges, posters and prizes must carry the logo and/or initials of the ICSD on the front where applicable.

WC6. PROGRAM

  1. The Sport Director and Technical Director for the respective sports shall approve the final competition schedule at least six (6) months prior to the Championship.
  2. The OC shall consult with the ICSD Secretariat on the proposed dates of the Championship. The consultation shall decide on the exact dates of the Championship on the basis of eliminating any potential conflicts with other ICSD recognised sporting events and shall be finalised not less than eighteen (18) months before the Championship.
  3. The official date of the Championship shall be the day of opening and the day of closing.
  4. Championship events (for example, the 3,000 metres steeplechase in the World Deaf Athletics Championships) with preliminary registration from at least five countries from at least two regions shall remain on the official program. Should the final number of entries be four participants or less for a particular event in the Championship, this event shall be cancelled.
  5. In the case of cancellation of an individual event due to the above rules, the ICSD Secretariat must notify the affected federations no later than fourteen (14) days after the deadline for preliminary registration and, if necessary, immediately after the deadline for final registration.
  6. In case of a team sport, this notification must be made immediately after the deadline for the final registration.

WC7. PARTICIPATION

  1. No discrimination shall be permitted against a federation or a person on the ground of race, religion, gender or politics.
  2. If an athlete has represented a country previously he can represent another country only once, after a two (2) year waiting period and may not compete for the original country or a new country.
  3. The entry form must include the text of the eligibility code (refer to WC1.7.1 and WC1.7.2), and the following declaration to be signed by the two officials (President and Secretary) of the National Federation:
    "We and our athletes declare that we have read the eligibility conditions for the Deaf World Championships and that we will comply with them. We agree to be filmed or photographed during the Deaf World Championships for the purposes authorised by the ICSD."
  4. No entry form shall be valid unless the above rules have been complied with.
  5. Only Full and Provisional Members of ICSD may register competitors in the Deaf World Championships.
  6. Athletes from small countries without strong evidence of ability to establish national deaf sports federation may compete in Deaf World Championship pending authorization from its National Olympic Committee or Sports Department.
  7. A Provisional Member of the ICSD shall not participate in a Deaf World Championship twice.
  8. The National Federation may appoint one team official for every three athletes, plus one leader for each sport section within the National team. The team may include the following officials:
    • Team Manager/Director/Leader
    • Assistant Team Manager/Director/Leader
    • Assistant Section/Sport Manager/Leader
    • Coach
    • Assistant Coach
    • Masseuse/Trainer
    • Medical Officer/Doctor/First Aid Worker
    • Physiotherapist/Nurse
    • Administrative Assistant/Administrator
    • Interpreter

    Where a team has more team officials than the number permitted, the excess team officials will be charged an excess fee to be determined by the ExecutiveBoard.

  9. The registration forms for the Deaf World Championship will be supplied by the ICSD.

WC8. IDENTITY CARDS

  1. The National Federation (or its OC) of the Deaf World Championships must supply an identity card for each participant and official.
  2. The OC shall verify all athletes' citizenship by checking appropriate documentation (passport or government issued photo identity card) to make sure all points below matches athletes’ profile prior to issuing identity card to athletes.
    • Full name
    • Date of birth
    • Nationality
  3. The identity card shall contain the following particulars for the individual:
    • Title, date and location of the Deaf World Championships
    • Surname
    • Given name(s)
    • Nationality (except where the individual is a member of the ICSD EC or an ICSD TD)
    • Date of Birth (which will be required only of competitors), and
    • Role (which will be required of officials, for example, manager, trainer, interpreter and any other such individual); and a
    • Photograph (which is no more than 6 months old)
  4. The National Federations shall ensure that information given to the OC for these to be included on the identity cards is accurate.
  5. The OC may use alphabet or colour codes on the identity card for identification purposes. Particulars on identity cards cannot be amended without agreement from the Organising Committee.

