RULES 2000 - 2001

Paragraphs that have been introduced or amended for 2000-2001 are in red.

1. Constitution

1.1 NAME

1.1.1 The Federation shall be called The International Table Tennis Federation, referred to elsewhere in the Rules by its abbreviated title "ITTF".

1.2 COMPOSITION

1.2.1 The ITTF shall consist of the affiliated table tennis organisations, referred to elsewhere in the Rules as "Associations", controlling the sport in accordance with the principles of the ITTF in any territory generally regarded as constituting a national, historical or other unity.

1.2.2 Associations shall not be regarded as agents of the ITTF.

1.3 PRINCIPLES

1.3.1 The principles of the ITTF shall be general unity of action, mutual respect of Associations in their dealings with one another and the inadmissibility of discrimination against Associations or individuals on racial, political, religious or other grounds.

1.3.2 The ITTF shall observe the general and fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter and no provision of these Rules shall be deemed to conflict with or derogate from those principles.

1.3.3 The ITTF shall cooperate with the IOC, ASOIF, GAISF and other organisations which recognise it as the controlling authority for table tennis throughout the world.

1.4 OBJECTS

1.4.1 The objects of the ITTF shall be:

1.4.1.1 to uphold the principles of the ITTF and to develop the spirit of friendship and mutual assistance among Associations and players;

1.4.1.2 to regulate relations between Associations and between Associations and other organisations;

1.4.1.3 to seek continual improvement in the technical standard of table tennis and in the extent of participation in the sport throughout the world;

1.4.1.4 to foster friendly sporting competition and to eliminate unfair and unsporting practices such as the use of drugs to affect performance;

1.4.1.5 to establish and maintain the Laws of Table Tennis and the Regulations for International Competitions;

1.4.1.6 to publish the standard text, which shall be the English text, of the Rules, consisting of the Constitution, the Laws and the Regulations;

1.4.1.7 to encourage the publication of the Rules in other languages and to check the accuracy of such publications;

1.4.1.8 to promote and to supervise World and Olympic title competitions;

1.4.1.9 to employ the funds of the ITTF as may be expedient in the interests of international table tennis.

1.5 MANAGEMENT

1.5.1 The governing body of the ITTF shall be the General Meeting, consisting of the assembled representatives of Associations.

1.5.2 Each Association shall be entitled to 2 representatives at a General Meeting.

1.5.3 The shall be an Annual General Meeting, referred to elsewhere as "AGM"

1.5.4 Between AGMs the work of the ITTF shall be managed, in accordance with policy decided by the AGM, by a Council, which shall administer the finances of the ITTF and to which the AGM may delegate any of its powers.

1.5.5 The AGM may appoint ad hoc working groups to deal with matters not covered by Committees.

1.6 OFFICERS

1.6.1 The Officers of the ITTF shall be a President, a Deputy President, an Executive Vice-President (Finance), 3 other Executive Vice-Presidents and 6 Continental Vice-Presidents.

1.6.2 There shall be 1 Continental Vice-President from each of Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and Oceania and their duties shall be to initiate ITTF work consigned to them by the AGM and generally to represent the ITTF in their own Continents.

1.6.3 A vacancy in any office other than that of President which arises between AGMs shall be filled by the Council but if the President resigns or is unable to continue in office he shall be replaced by the Deputy President until the next AGM.

1.6.4 If a Presidential vacancy is filled as provided in 1.6.3, the post of Deputy President shall be filled by the Executive Vice-President having the longest continuous period of service, who shall continue to serve as an Executive Vice-President and shall not be replaced.

1.7 COUNCIL

1.7.1 The Council shall consist of the Officers and 32 Continental representatives, elected at the AGM, and members co-opted in accordance with the provisions of 1.7.7.

1.7.2 The number of elected representatives from a Continent, in addition to any of its members who are Officers, shall be proportional to the number of its member Associations not in arrears (1.16.3.3).

1.7.3 The elected representatives of a Continent, other than any of its members who are Officers, shall each be from a different Association.

