IFS Organization and Sporting Code
The Organization and Sporting Code of the International Sumó Federation (IFS)
in con junction with the Statutes and Contest Rules is a binding, official document for the hosting of the World Championships and all competitions held under the responsibility and auspices of the IFS.
The organization of the World Championships is the concern of the following bodies: the International Sumó Federation, the Continental Union to which the organizing National Sumó Federation belongs and the National Sumó Federation which has been commissioned by the General Assembly to host the World Championships. The Continental Union is consulted with any questions and gives supports to the other two bodies.
The National Sumó Federation may appoint an Organizing Committee to deal with the organization of the World Championships. The National Sumó Federation will be responsible to the IFS Board of Directors for the proper hosting of the World Championships in any situation. The IFS has final appellate jurisdiction.
For each World Championships, an IFS Commission (IFS Organization
Commission) will be appointed by the IFS Board of Directors whose task is to assist and supervise the National Sumó Federation with organization of the World Championships.
Any National Sumó Federation hosting World Championship is required to workout a proposal concerning the organization of the World Championships on the basis of this Organization and Sporting Code and local conditions. The IFS Board of Directors will support the Organizer by providing guidance, technical assistance and supervision. The hosting of the World Championship and the work of the referees will be supervised by the IFS.
This Organization and Sporting Code shall also serve as an assistance and a guideline for the organization of all Sumó competitions on national and other levels.
BASIC PRINCIPLES
1 This Organization and Sporting Code is binding for alt competitions held under the responsibility and auspices of the IFS.
2 The Official Contest Rules must be applied to and observed by all IFS competitions. (The rules of any contests and competitions are based on the IFS
Competition Rules). Anyone organizing the World Championships on behalf of the IFS must obtain permission in writing from the IFS Board of Directors. The Sports Committee must be consulted in advance.
3 World Championships shall be awarded by the General Assembly, in exceptional cases, the IFS Board of Directors may make such an awarding on behalf of the IFS General Assembly. However, the World Championship shall be held in Japan for the time being.
4 The IFS shall accept control over regional sumó competitions whenever this is requested by its host organization. This requires, however, adherence to Statutes. Contest Rules and the Organization Code. In such
sumó competition, refereeing and the technical system should be dealt with by the Continental Union which is responsible for the event.
5 The regulations covering television, radio, film, photography and advertising rights are contained in the Statutes.
6 The World Championships will take place every December, for the lime being.
7 Weight divisions: Men, no age limit.
Individual contests: Each National Federation may enter the three different weight divisions, plus the open category mentioned
below:
Lightweight - up to and including 85kg
Middleweight - over 85kg up to and including 115kg
Heavyweight - over 115kg
Open division - no weight limit
Group contests: Men. no age limit, no weight limit.
Each team consists of four participants including one substitute, as below:
1 Senpó
1 Chúken
1 Taishó
1 Substitute
8 System of Competition
Competitions will take place under the IFS Competition Rules.? The method of competition will be the single elimination system tournament.a The medal winners, (gold, silver, 2 bronzes) will be seeded in such a way as to not compete against each other before the semifinals, so as not to compete against the same opponent as the previous year's semi and final rounds.
9 Entries
The participating National Sumó Federations must submit entries (stating name. and weight category for each competitor) one month before the date of the competition.
10 Any National Sumó Federation which is an official member of the IFS may apply to host the Championships.
The application must be submitted in writing and should contain all data as required by the Statutes, the Contest Rules and the Organization and Sporting Code. The organizing National Sumó Federation shall submit: its application to host the World Championships to the IFS at least one year before the date of the championship. The application must first be approved by its Continental Union.
After a World Championship has been awarded to a National Sumó Federation, said National Sumó Federation shall deposit with the IFS a guarantee of 3,000 US dollars for the World Championships. This money will be refunded by the IFS soon after the IFS is satisfied that the World Championships was carried out under the Statutes, the Contest Rules and the Organization and Sporting Code. Should the Championship or event be canceled by the organizing National Sumó Federation, alt or part of the deposit, following a General Assembly decision, may be forfeited .to the IFS for payment of costs incurred up to date. In case the costs exceed the deposit, a claim may be made to the National Sumó Federation.
11 The organizing National Sumó Federation. in the person of the President of that Federation, shall be responsible to observe the Statutes, the Contest Rules and Organization and Sporting Code as well as for the good and proper conduct of the World Championships or other events.