WC9. CONTROL AND SANCTIONS

  1. An athlete, whose audiogram has not been approved by ICSD or has not previously been tested by the ICSD Audiologist, must submit to the ICSD at least three (3) months before the Championships an audiogram that is not more than one year old. This must be arranged prior to participation in any qualifying round or in the Championships. If not provided, the hearing test will be conducted at the site of Championships at the national federation's expense.
  2. The audiogram form for this will be supplied by the ICSD via its official website.
  3. ICSD supports the work of the World Anti-Doping Agency in developing the World Anti-Doping Code and shall follow the most up to date Code.
  4. ICSD has established the ICSD Anti-Doping RulesPDF, in accordance with the Code, which will apply to the Championships and other relevant international events.
  5. Any athlete participating at the Championships may be requested to submit to a doping control at any time during the Championships.
  6. In the event of an anti-doping rule violation ICSD may impose sanctions as outlined in the ICSD Anti-Doping RulesPDF.
  7. The OC is responsible for all expenses for doping controls conducted.
  8. The OC is responsible for setting up the infrastructure (including trained personnel, appropriate sample collection facilities, access to WADA Accredited Laboratory) to enable a doping control program to be conducted at the Championships.
  9. The OC is required to distribute a Doping Control Guide, outlining the technical processes involved in the sample collection to all member nations.
  10. All member nations are responsible for ensuring that their athletes are informed about the ICSD Anti-Doping RulesPDF and its requirements.
  11. The athletes may be required to take additional hearing tests during the Championships.
  12. The athletes may be required to undergo doping tests.
  13. Any competitor refusing to take any tests shall be removed from the Championships.
  14. Any athlete who fails any of these tests shall be excluded from all Deaf World Championships and ICSD competitions for a fixed time or for life as determined by the EC. The banned athlete's name shall be removed from all official documents and any prizes awarded shall be confiscated.
  15. In the case where an athlete is a member of a team, the entire team shall be disqualified, its name removed from all official documents and any prizes awarded shall be confiscated.
  16. In the case of a fraud on the part of the competitor or a team, the Member Federation in question shall be obliged to pay all expenses and fines as determined by the EC.
  17. In the event that a Deaf World Championship competitor is disqualified, his prize and diploma must be returned to the ICSD. If this is not done, his National Federation shall be liable to suspension.
  18. All expenses for hearing and doping tests, when mandated by ICSD, taken during the Deaf World Championships shall be covered by the host National Federation or the Organising Committee.

WC10. SPORTS (GENERAL)

  1. A summer sport must be practised by at least twelve (12) ICSD members and a winter sport must be practised by at least six ICSD members and these members must be from at least two regions in order for the sport to be eligible for a Deaf World Championship.
  2. The Sports Director, in consultation with the associate member wherever applicable and the TD for the sport as per WC10.1, shall determine the format and structure of the Championship at least one (1) year prior to the Championship.

WC11. SPORTS (TEAM)

  1. The preliminary registration for the qualifying rounds must be made two (2) years prior to the Championships.
  2. The final registration must be submitted one (1) year before the Championships.
  3. Only one team per National Federation shall be admitted to the Championships.
  4. The number of teams for the final round, in each sport and gender will, as a rule, be up to sixteen (16) teams, to be determined by the EC, based on the recommendation of Technical Director and the nature of sport.
  5. Qualification for participating in the Championship should automatically follow the results of championships within the regional federations unless a regional federation chooses to have qualifying rounds.
  6. A fine shall be levied for the withdrawal of a team from the final round. The Congress shall determine the amount of this fine.

WC12. SPORTS (INDIVIDUAL)

  1. There shall be no limit on the number of events that an individual athlete may enter.
  2. A fine will be levied on each non-starting athlete except where there is a presentation of a doctor's declaration that the athlete should not be allowed to participate in the Championship.

WC13. PRELIMINARY AND FINAL REGISTRATIONS

  1. A preliminary registration with an indication of the approximate number of athletes confirmed for each event must be submitted with the ICSD Secretariat at least nine months prior to the Championships.
  2. The final registration list with the names of each athlete and his event entered must be submitted with the ICSD Secretariat at least two weeks prior to the opening of the Championships. The submission may be made by e-mail or by facsimile if immediately followed by the official registration form.
  3. In consultation with the ICSD Secretariat, the Sport Director and Technical Director for the respective sports shall determine the closing dates for preliminary and final entry registrations. The OC will then be immediately informed.
  4. Final entries received after the closing date shall not be accepted.

