Lausanne, Switzerland, April 7, 2020: As part of the work of the “Here We Go” task force addressing the list of questions raised by the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games, the IOC qualification task force has approved a series of amendments to the qualification system principles.
The key points of the Revised Tokyo 2020 Qualification System Principles are:
EXTENDED QUALIFICATION PERIOD AND NEW DEADLINES
*The new qualification period deadline is 29 June 2021, and International Federations can define their own qualification period deadlines should these be prior to this date.
*The revised final sport entries deadline has now been set at 5 July 2021.
*The revision of the qualification systems will be finalised as quickly as possible, to give certainty to the athletes and National Olympic Committees (NOCs).
QUOTA ALLOCATIONS
*Athletes and NOCs that have already obtained an Olympic qualification quota place will retain this despite the postponement of the Games. In all, 57 per cent of the total athlete quota places have already been allocated so far, with approximately 5,000 athlete quota places still to be assigned.
*In some cases, the qualification quota places are obtained by the NOC and in other cases they are obtained directly by a specific athlete. In all cases, and as per the Olympic Charter, the respective NOC retains the right to select the athletes to represent it at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
*The priority remains to reflect, where possible, the allocation method/pathway of the original qualification systems for each sport. This principle encourages IFs to follow a like-for-like approach by replacing those lost opportunities for allocating quotas with the same number of events.
*Regarding the scenario where the quota allocation was originally based on ranking, the IFs retain full discretion to define the new ranking deadline and pathway. The IOC recognises the sensitivity of such decisions. A sport-specific balance needs to be found between protecting those athletes who were close to qualifying based on the previous 2020 deadlines and also ensuring the participation of the best athletes at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 by allowing the top performers of the 2021 season to qualify.
*The IFs are encouraged to engage with their respective member federations and their own athletes’ commissions in order to reach a consensus on a fair and transparent decision.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
*In line with the principle that athletes who have qualified for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 remain qualified, it is possible for IFs to extend the age eligibility criteria, if such exist, and allow athletes who are eligible in 2020 to remain eligible to compete at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 from 23 July to 8 August 2021. The only exception will be if the IF establishes that the one-year relaxation of the upper age limit represents a safety and/or medical risk for athletes.
*Regarding the eligibility criteria for the lower age limit, if there is one, the IOC recognises the full authority of IFs to assess the eligibility of those athletes who are not eligible in July 2020 but will meet the lower age limit in 2021.
See full article at www.olympic.org