1.7.4 The Council shall meet as required during the period of the AGM and once during the year in which there is no AGM, but shall otherwise conduct its business by correspondence.

1.7.5 The agenda for a Council meeting shall be sent to all its members not later than 1 calendar month before the date of the meeting.

1.7.6 At its last meeting before the AGM the Council shall review all propositions submitted for the AGM and the following Council meeting and, where appropriate, refer them for consideration by Committees, reporting such reference to the AGM.

1.7.7 At its first meeting after the AGM the Council shall co-opt as full members the Chairmen of Committees, other than the Standing Orders Committee, and the Chairman of the Athletes' Commission, if they are not elected members of the Council.

1.7.8 The Chairman at a Council meeting shall normally be the President, or, in his absence, the Deputy President; if both are absent the members present shall elect one of their number as Chairman for that meeting.

1.7.9 Every question at a Council meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of the votes cast; if there is an equality of votes the Chairman shall have a casting vote.

1.7.10 Voting shall be by a show of hands, a roll-call or a ballot, as decided by the meeting on a proposition by the Chairman.

1.7.11 In the period between AGMs any vacancy arising in the membership of the Council may be filled by simple majority vote at a Council meeting, but no temporary substitute shall be permitted to attend a Council meeting or to conduct Council business in place of a member absent or indisposed.

1.7.12 The Council shall have power to appoint ad hoc working groups and consultants to itself or to any Committee; the responsibilities and rights of such working groups and consultants shall be defined at the time of appointment.

1.7.13 The Council shall appoint up to 2 of its members, other than Officers, as ex officio members of each Committee, other than the Standing Orders Committee, and of the Athletes' Commission, but no elected Council member shall be an ex officio member of more than 1 Committee or Commission.

1.7.14 The ITTF shall pay a proportion of the travel costs of Council members attending Council meetings, the proportion being decided from time to time by the Executive Board.

1.8 EXECUTIVE BOARD

1.8.1 An Executive Board, consisting of the Officers, shall meet at intervals of about 6 months when convened by the President.

1.8.2 The Executive Board shall be responsible for

1.8.2.1 initiating and reviewing proposals for the development of table tennis;

1.8.2.2 making recommendations to the AGM or the Council on the assignment of funds for special projects;

1.8.2.3 making recommendations to the AGM or the Council on distribution policies for Olympics revenue;

1.8.2.4 deciding appeals on questions of eligibility and on the allocation of dates for competitions;

1.8.2.5 reviewing membership applications and making recommendations to the Council;

1.8.2.6 any other matters referred to it by the AGM or the Council.

1.9 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

1.9.1 An Executive Committee consisting of the President, Deputy President and Executive Vice-Presidents shall have power to deal with current or urgent business, reporting to the Council at its next meeting.

1.9.2 The Executive Committee shall meet during the period of the AGM and otherwise when convened by the President.

1.10 OLYMPICS COMMISSION

1.10.1 The Olympics Commission shall consist of the Officers and a representative of the country organising the next Olympic Games, but any Continental Vice-President may nominate a representative to attend a meeting in his place or to act on his behalf.

1.10.2 The Commission shall be responsible for:

1.10.2.1 the planning, control and supervision of the table tennis events in the Olympic Games;

1.10.2.2 liaison with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), National Olympic Committees and Associations on all matters concerning Olympic competitions;

1.10.2.3 enforcement of the eligibility regulations and confirmation of the eligibility of entrants for Olympic events;

1.10.2.4 drafting and submission to the AGM of proposals for a qualifying system for entry into Olympic events;

1.10.2.5 appointment of a Jury, Technical Representatives and officials for the table tennis events;

1.10.2.6 generally ensuring that the table tennis events at Olympic Games comply with the letter and the spirit of the Olympic Charter.

1.10.3 The Commission shall meet during the period of the AGM and at other times when convened by the President.

1.10.4 A member of the management staff shall attend all meetings of the Commission and shall draft its minutes and reports.

