New conditions for WDSF World Open 24/04/2019

The following conditions have been unanimously approved with the intention to minimize the potential risk of manipulation at World Opens which award high ranking points.

The applications of the World Opens must be submitted to WDSF by the National Member Body (NMB) at least four months in advance of the intended event. The same cancellation policies apply as with other World Ranking Tournaments.

The Chairperson is appointed by the Sports Commission. For appointment of Adjudicators, organisers can select either of the following options:

a) Organisers provide a list of 20 Adjudicators for the Sports Commission Judges Selection Committee to select 10 Adjudicators to be appointed. If an ideal panel of 10 Adjudicators cannot be formed with this preferred list of Adjudicators from the organiser the Sports Commission will nominate up to five Adjudicators from outside the list. The other five remaining Adjudicators will still be nominated from the list provided.

b) 10 judges to be selected by the Sports Commission Judges Selection Committee

The Sports Commision explains: ”Engaging the organisers’ own Adjudicators can no longer be allowed as the number of World Opens is significant, and the concentration of the same Adjudicators needs to be avoided. At the same time the appointment of a diverse spread of quality Adjudicators needs to be supported. In order to ensure the organisers will not suffer as a result of these new conditions the options have been offered. With this measure in place the Sports Commission will have the ability to exclude Adjudicators whose skills or performance are in question.”

The names of all Adjudicators and the Chairperson must be published on the WDSF website not less than 42 days (6 weeks) prior to the event. The penalty of CHF 300 for failing to publish the names in due time will take effect immediately, and for repeated failures to publish the names the Presidium will not grant the World Open to the same NMB for one year.

For proper management and monitoring, all entries to the World Open must be submitted through the WDSF CRS (Competition Registration System) or through API system which has been approved by the WDSF Technical Committee.

The number of participating couples has been reduced to 42 (Youth and Adult) from 10 different countries instead of 48 as a qualification to host subsequent World Opens, and the change will take effect immediately. Couples competing in WDSF Senior categories can participate but will not be taken into account for the total number of competing couples to qualify for application for a World Open by the NMB.

All WDSF World Opens granted from now on will be called WDSF World Open (New Series). Athletes will be able to know that under this Series the Adjudicators are selected by the Sports Commission.

All granted WDSF World Open organisers can now review the new conditions and advise the WDSF Office if they would like to change to the New Series by complying with all the new conditions as specified in the World Open (New Series) application form.