The XXIX Olympiad Games were declared open last night after the jaw-dropping opening ceremonies. China gets gold and breaks all records in the Olympics of opening ceremonies.
Anyway, the competitions are on.
So how did the athletes get there in the first place? How does one become an Olympian? Is it a matter of just signing up for the Olympics every 4 years? Are there qualification requirements? Who determines the athlete’s eligibility? Are there limits set for participating? How can one be disqualified?
The Organizations
In answering all the relevant questions (and more), it is important to be acquainted with the 3 main constituents of the Olympic Movement (Olympic Charter, Chapter I, Rule 1.2):
1. International Olympic Committee (IOC) – the supreme authority over the Olympic Movement which encompasses organizations, athletes and other persons who agree to be guided by the Olympic Charter. (Chapter I, Rule 1.1).
2. International Federations (IFs) – international organizations that establish and enforce the rules concerning the practice of their respective sports. (Chapter III, Rule 27.1.1) The IFs establish their criteria of eligibility for competing in the Olympics. (Chapter III, Rule 27.1.5) If they say you have to compete and meet a particular score in some world/international competition, then that’s what you must do.
3. National Olympic Committees (NOCs) – national organizations responsible for their countries’ representation at the regional, continental or world multi-sports competitions patronized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). (Chapter III, Rule 28.3) The NOCs shall send to the Olympic Games only those competitors adequately prepared for high level international competition. (Chapter V, Rule 45.4) If for some reason, they deem you’re not good enough, you might have to experience the Games via TV. With our kind of politics – even in sports - that is not such a strange scenario.
The Olympian’s road to the Olympic Games is always regulated by these 3 organizations.
Eligibility
Now, we go to more specific eligibility rules for athletes.
Nationality rules -
1. The athlete must be a national of the country of the NOC which enters him in the competition. (Chapter I, Rule 42.1) However, problems relating to the determination of the country which an athlete may represent are resolved by the IOC. (Chapter I, Rule 42.1) And so, in Sydney 2000, the 4-man team from the newly-independent East Timor which had no NOC yet then, was allowed to participate as individual athletes and marched during the opening ceremonies under the Olympic flag.
2. The athlete who is a national of 2 or more countries may represent either one. However, after having represented 1 country in the Olympics, in international competitions recognized by the relevant IF, he may not represent another country unless 3 years have passed since he last represented his former country. Although this period may be reduced or even cancelled, with the agreement of the NOCs and IF concerned, by the IOC. (Chapter V, Rule 42, By-law 1 and 2)
In Beijing 2008, Becky Hammon a U.S. born and raised basketball player and 9-year WNBA player, will legally play for the Russian team despite having no Russian blood and not even being a full-time Russian resident (she goes home off-season) and will more likely be unaware of the words to the Russian anthem in case the Russians win gold. Although an exceptional player and prolific shooter, she has never been chosen to play for the U.S. team. In 2007, she signed a contract to play in the Russian pro basketball league. And in early 2008, she was given Russian citizenship after which she signed up to play for the Russian team. She might have dual citizenship but she can represent only 1 (at a time).
Age limit -
There is no age limit for competing in the Olympic Games other than as prescribed by the IF as approved by the IOC Executive Board.” (Chapter IV, Rule 43).
The oldest Olympian ever is Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn who at 72 won a silver medal in the running deer double-shot team event at Antwerp 1920 (no, they didn’t use real deer). [1] The youngest Olympian ever could be then 10-year old Greek gymnast Dimitrios Loundras who won bronze in Athens 1896.[2]
In Beijing, the talents of 67-year-old Japanese equestrian Hiroshi Hoketsu and 13-year old British diver Tom Daley, among others, will continue to justify the wisdom behind this rule.
Representation –
The number of entries in the individual events shall not exceed 3 per country, although the IOC may grant exceptions. (Chapter V, Rule 45.11) For team sports, the number of teams shall not exceed 12 twelve teams for each gender and not less than 8 teams, unless the IOC decides otherwise. (Chapter V, Rule 45.12)
The number of athletes competing in the Summer Games shall be limited to 10,500 unless the IOC provides otherwise. (Chapter V, Rule 45.14) Thus, in Athens 2004, 10,625 athletes played.
The Olympic Charter and the World Doping Code -
To be eligible for participation in the Olympic Games, an athlete must comply with the Olympic Charter and respect and comply in all aspects with the World Anti-Doping Code. (Chapter V, Rule 41)
Anti-Doping
We discussed the Olympic Charter last week. Now it’s time to tackle the Anti-Doping Rules[3]. These rules are particular to Beijing 2008 and are applicable from “the date of the opening of the Olympic village for the Olympic Games, namely, 27 July 2008 up until and including the day of the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games, namely, 24 August 2008”. (Article 5.1)
These are some of the more crucial rules:
1. Each athlete is responsible that no prohibited substance enters his body. Thus, an athlete cannot rightfully claim lack of intent, fault or negligence once caught. (Article 2.1.1)
2. Mere possession of a prohibited substance is a violation, unless such is pursuant to an exemption granted for therapeutic use or other acceptable justification. (Article 2.6.1)
3. Athletes shall be subject to Doping Control (collection and testing of samples) at any time or place, with no advanced notice. (Article 5.1)
4. Refusing, or failing without compelling justification, to submit to sample collection after notification, or otherwise evading sample collection, is already a rule violation. (Article 2.3)
5. An athlete who is unavailable for testing on 2 separate occasions, or on 1 occasion in the event that he was unavailable for testing on 2 other occasions in the 18 month period prior to the missed test during the Olympic Games, shall be deemed to have violated the anti-doping rules. (Article 5.5.2)
6. Pre-competition tests can be done on blood and urine at any time based on: (i) IF ranking or, (ii) any fact determined upon the IOC’s discretion. (Article 5.6.1.1)
7. Post-competition tests can be done on blood and urine at any time, as follows: (Article 5.6.1.1)
a) for individuals competitions, each athlete finishing in the top 5 placements in all disciplines, plus 2 other Athletes (in the lead-up competitions or the final) unless otherwise agreed between the IOC and the relevant IF.
b) for team competitions, testing will be done throughout the Games. During the preliminary rounds, the quarter and semi-finals, at least 1 athlete will be selected from at least 25% of the competitions. In addition, a minimum of 3 athletes will be selected from each of the top four finishing teams.
On all athletes who set or break a world or Olympic record.
d) Plus, EPO (a banned blood booster) tests shall be done for all 3 medalists and other athlete/s selected by the IOC.
Significantly, athletes can now be tested more than once a day, anytime and anywhere.
“The important thing is not winning but taking part”
In a speech at the London Olympiad 1908, the father of the Modern Olympiad, Pierre de Coubertin proclaimed:
“In these Olympiads, the important thing is not winning but taking part … What counts in life is not the victory but the struggle; the essential thing is not to conquer but to fight well.”[4]
The athletes have spent the past 4 years practicing, preparing and competing to earn a spot in the Olympiad. Time for us to appreciate all their efforts.
[1] ”Oscar Swahn”. www.databaseolympics.com. August 9, 2008 http://www.databaseolympics.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=SWAHNOSC01.
[2] “Dimitrios Loundras”. www.databaseolympics.com. August 9, 2008 http://www.databaseolympics.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=LOUNDDIM01.
[3] “The International Olympic Committee Anti-Doping Rules”. www.olympic.org. 7 May 2008. International Olympic Committee. 2 August 2008 http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_1316pdf.
[4] “The Modern Olympic Games”. http://www.olympic.org. 2007. International Olympic Committee. 29 Jul 2008 http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_668.pdf.
No comments:
Post a Comment