1.10.5 The Commission shall submit a written report to the AGM and, in the intervening years, to the Council.

1.11 MANAGEMENT STAFF

1.11.1 The Council shall appoint management staff on agreed terms and conditions, on the recommendation of the Executive Committee.

1.11.2 A Chief Executive shall be responsible for the direction and supervision of management staff in all offices of the ITTF.

1.11.3 The position of Chief Executive may be filled by the President or Deputy President on an honorary basis; if neither is able to fill the post the Council shall appoint a professional Chief Executive, on the recommendation of the Executive Committee.

1.11.4 Each member of the management staff shall submit an annual report for incorporation in the Chief Executive's report to the Council.

1.12 SPECIAL COMMITTEES

1.12.1 The AGM shall appoint Special Committees, referred to elsewhere in the Rules as "Committees", to study particular aspects of the work of the ITTF and to advise and assist the Council in dealing with these aspects.

1.12.2 The composition of the Standing Orders Committee shall be recommended to the AGM by the Executive Board; the composition of other Committees shall be decided at the AGM on the basis of lists recommended by the Standing Orders Committee, but amendments to these lists may be proposed at the AGM.

1.12.3 No Committee shall have more than 8 full members and 6 corresponding members, other than ex officio Council members appointed as provided in 1.7.13.

1.12.4 The Chairman of each Committee shall be appointed by the Council from among the full members elected to that Committee.

1.12.5 The Chairman of a Committee may appoint one of its members Vice-Chairman or Secretary and allocate specific duties to him.

1.12.6 Committees shall normally meet during the period of the AGM and shall otherwise conduct their business by correspondence.

1.12.7 A Committee may set up sub-committees of its members to deal with specific areas of work; any reports or recommendations of such sub-committees shall be subject to endorsement by the full Committee before publication or submission to the AGM or the Council.

1.12.8 A member of a Committee who does not, within a reasonable specified period, express in writing an opinion on a written proposal circulated by or on behalf of the Chairman of that Committee shall be considered to have agreed to any resulting recommendation submitted in the name of the Committee.

1.12.9 The Chairman of each Committee shall submit to the Council an annual report of the activities of the Committee, drawing attention to any recommendations which the Committee wishes to make; acceptance of the report shall not automatically imply acceptance of such recommendations.

1.12.10 A Committee may be authorised to act on behalf of the Council but the extent and duration of this authority shall be specified by the Council and shall be reviewed not later than at the next meeting of the Council.

1.12.11 All members of Committees shall be entitled to attend General Meetings but without vote unless representing an Association.

1.12.12 The duties of the Equipment Committee shall be:

1.12.12.1 to advise the Council on equipment and playing conditions;

1.12.12.2 to draft technical specifications and guidance documents for equipment and playing conditions;

1.12.12.3 to conduct or arrange for tests of equipment items submitted for approval and to make recommendations to the Council on acceptance;

1.12.12.4 to cooperate with the Technical Committee in advising the organisers of World and Olympic title competitions on matters concerning equipment and playing conditions.

1.12.13 The duties of the Media Committee shall be:

1.12.13.1 to advise the Council on relations with the Press and television;

1.12.13.2 to encourage the publication of journals, books and films relating to table tennis and to promote the exchange of such information;

1.12.13.3 to set up a roster of its members so that at least one of them is available in the press centre on each day of World Championships during all hours of play.

1.12.14 The duties of the Ranking Committee shall be:

1.12.14.1 to prepare and to publish regularly men's and women's ranking lists for use in seeding singles events of World and Olympic title competitions and open tournaments which include players from more than one Continent;

1.12.14.2 to prepare, from the entries received, a seeding list for the doubles events of World Championships and Olympic Games;

1.12.14.3 to advise the organisers of World and Olympic title competitions on any question of seeding or the assignment of entrants to qualifying stages of the individual events.