12 The IFS will provide any support to the National Sumó Federation organizing the World Championship or event. The IFS Board of Directors will hold a meeting at least three months prior to the World Championships, at which the frost (National Sumó Federation/Organizing Committee) will be given an opportunity for discussing with IFS Board of Directors all matters pertaining to the organization of the World Championships.
The IFS Organization Commission is composed of the IFS Vice President of the concerned Continental Union, who will be the Chairman of the Commission, the IFS General Secretary, one of the members of the IFS Sports Committee and the IFS General Treasurer who is responsible to the IFS Board of Directors for
constant contact with the organizing National Sumó Federation.This Commission has lo assist and be available to organizing National Sumó Federation for consultation and advice. The Commission also has to report tote IFS Board of Directors about the progress of the organization periodically.
13 The General Secretariat of the IFS shall send official invitations, the provisional program, general comments on the organization, the regulations and the entry forms to the National Sumó Federations at least 3 months prior to the World Championships.
14 At least three months before the dale of the World Championships, the IFS Board of Directors shall determine the number and kinds of meetings, the conditions required for these and the Officials who will attend them.
15 Three months before the date of the World Championships, the IFS Board of Directors shall fix the number of Referees to officiate as well as the number of additional IFS Officials of the IFS to be invited for the duration of the World Championships.
16 The Genera! Treasurer of the IFS, on the basis of the Statutes and the Organization and Sporting Code, shall submit a contract to the Organizing Federation covering all financial obligations pertaining lo the organization of the World Championships.
17 The General Treasurer of the IFS shall notify said National Sumó Federations that they are unqualified for the World Championship or other events due to defaults in the payment of registration fees or other resolutions of the General Assembly.
OBLIGATIONS TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE ORGANIZING NATIONAL FEDERATION
18 The National Sumó Federation hosting the World Championships acts on the orders' of the International Sumó Federation and shall be fully responsible for proper preparation. On the basis of this Organization and Sporting Code it shall guarantee all necessary materials and personnel. The National Sumó Federation shall take all necessary action to ensure coverage against civil liability through insurance for the duration of the World Championships or events.
19 The National Sumó Federation (Organizer) shall pay the travel expenses
(economy-class round trip ticket) hotel expenses, (accommodations, meals) and
transportation expenses at the site of the World Championship for the
following
personnel:
(1) the Members of the IFS Board of Directors
(2) the IFS Referees Committee
(3) the Appointed IFS Referees
20 The organizing National Sumó Federation must guarantee via the responsible authority of the host country that IFS officials, Officials of the National Sumó Federations and competitors wishing to take part in the World Championships will be given permission to enter its territory. Entry visas shall be valid for 30 days and be available 30 days before the date of the beginning of the World Championships.
21 The Organizing Committee of the World Championship event shall work out. on the basis of the Organization and Sporting Code, a detailed program containing all dates, activities and sites which are in any way connected with the World Championships. This program must be coordinated with the IFS Board of Director sat least 3 months before the date of the World championship. The program shall be sent to each participating National Sumó Federation and to all IFS Official sat least 30 days before the date of the beginning of the first activity. A copy of the program shall be given to each National Sumó Federation and to the IFS Officials upon arrival.
22 The Organizing Committee shall communicate lo the National Sumó Federations the conditions for accommodation and food two months before the date of the World Championship. The offer should contain several options in order to meet all the needs of the National Sumó Federations and these conditions must be adequate and reasonable.
ORGANIZATION
23 Information and reception office
During the Championship - at least, from the date of arrival of the first delegation up to and including the day that follows the last contest of the Championship - the Organizing Committee must set up a central office for all participants which shall be situated at the hotel where they are staying,
or (in the case of accommodations being provided at several hotels) at the contest site. This office shall provide all delegations with the information needed during their stay and participation in the World
Championship. A representative should be present at the airport/station to welcome all
delegations and provide information concerning further transport. The address and telephone number of the information and reception office shall be communicated lo the National Sumó Federations and the IFS Officials at least10 days prior to the Championships. The office should be open 24 hours at least on the days of the arrivals of the delegations.
24 The Organizing Committee of the World Championships shall provide adequate training conditions for all delegations, which must be in proportion to the number of competitors. Training hours should be coordinated with the delegations and included in the training time timetable.
25 Controls
The citizenship of each competitor shall be verified by persons appointed byte IFS Board of Directors. Evidence of citizenship shall be production of a passport issued by the country for which the competitor wishes to compete.