WC14. FINANCIAL REGULATIONS

  1. The National Federation (or its OC) or any agency must offer accommodation facilities, meals and local transport at reasonable prices for all National Federations participating in the Deaf World Championships.
  2. Each sporting team shall be responsible for the cost of its travel, accommodation and other arrangements.
  3. A penalty fee to be determined by Congress shall be imposed when a National Federation withdraws after submitting the final entry list.
  4. The National Federation (or its OC) must arrange and fund:
    1. one visit of the ICSD Sport Director to the site of the Deaf World Championship approximately four year before the Championship;
    2. one site visit of the ICSD TD one year before the Championship and;
    3. for the period of the Deaf World Championship, the travel, accommodation, and per diem expenses of the:
      • President of the ICSD or ICSD Representative, and
      • the ICSD Technical Director
  5. The National Federation (or its OC) shall pay ICSD a fee for hosting the Championship as determined by the Congress.
  6. The National Federation shall retain any surplus derived from the conduct of the Deaf World Championships.
  7. Where the expenses of the Championships are greater than the income derived, the National Federation (or its OC) shall be fully responsible for making good the difference.

WC15. PRIZES, DIPLOMAS & POSTERS

  1. The proposed design of posters, prizes and diplomas must be submitted with the ICSD Secretariat for approval no later than one (1) year before the Deaf World Championships. Posters shall carry the logo of ICSD in a prominent position.
  2. In all sports and events the first prize will be a gold medal and a diploma, the second prize a silver medal and a diploma, and the third prize a bronze medal and a diploma. All medals shall have engravings stating type of sport and event for which the medal or diploma shall be conferred.
  3. In individual competitions, competitors placed fourth (4th) to eighth (8th) shall receive diplomas. (according to IF rule)
  4. Each member of a winning team sport or team event, except those of a non-traditional nature (for example, those in which placing is determined by position of contestants in the individual competition) who has participated in at least one match or competition held during the Championship shall be awarded the first prize. Each member of the second team the second prize and each member of the third team the third prize. The other members of these teams will be awarded diplomas but no medals. Members of teams placed fourth to eighth, if any, will be awarded diplomas only.
  5. The type and format that the prizes will take shall be at the discretion of the National Federation (or its OC). However, prizes must include the wording and/or logo of ICSD in any engraving.
  6. The diplomas shall carry the logo of both the ICSD and the National Federation (or its OC). The ICSD representative and the President of the National Federation (or its Organising Committee) shall sign these diplomas. Names of competitors shall be printed.
  7. The National Federation (or its Organising Committee) shall forward to the ICSD Museum two specimens of diplomas, and one specimen of prizes, trophies or medals.
  8. All surplus prizes and diplomas shall be destroyed.
  9. All participants (competitors and officials) are to be given a certificate to acknowledge their participation in the Championship.

WC16. PROTOCOL

  1. The Opening and Closing Ceremony of the Deaf World Championships must be implemented obligatory according to the International Sport Federation rules.
  2. The symbolic transferal of the ICSD flag at the Championship shall always be observed.
  3. The official ceremony for the presentation of medals is the sole responsibility of the ICSD representative. A TD may be master of the medals awarding ceremony.

WC17. TECHNICAL MEETINGS

  1. The technical meeting of national sports leaders will be held at least one day before the commencement of the Championship and the meeting may be held every day to review the program of the Championship.
  2. The Technical Committee, the Protest Committee, and two representatives from each participating country will attend the technical meetings. At least one representative must be deaf.

WC18. AUTHORITY & JURISDICTION

  1. The ICSD Sport Director shall be the final arbiter on any matter in disputes relating to any aspect of the Championship brought forward by the National Federation (or its OC) or any one of the participating National Federations.
  2. The competition rules for each sport shall be those of the International Federations as amended where visual cues are to be used in place of auditory cues.
  3. The referees, judges, starters and other officials will be selected by the OC from among the most qualified in that country as agreed or directed by the ICSD Sports Director and the TD of the respective sport.
  4. The OC shall submit a copy of all referees' qualifications to Technical Director, at least 14 days before the first technical meeting.
  5. The National Federation (or its OC) shall bear full responsibility for the appointment and scheduling of referees at the Championship. For the team sport competitions and qualifying matches, one independent observer from an International Sport Federation shall be invited to championship or games.
  6. The judges themselves shall determine protests that are lodged with ground judges. Protests will not be determined unless the protest was made in writing, in English, and submitted with a ground judge within limited time as established by respective international sport federation after the results of the competition have been declared. The ICSD by-laws must be referenced for these disputes.