1.12.15 The duties of the Rules Committee shall be:

1.12.15.1 to advise the Council on any question of interpretation of rule;

1.12.15.2 in cooperation with the Technical Committee to assist the referee in any question of interpretation of rule at World Championships;

1.12.15.3 to review and, where appropriate, to improve the wording of Laws and Regulations and amendments thereto, in accordance with principles agreed by the AGM or the Council and to make consequential amendments;

1.12.15.4 to coordinate and assist the work of umpires and referees and to be responsible for the qualification and assessment of International Umpires and International Referees;

1.12.15.5 to issue directives on the interpretation and application of Laws and Regulations to International Umpires and International Referees, through their national Associations;

1.12.15.6 to set up a roster of its members so that at least one of them is available in the playing hall on each day of World Championships during all hours of play;

1.12.15.7 in cooperation with the Technical Committee to advise the Executive Committee on the appointment of Technical Representatives for competitions under the control of the ITTF.

1.12.16 The duties of the Sports Science Committee shall be:

1.12.16.1 to advise the Council on medicine, physiology and hygiene relating to table tennis;

1.12.16.2 to prepare guidance documents for players, trainers and officials on matters such as medical services, training and diet relating to table tennis;

1.12.16.3 to prepare instructions concerning doping substances and the application of anti-doping controls;

1.12.16.4 to sponsor and to review research into the scientific aspects of table tennis.

1.12.17 The duties of the Standing Orders Committee shall be:

1.12.17.1 to consider the admissibility of AGM propositions and resolutions received after the specified closing date and to recommend to the AGM their acceptance or rejection;

1.12.17.2 to consider applications to organise World Championships and to report to the AGM:

1.12.17.3 to consider nominations for appointment to Committees other than the Standing Orders Committee, and to recommend to the AGM the composition of Committees, taking account of the views of the retiring Chairmen and the Continental Vice-Presidents.

1.12.18 The duties of the Technical Committee shall be:

1.12.18.1 to advise the Council on the organisation of World Title competitions and to make recommendations of the system of play;

1.12.18.2 to provide advice and assistance to the World Championships organisers in the organisation and management of World Championships;

1.12.18.3 in cooperation with the Rules Committee to assist the referee with any question of interpretation of rule at World Championships;

1.12.18.4 to be responsible for the World Championships draw;

1.12.18.5 to approve the playing schedule prepared by World Championships organisers;

1.12.18.6 to set up a roster of its members so that at least one of them is available in the playing hall on each day of World Championships during all hours of play;

1.12.18.7 in cooperation with the Rules Committee to advise the Executive Committee on the appointment of Technical Representatives for competitions under the control of the ITTF.

1.13 ELIGIBILITY FOR OFFICE

1.13.1 Nominations for Officers and members of the Council, Committees and Commissions may be made only with the consent of the Association of which the nominee is a member; if the consent is revoked after the nominee has been appointed he may be removed from his post only by a 2/3 majority vote of the Council.

1.13.2 No more than 1 person from an Association shall be nominated for the same Officer post.

1.13.3 A member of an Association which is in arrears (1.16.3.3) shall not be eligible for election or co-option.

1.13.4 No person shall at the same time serve as a member of the Executive Committee and a Continental Vice-President.

1.13.5 No person shall serve at the same time as a full member of more than 1 Committee other than the Standing Orders Committee, and no more than 3 such posts shall be occupied by members of one Association.

1.13.6 An Officer shall not serve on a Committee without the specific permission of the Executive Board.

1.13.7 A person connected in any way with the manufacture, sale or endorsement of table tennis equipment or with consultation on such equipment:

1.13.7.1 shall not be eligible as a member of the Executive Committee;

1.13.7.2 may serve on a Committee or otherwise represent an Association but shall withdraw from a meeting or abstain from voting on an issue if so requested by a majority of the meeting which he is attending.

1.13.8 A paid official of the ITTF shall not serve as an Officer or a member of the Council, a Committee or a Commission.

1.13.9 The Chairman of the Standing Orders Committee shall not be eligible as chairman of a General Meeting.

1.13.10 All Officers and members of the Council, the Olympics Commission and Committees shall retire at the AGM but shall be eligible for re-election.