26 The draw for Competition positions must be held on the day prior lo the first competition by the IFS Sports Committee under the direction of the IFS Board of Directors.
27 Weigh-in
Official weigh-in shall take place on the same day as the competition, and shall be the responsibility of the members of the Sports Committee and the IFS Referees, with acknowledgment given by the IFS Board of
Directors. Athletes shall be allowed to check their weight on the same scales that will be used for the official weigh-in one hour before the official weigh-in
commences. The official weigh-in will be strictly observed, with no tolerance allowed, if a competitor's weight is below or above the prescribed limits for the category in which he is entered, the exact weight shall be recorded in the normal manner. The competition number shall be circled by a weigh-in official, and signed and initialed by the competitor himself.
28 Competition hall
The competition hall shall have a seating capacity of at least 3,000spectators. A certain number of seats
shall be reserved for guests of honor, IFS President and General Secretary, heads of delegations of the participating National Sumó Federations, journalists and shall be marked as such. Waiting rooms shall be provided for the competitors.
29 Competition hall equipment The organizing Committee shall provide the following equipment:
(1) 2 notice boards
(2) tables at the front and back sides of the Dohyó
(3) a microphone for central announcements placed at the back side table
(4) a table for doctors
30 IFS Referees
The referees to officiate at the World Championships will be appointed by the IFS Board of Directors following recommendations made by the Japan Sumó Federation.
31 Officials of the National Sumó Federations
The Organizing Committee shall make available to each participating National Sumó Federation a free. specially marked spectator seat for the President or representative.
32 Opening Ceremony and Awards
AU participants should take part in this ceremony wearing their mawashi. The opening ceremony should be limited to 30
minutes. The opening ceremony shall be comprised of:
(1) Marching-in of the participating countries (competitors and coaches) in alphabetical order according to the official list of the IFS. the host country being last.
(2) In the forefront of each participating country, competitors or coaches of each participating country shall carry the national flag and a name board bearing the name of the country, in full or abbreviated form. written in the language of the organizing country.
(3) Playing of the national anthem of the organizing country The raising of the national flag of the organizing country and the flag of the IFS.
(4) Opening by the IFS General Secretary.
(5) Welcoming address by the IFS President
(6) Presentation of IFS Officials
(7) Marching-out
33 Awards ceremony
The awarding of prizes shall be carried out immediately after the end of the last competition. Each medal-winning competitor must be present at the official awards presentation and. if possible, receive the medal
personally. The awarding ceremony shall be carried out as follows:
(1) The 1st, 2nd and two 3rd placed teams and individual competitors shall be led to the place of the awards ceremony in order.
(2) The 1st. 2nd and two 3rd place teams and competitors shall be led lo the awards area one after another in each weight division (light weight being first and open lo being last).
(3) The speaker announces the weight division, the name and the country of the1st placed winner. The winner receives the medal from the President of the IFS or the person nominated by him.
(4) The 2nd and both 3rd placed winners are presented with their medals in the same way.
(5) The four 5th placed winners receive certificates.
34 Immediately after the end of the championships, a doping test will be conducted by the IFS's medical committee in compliance with Rule
48 of the Olympic Charter.
35 Medals. Certificates and other awards or presents The Organizing Committee shall present each participant with a certificate certifying participation.
Medals and certificates must be provided by the organizing National Sumó Federation for each weight division and the "open" division as
follows:
1st place : one gold medal and a
certificate
2nd place : one silver medal and a certificate
3rd place : two bronze medals and certificate
5th place : four certificates
36 Judges' bowing ritual
Six judges (referee and judges) appear by the dohyó at the beginning of the competition, bow simultaneously toward the dohyó prior to walking to each's appointed position. When at! judges are in their positions, the referee leads another bow simultaneously with a call of
"rei". When the judges are relieved by a new group of judges, the new group marches in and bows by the dohyó as the previous group did at the beginning of the competition (led by a call of "rei" by the referee). The previous group remain sin their positions at that lime. Then they are replaced by the new group, and the new group bows again.
37 Competitor's ritual of courtesy
General courtesy
(1) Competitors climb up onto the dohyó after the announcement of their names.
