Tokyo 2025 - Summer Deaflympics 2025

Technical Regulations - Orienteering

1. EVENTS
This competition will be conducted during the Summer Deaflympics 2025 from 15 Nov 2025 to 26 Nov 2025 and will consist of the following 10 events (4 for men, 4 for women and 2 for mixed):

EventMenWomenMixed
Super Sprint Relay
Sprint Distance
Sprint Relay
Middle Distance
Long Distance
Relay

2. PARTICIPANTS

2.1 Invitation to Participate
ICSD and the Organising Committee will invite all National Deaf Sports Federation (NDSF) members in good standing to participate in the competition.

2.2 Eligibility

2.2.1 Hearing Loss
Participation in the competition is restricted to athletes who are deaf and/or hard of hearing. Refer to the ICSD Audiogram Regulations for additional details on measurement of hearing loss.

2.2.2 Age
Athletes must meet the minimum age requirement for each event listed below:

EventMinimum AgeMaximum Age
Super Sprint Relay--No restriction
Sprint Distance--No restriction
Sprint Relay--No restriction
Middle Distance--No restriction
Long Distance--No restriction
Relay--No restriction

2.2.3 Compliance
Only athletes who comply with the Deaflympics Regulations are allowed to participate in the competition.

2.3 Number of Teams
Each National Federation may enter one (1) men's team, one (1) women's team and/or one (1) mixed's team. Participation in the competition is limited to a maximum of 1 men's teams, 1 women's teams and 1 mixed's teams.

2.4 Qualified Teams
Not Applicable

2.5 Number of Athletes per Discipline
A maximum number of athlete(s) per NDSF is allocated to each Orienteering discipline listed below:

MenWomen
99

2.6 Number of Athletes per Event
A maximum number of athlete(s) per NDSF is allocated to each event listed below:

EventMenWomenMixed
Super Sprint Relay--2
Sprint Distance33-
Sprint Relay--4
Middle Distance33-
Long Distance33-
Relay33-

2.7 Number of Reserves or Substitutes per Event
A maximum number of reserve/substitute athlete(s) per NDSF is allocated to each event listed below:

EventMenWomenMixed
Super Sprint Relay--0
Sprint Distance00-
Sprint Relay--0
Middle Distance00-
Long Distance00-
Relay00-

2.8 Competition Entry Standards
Not Applicable

2.9 Competition Entry Rules
Only an authorised representative of each NDSF is allowed to submit competition entries.

2.10 Non-Starting Athletes
A fine of USD$100.00 will be levied on each non-starting athlete unless he/she submits a doctor's declaration in writing English that he/she should not be allowed to start.

3. REGISTRATION
Please refer to the 7. Individual Sports in the General Technical Rules - Summer Deaflympics, for further details on registration.

4. COMPETITION RULES AND REGULATIONS

4.1 Technical Organisation
ICSD is be responsible for the technical organisation of the competition in conjunction with the International Orienteering Federation (IOF).

4.2 Committees

4.2.1 Technical Committee
The Technical Committee is comprised of the ICSD Orienteering Director and other members nominated by the Organising Committee and approved by ICSD:

Tomas Kuzminskis - ICSD Orienteering Director (Chair)
Shin Murakoshi - Orienteering Representative
Keishi Kimura - Orienteering Representative
Tadashi Takeuchi - Sport Liaison Officer
Yoshio Nonaka - Deaf Representative

4.2.2 Protest Committee
The Protest Committee is comprised of the ICSD Orienteering Director and other members nominated by the Organising Committee and approved by ICSD:

Tomas Kuzminskis - ICSD Orienteering Director (Chair)
Shin Murakoshi - Orienteering Representative
Keishi Kimura - Orienteering Representative

4.3 Competition Rules
The competitions will be conducted in accordance with the IOF Rules and Regulations (version: 1 January 2025). In case of disagreement in the interpretation of the Rules and Regulations, the English text shall prevail. Unforeseen incidents not covered by the Rules and Regulations shall be dealt with as follow:

4.3.1 Cases of a general nature will be resolved in accordance with the Deaflympics Regulations and this Orienteering Technical Regulations.

4.3.2 Cases of a technical nature related to competition rules will be resolved in accordance with the IOF Rules and Regulations.

4.4 Competition Equipment

All equipment used during competition must comply with the IOF Rules and Regulations.

4.5 Competition Clothing

4.5.1 Participants must wear competitive uniforms representing their nationality, duly registered and published in accordance with the IOF Rules and Regulations.

4.5.2 Participants must observe the Deaflympics Regulations regarding advertisements on their uniforms and clothing worn in the competition area.

4.6 Draw
The draw for all events will be conducted under control of the Technical Committee and in accordance with the IOF Rules and Regulations.

4.7 Competition Plan
The competition plan will be conducted in accordance with the IOF Rules and Regulations.

4.8 Officials

4.8.1 Judge/Referee/Umpire
Allocation of the officials to conduct the events will be made by the Technical Committee. Wherever possible, officials will possess the IOF international license valid for 2025. However, officials with the highest level of national accreditation may be assigned.

4.8.2 Appointment
The Organising Committee, the Orienteering Director and an ICSD-designated Representative shall appoint a IOF representative and an appropriate number of officials to conduct each event.

4.9 Unforeseen Incidents
In the event of unforeseen incidents not covered by the rules and regulations, the Technical Committee will make a determination. In the absence of the Technical Committee, the ICSD Orienteering Director will make a determination.

