Athletics Australia Selection Policy 2019 World Para Athletics Championships Dubai, United Arab Emirates 7-15 November 2019
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Athletics Australia Selection Policy 2019 World Para Athletics Championships ATHLETICS AUSTRALIA SELECTION POLICY 2019 WORLD PARA ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 7-15 NOVEMBER 2019 This document sets out the basis on which Athletics Australia will select its Team for the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 7-15 November 2019. 1 Aims The aim of Athletics Australia’s Selection Policy for the World Para Athletics Championships is to nominate a quality team capable of realising Australia’s vision of being a Top 5 Nation at Benchmark Events. The policy is aligned with the Australian Institute of Sport High Performance strategy and with the Athletics Australia Strategic Plan to achieve gold medals, supported by silver and bronze medals at Paralympic Games and World Para Athletics Championships. Specifically, the policy aims to facilitate the following outcomes: • Selecting athletes that are realistic medal contenders in Dubai, and • Selecting athletes that are realistic medal contenders at 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. 2 Standards, criteria and athlete numbers Consistent with this strategy, and in accordance with previous Athletics Australia selection strategies for Para-athletics teams, Athletics Australia has developed Athletics Australia A (“AA A”) and Athletics Australia B (“AA B") Selection Standards for this policy. “AA A” and “AA B” Selection Standards are available in Appendix 1 of this document. The World Para Athletics P a g e | 1 Version 2.1 24/01/19 Athletics Australia Selection Policy 2019 World Para Athletics Championships Qualification Standards are the minimum qualification entry standards for all events, however selection will be in accordance with this selection policy. 2.1 To be eligible for consideration by the Selectors for selection (subject to clause 3.3.3), an athlete must achieve any of the following (listed in order of highest to lowest seeding): - Two (or more) “AA A” Selection Standard performances - One “AA A” Selection Standard performance and One “AA B” Selection Standard performance - Two (or more) “AA B” Selection Standard performances 2.2 There are a number of events on the World Para Athletics Championships event list that were not contested in previous Paralympic Games or World Para Athletics Championships. Every effort has been made to set accurate “AA A” and “AA B” Selection Standards for these events. If necessary, due to increased depth or performance internationally, these Standards may be adjusted during the Selection period in line with Section 11 of this policy. Should this be required the policy will be amended accordingly and communicated through the Athletics Australia website (www.athletics.com.au). 2.3 An eligible athlete may compete in an unlimited number of medal events as long as they have achieved the World Para Qualification Standard for that event. Events in which the athlete has achieved the Standard shall be prioritised according to the seeding outlined in section 2.1 The achievement of a World Para Qualification Standard(s) has no bearing on selection, as per item 2.1. World Para Qualification Standards may be found through the World Para Athletics website (https://www.paralympic.org/athletics). 2.4 Athletics Australia may select up to three athletes per individual class event. In the event that two or more classes have to compete as a combined event in the Field Events after the final entry by name and event viability review (e.g. Shot Put F53/54/55) countries may enter a total maximum of five (5) eligible athletes in a combined medal event. However, within each sport class, a maximum of three (3) eligible athletes may be entered. 2.5 Athletics Australia may enter one team in each relay event comprising of up to six WPA eligible athletes. 2.6 To be selected athletes must meet the Athlete Eligibility Criteria (see Section 4). 2.7 All Selection Performances must be achieved within the Selection Period (see Section 5) and must meet the Performance Eligibility Criteria (see Section 6). 2.8 A minimum of five (5) athlete entries from three (3) National Paralympic Committees (NPC) is necessary to sustain an individual medal event on the programme. A minimum of five (5) entries from five (5) NPCs is necessary to sustain a relay medal event on the programme. World Para Athletics shall review the viability of all events following the close of the final entries (30 September 2019). In the case an event does not meet the above viability criteria by the final entry based on the Classification Hierarchy Table (World Para Athletics Rule 9), World Para Athletics reserve the right to combine such event with other event(s) where appropriate and applicable. In such combined field events the RAZA point system P a g e | 2 Version 2.1 24/01/19 Athletics Australia Selection Policy 2019 World Para Athletics Championships may be used to determine the results. World Para Athletics also reserve the right to cancel such events or run them as non-medal events. In the instance that the entry number of an event dropped below the aforementioned event viability criteria due to withdrawals after 1st October, 2019, the event shall be run as a Medal Event and the medals will be allocated under the ‘minus one’ rule (i.e. if there are 3 entrants, 2 medals shall be awarded). 