Each competitor sits just inside the tokudawara and scatters a handful of salt and then completes the chirichózu ritual. (Competition Rules,
Article 44)
(2) " Tachiai" proceeds as follows:
Each competitor is at the standstill with one hand placed on the dohyó. with puts the other elbow on his knee, and he then places that hand on the ground. The referee shouts "hakkeyoi" at the last moment and the competitors begin the bout. (Competition Rules, Article 45)
(3) Once the bout is finished and a decision has been made, both competitors must retreat to the tokudawara and exchange ritsurei. The winner stays there in sonkyo and the loser steps down from the dohyó. (Competition Rules. Article
48)
Courtesy at team contest
At the beginning of the team contest, both teams line up face to face along the east and west edge of the dohyó and bow simultaneously with a call of "rei". At the end of the contest both teams bow again the same as before.
38 Application for the holding of the World Championships A written application, to be sent to the General Secretary of the IFS. must contain the
following:
(1) The name of the event
(2) The place and date of the proposed World
Championship
- The number of days of competition and schedule
(3) Assurances of
' The observances of Statutes, rules and regulations of the IFS' The unimpeded entry into the host country and participation in the World Championships by IFS member countries.
(4) Consent of the Continental Union to the hosting of the World
Championships.
(5) Information about the competition site. accommodations and
facilities
(6) Information about financial guarantees for the World Championships
39 Overall program for the organization and hosting of the World Championship The Organizing Member Federation (OMF) shall work out an overall program for the organization and hosting of the World Championship. This program must be submitted to the IFS Organization Commission within three months
after having been awarded the organization of the World Championship.
(1) Contents of the overall! program
1 Overall timetable
- Date and place of the first joint meeting of the IFS Organization
Commission and the OMF
- Date of circulation of the first general information to the National Sumó
Federations by the OMF
- Date of circulation of the invitations to the World Championship by the
IFS
- Date of management of all facilities needed for the holding of the World
Championship by the IFS
- Date of deadline for original entries (numbers)
- Date of nomination of the Officials and referees by the IFS
- Date of deadline for the final entries (names)
- Date and place of the opening information and Reception
Office
- Date of arrival of the members of Board of Directors, Officials, referees
and participants
- Date and place of entries of the participating countries
- Date and place of flags and anthems
- Date and place of draw
- Date and place of weigh-in
- Competition timetable
- Timetable of opening and closing ceremonies
2 Overall financial plan
- Deposit of security fee to the IFS
- Result of contract for television rights obtained by the IFS together with
the OMF
- Setting of costs for IFS representatives to be borne by the OMF
- Setting of costs for the Refereeing Commission* Setting of costs for the
referees
3 Overall organization plan
- Official invitation
a) invitation letter
b) general information concerning organization
c) World Championship regulations
e) programs
f) certificate of participation (per weight division 1st. 2nd, 3rd, 5th
place)
g) medals (per weight division Gold, Sliver, Bronze)
h) contest lists
i) contest records
j) weigh-in sheets
k) result sheets
l) identity cards
m) drawing cards'
Rooms
a) dressing rooms (capable of being locked) for the participants, complete
with toilets and showers
b) rooms for the Organizing Committee at the hotel
c) a room for conducting the draw with a capacity of 100 people
Personnel requirements
a) IFS Officials
1 President
5 Vice-Presidents
1 General Secretary
1 Sports Director
1 General Treasurer
3 Chairmen of the General Affairs Committee, the International
Committee, the Education and Expansion Committee of IFS
1 Chairman of the Medical Committee
2 Secretaries of the Refereeing Committee
35 IFS Referees
b) Table staff for the dohyó
3 speakers
2 recorders
4 dohyó keepers
2 errand boys
2 staff members responsible for checking in the competitors before the bout
c) Ceremonies
1 person responsible for ceremonies and protocol
questions
5 assistants for the Awards ceremony
5 assistants for the opening and closing
ceremonies
d) Internal organization
1 Head of the Organizing Office
1 Head of the information and Reception
Office
1 person responsible for accommodation and
food
1 person responsible for transportation
1 person responsible for Public Relations
1 person responsible for materials and
equipment
1 person responsible for the weigh-in
1 person responsible for the draw
1 person responsible for the participants
Equipments requirements
a) Competition
5 red and 5 white referee's flags
1 stopwatch
Red and white ribbons
Nameplates for mawashi of the participating countries
Portable boards bearing the names of the participating
countries
The seats for Officials shall be marked with their
names
Special seats shall be available for Guests of Honor and accredited
journalists
b)General Assembly
tables for the Board of Directors
1 centra! microphone for the President
Nameplates for participating countries
National flags the participating countries
IFS flags
Soft drinks
ballots
1 voting box
