Rules for Implementation of International Abilympics

Amended as of October 2014

1. Purpose

This document shall stipulate the general rules for implementing the International Abilympics (hereinafter called IA), according to the provisions of Article 11, Section 5 of the Constitution of International Abilympic Federation (hereinafter called IAF).

2. Organization of IA

2-1

IA consists of vocational skills contests (for work skills), leisure and living skills contests (for skills other than vocational skills) and other events (such as demonstrations/exhibitions and conferences). The former two contests must be included in the IA programs, and other events may be included at the discretion of the host organization.

2-2

A host organization should submit an IA implementation plan to the Executive Committee for its approval at a meeting to be held two years before the event. The said plan should include provisional contest categories of vocational skills contests and leisure and living skills contests, and the dates/schedule of the events.

2-3

The host organization is responsible for pursuing the purposes of the IA as stipulated in Article 2 of the Constitution, taking into consideration the smooth implementation of each program, fair contest procedure, contestants’ health and security of personal information, especially disability-related information, when making the overall event plan.

2-4

Duration of the IA shall be approximately five days including Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Taking into consideration the workload of contestants, the contest time for one category shall not be longer than six hours.

2-5

Event venue
The host organization should provide a suitable event venue in order to facilitate the participation of contestants with disabilities, giving special consideration to the following points:

a)

Barrier-free event facilities, including sites for contests and ceremonies, restaurants, toilets, etc.;

b)

Necessary means of transportation (event sites - accommodation - airport);

c)

First-aid station;

d)

Maintenance support for assistive devices such as wheelchairs, artificial limbs, etc.

3. Delegation

3-1

Each country/territory (hereinafter called country) shall organize one delegation, which is composed of the following members.

a) Contestants

• Contestants of vocational skills contests and leisure and living skills contests shall be those with disabilities. A host organization may include those without disabilities in leisure and living skills contests, on the condition that they team up with disabled contestant(s).
• Contestants with disabilities are requested to submit a medical certificate, in which their disability, along with medication in use, is described, at the time of application for vocational skills contests or leisure and living skills contests.
• The minimum age of contestants of vocational skills contests shall be the age of completion of compulsory schooling and, in any case, fifteen years at the time of the IA.
• The number of contestants from one delegation per one contest category is, in principle, not more than two (2), except when a host organization accepts the request of a participating organization to increase this number.

b) Interpreters

• Each delegation may include language and/or sign language interpreters (hereinafter called interpreters).

c) Other delegation members

• Each delegation may include officials, technical advisers, attendants for contestants, medical staff and participants of other events.

3-2

Registration
All delegation members shall be registered as participants according to the procedures stipulated by the host organization.

4. Judges

4-1

Qualification
A host organization shall select judges among persons nominated by IAF member organizations. Each nominee should have enough experience/knowledge in the related field as well as experience in judging at skills contests and/or skill qualification tests.

4-2

Composition of judging panels
The number of judges for one contest category shall be at least three, and judges from any single country shall not form a majority on any panel of judges. However, in the case of there not being enough nominees, the host organization may exceptionally appoint judges from its own country even if they form a majority.

4-3

Responsibility
Judges shall be fair and objective in every respect regarding the skills contests. They shall also be responsible for strict management of confidential information including details of task assignment and contest results. In order to perform their duties, judges are requested to have common understanding on the contest procedure and evaluation criteria.

5. Vocational skills contests and leisure and living skills contests

5-1

Contest categories

a)

Compulsory categories to be included in the vocational skills contests shall be stipulated in the List of Categories (Appendix).

b)

The leisure and living skills contests shall not have compulsory categories.

c)

A minimum of five contestants from at least three delegations should participate in one vocational skills contest category to make it an official contest.

5-2

Task assignment

a)

The task assignment for each contest category shall be prepared by a host organization.

b)

The task assignment and evaluation criteria shall, in principle, be notified to the participating organizations at the latest six months before the event, except for the minimum details that cannot be revealed in advance. Details of the assignment to be given at the contest site shall be revealed in advance of the contest to ensure enough translation/interpretation time (in written, spoken and sign languages).