3 Selection 3.1 There will not be a Selection Trial for any event for the 2019 World Para Athletics World Championships. 3.2 Automatic Selection 3.2.1 An athlete finishing with a Gold medal in an individual Track & Field event at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships will be automatically selected in the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships Team, subject to attaining one or more “AA A” in that specific event, during the Selection Period. 3.2.2 Automatic selection is subject to the athlete meeting all Eligibility Requirements and satisfying the Domestic Competition Obligations. Automatic Selections will be confirmed during the selection meeting held the week commencing 8 April 2019. 3.3 Selection at the Discretion of the Selectors 3.3.1 Any remaining selections to the Team will be made at the discretion of the Selectors and will be exercised in line with the Aims of this policy. This discretion is absolute and need not be exercised. 3.3.2 In order to be eligible for discretionary selection (subject to clause 3.3.3), athletes must have achieved two (or more) performances that achieve either the “AA A” Selection Standard, or the “AA B” Selection Standard. For absolute clarity, to be eligible for discretionary selection, an athlete must achieve any of the following: - Two (or more) “AA A” Selection Standards - One “AA A” Selection Standard and One “AA B” Selection Standard - Two (or more) “AA B” Selection Standards 3.3.3 If an athlete is injured or ill and does not achieve the Selection Standards in clause 3.3.2 during the Selection Period due to significant injury or illness, they may still be considered for discretionary selection by the Selectors. In this instance the Selectors should receive a medical report from the AA Chief Medical Officer and advice from the Paralympic Program Manager and/or Head of High Performance Systems. This discretion is absolute and need not be exercised. There is no right to appeal the decision of the Selectors under this clause 3.3.3. P a g e | 3 Version 2.1 24/01/19 Athletics Australia Selection Policy 2019 World Para Athletics Championships 3.4 Relay Selection 3.4.1 If, in the discretion of the Selectors, the relay event is considered a strong medal chance, athletes may be selected to the Team as a member of that relay squad ahead of other athletes, as long as that individual has achieved a relevant individual event World Para Athletics Qualification Standard in accordance with the World Para Athletics rules. 3.4.2 For the avoidance of doubt, this may mean an athlete who has a single World Para Athletics Qualification performance but is a member of the relay squad that is considered a medal chance may be selected ahead of another athlete that is not a member of any relay squad. This consideration is at the discretion of the Selectors. However, the Selectors may seek advice on relative medal chances from the AA Paralympic Program Manager and/or the AA Head of High Performance Systems. 3.4.3 If a relay team is not considered a medal chance by the Selectors, the selection of any members of that team will be on the basis of their individual performances only. In this circumstance, should Australia not be able to select members for that relay squad on individual merits, the relay qualification may be forfeited. 3.4.4 If an athlete is selected in a relay squad, the relay will form an integral part of that athlete’s competition. Should this not be accepted by the individual athlete and/or coach, that athlete may be withdrawn from the team. If an athlete is selected under 3.4.1 and/or 3.4.2 they may be entered in their individual event at the discretion of the Team Leader, only if it is in the interest of the final relay team (in the Team Leader’s sole opinion). 4 Athlete Eligibility Criteria Only those athletes who qualify according to this clause will be eligible for selection in the Team: 4.1 Satisfy all World Para Athletics Nationality and World Para Athletics Championship Participation Rules; 4.2 Be a citizen of Australia; 4.3 Be a registered member of Athletics Australia through their Member Association; 4.4 Hold a World Para Athletics Classification (Review or Confirmed) as per the World Para Athletics Classification Masterlist; currently there are no Australian athletes Internationally Classified in Race Running.