5. VENUES

5.1 Competition Venue

The competitions will take place at:
VenueSport Event
Orienteering - Hibiya Park • Hibiya AreaSuper Sprint Relay, Sprint Distance, Sprint Relay
Orienteering - Izu Oshima Island (Ura-Sabaku Desert)Middle Distance, Long Distance, Relay

5.2 Training Venue

The training will take place at:
VenueSport Event
Orienteering - Izu Oshima Island (Ura-Sabaku Desert)Middle Distance, Long Distance
Orienteering - National Olympics Memorial Youth CenterSprint Distance

6. SCHEDULES

6.1 Competition Schedule

Date - TimeMenWomenMixedVenue
15 Nov 2025 - 08:00Sprint Distance Orienteering - Hibiya Park • Hibiya Area
16 Nov 2025 - 08:00Sprint Relay  Orienteering - Hibiya Park • Hibiya Area
16 Nov 2025 - 12:00Super Sprint Relay  Orienteering - Hibiya Park • Hibiya Area
20 Nov 2025 - 10:00Middle Distance Orienteering - Izu Oshima Island (Ura-Sabaku Desert)
21 Nov 2025 - 09:00Long Distance Orienteering - Izu Oshima Island (Ura-Sabaku Desert)
23 Nov 2025 - 10:00Relay Orienteering - Izu Oshima Island (Ura-Sabaku Desert)

6.2 Training Schedule

Date - TimeMenWomenMixedVenue
14 Nov 2025 - 10:00TrainingOrienteering - National Olympics Memorial Youth Center
18 Nov 2025 - 13:00Training Orienteering - Izu Oshima Island (Ura-Sabaku Desert)
19 Nov 2025 - 10:00Training Orienteering - Izu Oshima Island (Ura-Sabaku Desert)

6.3 Technical Meeting

6.3.1 Date and Location

The Technical meeting will take place at:
Date - TimeVenue
14 Nov 2025 - 15:00Technical MeetingOrienteering - National Olympics Memorial Youth Center
19 Nov 2025 - 15:00Technical MeetingOrienteering - Izu Oshima Island (Ura-Sabaku Desert)

6.3.2 Attendance
Each participating NDSF may be represented by a maximum of two officials, of whom at least one must be deaf. The NDSF may also bring an interpreter if necessary.

7. CONTROL AND SANCTIONS

7.1 Hearing Devices
The use of any hearing aid(s)/amplification or cochlear implant is prohibited in the restricted zone area.

7.1.1 Restricted Zone
As per Audiogram Regulations, athletes participating in Summer Deaflympics 2025 are strictly prohibited from using any hearing aids or cochlear implant aids during competitions. This rule applies specifically to the restricted zone, which is defined as follows:

7.1.1.1 Restricted Area

Upon entering the pre-launch quarantine zone, all participants must hand over a hearing device.

7.1.1.2 Authority

The judges of the competition have the right to check athletes only for the presence of the hearing devices.

7.1.1.3 Inspection Location

The judges of the competition, upon entering the pre-start quarantine zone, inspect all participants in the competition to make sure that there are no hearing devices.

7.1.1.4 Violation

A violation is the presence of an athlete in the pre-start quarantine zone of a hearing device. Only the chief judge and the ICSD Orienteering Director have the right to disqualify an athlete found to be wearing a hearing device in a restricted area. All violations must be documented by the ICSD Orienteering Director on the ICSD Violation Form. If this is a relay race, then the whole team is disqualified.

7.1.2 Violation and Penalty
When this rule is violated, refer to ICSD Audiogram Regulations 10: Violations and Penalties.

7.1.3 Award Ceremony
Athletes may use any hearing device during the award ceremony. No penalty will be imposed for using such a device.

8. PROTESTS

8.1 Procedures for lodging a protest
All sport related protests will be resolved in accordance with the IOF Rules and Regulations and will be adjudicated by the Protest Committee.

8.1.1 Any protest must be written in English on the Official Protest Form. The form and a deposit USD$100.00 must be given to the ICSD Orienteering Director within 30 minutes after the official public posting of results.

8.1.2 The ICSD Orienteering Director will decide whether the protest is sport-related or eligibility-related. The Protest Committee will review all sport-related protests, and the ICSD Representative will review all eligibility-related protests.

8.1.3 The deposit of USD$100.00 will be returned to the applicant only if the protest is considered valid.

8.2 Procedure for reviewing a protest
The Protest Committee will meet in the competition venue or a designated office at a time decided upon by the ICSD Orienteering Director.

8.2.1 The ICSD Orienteering Director will chair of the Protest Committee.

8.2.2 The Sport Liaison Officer (SLO) will be responsible for booking a meeting room and interpreters.

8.2.3 The SLO will contact and inform all members of the Protest Committee of the meeting time and location.

8.2.4 The ICSD Orienteering Director will be responsible for liaising with the State Sports Association's Competition Manager.

8.2.5 After adjudication, the ICSD Orienteering Director will forward the original Official Protest Form (along with the protest fee if the protest was denied) to the ICSD Secretariat. The SLO will forward a copy of the form to the Deaflympics Headquarters.

9. ADDENDUM

9.1 Number of Athletes per Sprint Relay (ref. 2.6)
2.6.1
In the Sprint Relay, each NDSF may enter one (1) team consisting of four (4) team members of whom at least two (2) must be women.
Incomplete teams and teams with runners from more than one (1) NDSF are not allowed.
Under no circumstances may persons other than entered competitors participate in the competition.

9.2 Number of Athletes per Super Sprint Relay (ref. 2.6)
2.6.2
In the Super Sprint Relay, each NDSF may enter one (1) team consisting of two (2) team members of whom at least one (1) must be women.
Incomplete teams and teams with runners from more than one (1) NDSF are not allowed.
Under no circumstances may persons other than entered competitors participate in the competition.

Notice: this regulations are subject to change. Last updated on Tuesday, 19-Aug-25 10:39:48 GMT.