IOF Office has received questions from several federations and organisers regarding the WRE application process for 2021 due to COVID-19 and the impact on organising events. Therefore the IOF have made below clarification for organising of WREs the season 2021
The IOF would like to receive the majority of WRE applications for the 2021 season as soon as possible but will also be more flexible about late applications.
At the latest, any late application shall be sent in by – 3 months from event date and the IOF Event Adviser must always be assigned by then.
No late application fee will be applied for the 2021 season.
Cancelled events due to COVID-19 effects: The IOF will not charge any service fee for cancelled events.
Moving event dates due to COVID-19 effects: The IOF will normally approve late date changes up to – 2 weeks without losing WRE status.
General clarifications from the IOF on WREs in 2020 and 2021 related to COVID-19 restrictions in travelling: Some concerns have been raised from athletes and member Federations related to international participation in WREs. The IOF allowed all our member Federations to stage World Ranking Events (WREs) again from 1st of August 2020. The IOF is aware that not all Federations have the same ability to stage WREs and also that not all athletes have the same possibilities to travel to international events. However, in these times of uncertainties and rapid changes, the IOF wants to keep a straightforward and open approach with no specific rules for countries and regions and believes it is fair to let Federations and WRE organisers decide for themselves the suitability of staging WREs. A World Ranking Events with only national or regional athletes is also a good event to gain WRE points and the WRE-status is an assurance of international level of competition quality, assured by the IOF Competition Rules and the IOF Event Adviser.
We hope and believe that the 2021 season will be a better event year with plenty of opportunities for World Ranking Events in all our member Federations and that organisers can attract as many competitors as possible regionally and, if possible, internationally.