New qualification system introduced for Beijing 2015

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Council has approved the entry standards for the IAAF World Championships, Beijing 2015, and a new qualification system has been introduced.

The key element of the new system is that the [link id=”175″ tax=”post_tag” text=”IAAF”] shall establish the ideal number of athletes (and relay teams) to start in each event of the championships and shall ensure that such ideal numbers are met through a qualification system which, essentially, combines entry standards (only one standard) and invitations based on performance lists.

As in the past, there are still some special qualification opportunities and it will still be possible for member federations without any qualified athletes to be represented with one unqualified athlete (subject to certain conditions).

The new entry and qualification system for [link id=”520″ tax=”category” text=”Beijing 2015″] is detailed below.

Age categories:

Junior athletes
Athletes aged 18 or 19 years on 31 December 2015 (ie born in 1996 or 1997) may compete in any event except the marathon and 50km race walk.

Youth athletes
Athletes aged 16 or 17 years on 31 December 2015 (born in 1998 or 1999) may compete in any event except the throwing events, the combined events, 10,000m, marathon and the race walks.

Athletes younger than 16
No athlete younger than 16 years of age on 31 December 2015 (born in 2000 or later) may be entered.

Entry rules

Individual athletes
Member federations can compete with up to three athletes in each individual event on condition that they are all qualified. A fourth athlete can compete as the reigning world champion or Diamond Race / Hammer Throw Challenge winner wild card (see below)

Member federations can enter one reserve athlete in each event on condition that he or she has achieved the entry standard.

Member federations with no qualified athletes or relay team can compete with one unqualified athlete only, subject to the below conditions (see ‘Unqualified athletes’).

Relay teams
A maximum of six athletes may be entered for each relay team. All athletes already entered in the corresponding individual events (100m or 400m) including the eventual reserve shall automatically count towards the six entries of the team.

Any four athletes among those entered for the competition, whether for the relay or for any other event, may then be used in the composition of the team for the first round.

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Qualification system

Individual athletes
Individual athletes can qualify in one of four ways:

1) Automatically by achieving the entry standard within the qualification period in accordance with criteria decided by IAAF.

2) Based on the finishing position at designated competitions as follows (in these cases the athletes shall also be considered as having achieved the entry standard):

· The area champions in all the individual events (except for the marathons). The member federation of the area champion will have the ultimate authority to enter the athlete or not, based on its own selection criteria.

· For the 10,000m, the top 15 athletes finishing in the senior men’s and women’s races at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Guiyang 2015.

· For the combined events, the top three in the 2014 men’s and women’s IAAF Combined Events Challenge.

· For the 20km race walk, the top three in the 2014 men’s and women’s IAAF World Race Walking Challenge.

· For the 50km race walk, the top three in the 2014 IAAF World Race Walking Cup.

· For the marathons, the top 10 finishers at the IAAF Gold Label marathons held in the qualification period.

3) The IAAF will accept the participation of the reigning world outdoor champion and that of the winner of the previous year’s IAAF Diamond Race (in the corresponding World Championships events) and Hammer Throw Challenge as wild cards, in each individual event, on the condition that the athlete in question is entered by his or her federation. If both are from the same country, only one of the two can be entered with this wild card.

If a member federation has four athletes in one event as a result of this regulation, all four will be permitted to compete.

4) As a result of being one of the best-ranked athletes at the end of the qualification period to fill the remaining quota places by event. This does not apply to the 5000m, 10,000m, marathons and race walks where entries will continue to be administered by entry standards only.

Relay teams
Relay teams can qualify in one of two ways:

1) Automatically as being one of the first eight-placed teams at the [link id=”332″ tax=”post_tag” text=”2014 IAAF World Relays”] in The Bahamas.

2) As a result of being one of the best-ranked teams at the end of the qualification period to fill the remaining quota places. For the purpose of being ranked, the results of relay races shall be valid only on condition that they are part of a competition staged in compliance with IAAF rules and that at least two different international teams, representing at least two countries, compete in the race.

Unqualified athletes

The participation of unqualified athletes (including host country) shall be administered as follows:

· Members who have no male and/or no female athletes who have achieved the entry standard or considered as having achieved the entry standard (see above) or qualified relay team may enter one unqualified male athlete or one unqualified female athlete in one event of the disciplines (except the road events and field events [see below], combined events, 10,000m and 3000m steeplechase). The name and event of the unqualified athlete must be submitted no later than 27 July 2015.

· Members whose best athlete excels in a field event or road event may submit to the IAAF the name of their athlete with the corresponding performance they would like to enter. The technical delegates will decide whether or not to accept such entry and, to do so, may seek the opinion of the relevant area association. The name and event of the unqualified athlete must be submitted no later than 27 July 2015.

· If the host country does not have an athlete who has achieved the entry standard in an event, or a qualified relay team, it may enter one athlete (or relay team) in that event, with the exception of the combined events and field events where the above shall apply.

Qualification period

· For the 10,000m, marathon, race walks, relays and combined events: from 1 January 2014 to 10 August 2015 (closing date for the final entries).

· For all other events: from 1 October 2014 to 10 August 2015 (closing date for the final entries).

Invitation by ranking process

Individual athletes

Following the end of the qualification period, the IAAF shall assess the number of athletes having qualified in accordance with the points above, plus the unqualified athletes.

The IAAF shall then invite the athletes with the next best performances in the respective qualification periods in order to reach the established ideal number of athletes by event, respecting the maximum quota by member federation by event.

Upon refusals or cancellations, invitations shall be extended to the next eligible athlete at the sole and exclusive discretion of the IAAF.

Relays

Following the end of the qualification period, and knowing the relay teams that have qualified from the IAAF World Relays 2014, the IAAF shall then invite the teams with the next best performances in the qualification period in order to reach the established ideal number of relay teams by event.

Upon refusals or cancellations, invitations shall be extended to the next eligible relay team at the sole and exclusive discretion of the IAAF.

Preliminary and final entries

Preliminary entries
The preliminary entries must be submitted no later than 22 April 2015, midnight, Monaco time (GMT +2).

Final entries
The final entries must be submitted no later than 10 August 2015, midnight Monaco time (GMT + 2).

Entry standards

*approved April 2014