Athletics

Spring is near – at least in the Northern Hemisphere! However, this article is written while we have snow in Denmark and temperatures around zero!

A new outdoor season is on the way and there is only six (6) months to the first World Deaf Athletics Championships take place in Izmir, Turkey, the last week of September 2008.

I am pleased to see that almost 30 countries have sent their preliminary (or indicated that they will send athletes) entries for these World Deaf Athletics Championships. A few of those countries usually participating in athletics did not send in their preliminary entries but I am hoping that we will have 30 or more countries present in Izmir.

It is expected that we will have 300 or more athletes present on site in September. Unfortunately, two events have been cancelled because of insufficient preliminary entries: Women's 3000m steeplechase and women's pole vault.

The number of preliminary entries for each event, male and female, can be found on the host's homepage: www.athletics2008.org

The IAAF has adopted a few new rules for athletics coming in force on 1 January 2008. The ICSD is following the IAAF rules and you are recommended to read especially the amendments to be familiar with the rules before you arrive in Izmir.

Until now there have been no age limits for participants in the Summer Deaflympics but now the IAAF rules have been introduced. Juniors (18 and 19 years) may participate in all events except Marathon. Youths (16 and 17 years) may participate in all events except the throwing events (male athletes), Decathlon, 10000m and Marathon.

For the 2008 World Deaf Athletics Championships, the junior athletes are those born in 1989 and 1990, youth athletes those born in 1991 and 1992). No athlete younger than 16 years on 31 December 1992 or later may be entered for the World Deaf Athletics Championships.

It is expected that we also in 2008 will see many new Deaf World Records. Please, be aware that a performance can be adopted only when using the ICSD World Record Application FormPDF. We do under no circumstances accept forms used by the Regional Confederations. I repeat what I wrote in the last ENEWS: Following the decision taken at the Salt Lake City Congress in February 2007 no regional record may be better than a Deaf World Record.

Barbara C. Søndergaard
ICSD Technical Director - Athletics

By Barbara Sondergaard