5-3

Orientation
An orientation session for each contest category shall be conducted in advance at the contest site in order to provide the necessary information on equipment/tools and facilities.

5-4

Contest venue

a)

In order to facilitate participants' concentration during contests, the host organization should prepare an appropriate contest venue, keeping suitable room temperature and humidity, preventing excessive noise, securing enough working space and keeping contest areas separated from spectators.

b)

Those who are eligible to enter the said contest areas during the contest shall be limited to contestants and judges. Interpreters, who are officially registered to help contestants, may also be allowed to enter the area.

c)

Contest rules including time limit should be strictly observed.

d)

Finished works should be in safekeeping under the responsibility of the host organization until the end of the Closing Ceremony.

e)

In order to avoid inequality among contestants, uniformity in quality and quantity of equipment/tools/materials should be secured. Information should be provided well in advance in the case of the contestants being requested to prepare/bring their own equipment/tools/materials.

f)

Upon prior request from contestants, the host organization shall make appropriate adjustments for facilities/equipment. They include height adjustment of worktables/benches/chairs, extra light for weak-sighted contestants, etc.

5-5

Equipment/tools/materials
Criteria and regulations for using personal equipment/tools/materials shall be communicated well in advance, and the specifications of admitted equipment/tools/materials shall be released at the earliest time possible. Personal equipment/tools/materials can be brought into the contest site only when admitted by a host organization, at the latest on the occasion of orientation sessions.

5-6

Official appeals

a)

During the contest, only contestants and registered officials (with the help of interpreter(s), when necessary) are eligible to make a direct appeal to judges.

b)

The host organization shall stipulate rules for appeals against matters related to contests and results as well as procedures for setting up an Appeal Committee, and inform them, in advance, to delegations. The said Committee shall be composed of persons from at least three delegations. No one from the country lodging the protest or from the country that is the object of the protest may take part in deliberations concerning the said protest.

c)

The host organization may make necessary rules to avoid overuse of appeals.

5-7

Prizes
The prizes awarded to contestants shall be gold, silver and bronze. In addition to the said three prizes, the host organization may award special prizes.

6. Notification to participating organizations

A host organization shall send the event information and entry forms to the relevant organizations as soon as the Executive Committee approves its implementation plan.

7. Accommodation

7-1

A host organization shall try to secure the most appropriate accommodation that meets the requirements of participants. A list of accommodation facilities shall be sent to all the participating organizations.

7-2

A host organization should prepare various kinds of accommodation facilities with a variety of prices.

8. Expenses

8-1

Expenses for the following items shall be borne by the host organization:

a)

Preparation and operation of the IA;

b)

Transportation by means of vehicles provided by the host organization (e.g. between the nearest airport and accommodation facilities designated by the host organization, and between accommodation facilities and event sites).

8-2

A host organization may collect registration fees from participants to cover a part of the necessary organizing expenses of the IA.

9. Entry/exit procedures

9-1

A host organization shall inform the relevant organizations of the required entry/exit formalities as well as the customs clearance procedures for equipment/tools/materials used in the IA.

9-2

A host organization shall seek for cooperation of its government to facilitate formalities and procedures.

10. Secretariat

10-1

A host organization shall form a secretariat during preparation for and implementation of the event.

10-2

The secretariat shall provide participants with necessary information.

10-3

The secretariat shall try to provide appropriate opportunities to volunteers to play a supporting role in the IA.

10-4

The secretariat should provide the general public with easy access to observe the IA.

11. Others

Matters that are not stipulated in this document shall be decided by a host organization.

12. Effective date

The Rules for Implementation of International Abilympics shall come into effect on the day of its approval at the Executive Committee meeting.

<Appendix>

List of Categories

1. 1. Basket Making / Cane Technology
2. 2. Cabinet / Furniture Making
3. 3. Computer Programming
4. 4. Computer Assembly
5. 5. Creating WWW Pages
6. 6. Dress Making (Production Sewing)
7. 7. Electronic Assembly and Testing
8. 8. English Word Processing
9. 9. Floral Arrangement
10. 10. Photography (Outdoor / Studio)
11. 11. Tailoring
12. 12. Wood Carving