WC19. TECHNICAL REGULATIONS

  1. The Sport Director and the TD will establish technical regulations for each sport and, if necessary, for each event on the program of the Championship.
  2. These technical regulations shall be in accordance with the Rules of the World Championships held at least six (6) months before the Championships.
  3. These technical regulations shall be electronically published and sent to all competing teams six (6) months before the Championships.

WC20. VENUES

  1. All competition venues must have electronic scoreboards. They may be either permanent or portable.

WC21. TRANSPORT

  1. LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
    1. The OC shall ensure that transportation is available between lodgings and venues for all officials and competitors. The officials and competitors are only provided with transport to and from the venues where they are competing or officiating. Only official members of the competing teams and officials of the OC may be permitted to use the transportation services.
    2. Athletes and officials wishing to use the transportation service to observe sporting events for which they are not registered may, at discretion of the OC, may be charged for using the service.
    3. This transportation service shall be available for the period from one day prior to the Opening Ceremony up until after the Closing Ceremony. If the OC so desires, it can provide transfers between Airport and competing teams' accommodation.
  2. ICSD REPRESENTATIVE AND TD
    1. Transportation must be available for ICSD representative and TD at all times.
    2. The OC shall provide transportation for the ICSD representative and TD to attend the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Championships.
  3. TRANSPORTATION PLAN
    1. The OC must include in its regular reports to the ICSD Secretariat, information relating to the Transportation Plan outlining all transport arrangements to enable athletes and officials to commute between venues, hotels and any other relevant location.
    2. The ICSD Secretariat may call upon the OC to prepare progress report on Transportation Plan at any time.

WC22. MEDICAL CARE AND FIRST AID

  1. The OC shall be responsible for the provision of adequate medical support (doctors, nurses, dentists and any other medical officer) during the Deaf World Championships.
  2. All team doctors, nurses and chiefs of missions shall be informed as soon as possible upon arrival as to the resources and contact details for all medical support services.
  3. First aid stations shall be available at all competition areas. These shall be adequately staffed with medical and first aid personnel and ambulance facilities for emergencies.
  4. The services of a nurse shall be available 24 hours a day. There shall be a back-up physician, available, on call.
  5. Hospital services, consisting of emergency rooms and hospital beds to deal with more serious difficulties shall be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  6. Necessary facilities where physiotherapists can treat competitors shall be available. There shall be a provision for visiting therapists to treat their own teams.
  7. Adequate space must be made available in the accommodation for countries wishing to establish their own sports injury and medical clinics.

WC23. CANCELLATION

  1. In event of the National Federation (or its OC) making its own decision to cancel the Deaf World Championship, it must give notice to the ICSD and all National Federations no less than 8 months prior to the event taking place and refund all monies (for example, deposits) paid by all visiting teams.
  2. In event of the National Federation (or its OC) cancelling the Deaf World Championship less than 8 months prior to the official date of the Deaf World Championship, the OC must refund all monies paid by all visiting teams. The National Federation shall also reimburse all sporting teams for any loss of monies as a result of non-refundable deposits being made for travel uniforms and any other such incidentals. Further, the National Federation may face further penalty to be determined by the EC.

WC24. VIOLATIONS

In the event of any penalty procedures not covered in these regulations of the above clauses will result in penalty fees issued by the EC for any person or the organisation concerned. The decision of the ICSD EC regarding this matter shall be final.

WC25. MISCELLANEOUS

In the event of circumstances not covered in these regulations, the ICSD Constitution and the ICSD bylaws must be complied with or where appropriate, the International Sport Federation Regulations and the Olympic Charter followed.

Approved at the 42nd ICSD Congress – September 2009 in Taipei, Chinese Taipei

ICSD