1.14 OTHER APPOINTMENTS

1.14.1 The AGM shall appoint a Calendar Working Group to authorise the dates of World and Continental title competitions, Open International Championships and other ITTF-promoted competitions; its decisions shall be subject to appeal to the Executive Board, whose decision shall be final.

1.14.2 The AGM shall appoint an Athletes' Commission to advise the Council on the development of table tennis, consisting of 1 representative nominated by each Continent and 2 former players nominated by the Executive Committee.

1.15 ADMINISTRATION

1.15.1 Office

1.15.1.1 The Head Office of the ITTF shall be in a place appointed by resolution of the AGM or, in emergency, of the Council.

1.15.2 Languages

1.15.2.1 The correspondence and proceedings of the ITTF shall be conducted in such languages convenient for appropriate tasks and within the resources of the ITTF as may be determined from time to time by the Council, having particular regard to Arabic, English, French, German, Russian and Spanish.

1.15.2.2 All languages of ITTF members are equally official and representatives shall be entitled to address meetings of the ITTF in their own language, subject to their provision of interpretation into one of the working languages fixed for use at that meeting.

1.15.3 Publications

1.15.3.1 The ITTF shall from time to time publish an official Handbook and other guidance documents; 10 copies of each such publication shall be supplied free to each Association.

1.15.3.2 The ITTF shall publish an official Bulletin and shall supply a copy of each issue free to each Association.

1.15.3.3 Each Association shall appoint a representative, notifying his name and address to the Secretariat, to cooperate with the latter in the supply of news.

1.15.3.4 A copy of each issue of each official journal shall be sent by the publishing Association to the Secretariat and to every other Association that supplies the publishing Association with an address for that purpose.

1.16 FINANCE

1.16.1 Accounts

1.16.1.1 The financial year of the ITTF shall end on 31st December.

1.16.1.2 The Executive Vice-President (Finance) shall prepare an annual statement of accounts, which shall be audited by professional auditors, and an annual estimate of income and expenditure for the succeeding year.

1.16.1.3 The bank accounts of the ITTF shall be held at banks appointed by resolution of the AGM or, in emergency, of the Council.

1.16.2 Trustees

1.16.2.1 The President, Deputy President and Executive Vice-Presidents shall be Trustees for the purpose of purchasing, selling, leasing or otherwise dealing with any freehold or leasehold property or other assets required by the Council for the purposes of the ITTF.

1.16.2.2 The Trustees shall be authorised to use the funds of the ITTF in the purchase of such property and assets and shall stand possessed thereof and of the proceeds of sale thereof upon trust for the ITTF in such manner as the Council may from time to time direct.

1.16.2.3 The Trustees shall comply with any laws, statutes and requirements of the countries in which such trust property may be situated which relate to the purchase, sale and management of such property and the duties of Trustees in connection therewith.

1.16.2.4 The Trustees and their estates and effects shall be fully indemnified by the ITTF against all personal risk and expense arising as a result of their appointment as Trustees.

1.16.2.5 The Trustees shall cease to act in such capacity upon ceasing to hold office as President, Deputy President or Executive Vice-Presidents and they or their survivors shall thereupon execute a Deed of Appointment of new Trustees in favour of their successors.

1.16.2.6 Any person dealing bona fide and for value with the Trustees is entitled to regard any statement of fact in the Deed of Appointment as conclusive evidence of that fact.

1.16.2.7 A Minute signed by the President and a member of the management staff shall be conclusive evidence of a decision of the Council.

1.16.3 Subscriptions

1.16.3.1 Each Association shall pay an annual subscription of £100 or the equivalent.

1.16.3.2 The first subscription shall be paid with the application for membership and subsequent subscriptions shall be due on 1st January of each year.

1.16.3.3 An Association shall be in arrears if its subscription has not been paid by 31st December of the year in which it is due.

1.17 MEMBERSHIP

1.17.1 Eligibility

1.17.1.1 Any organisation representing table tennis in a territory and observing the principles of the ITTF may be elected a member but it shall be recognised as representative only of the territory in which it controls the sport.

1.17.1.2 Where one or more Associations represent table tennis in only part of an area generally regarded as constituting a unity, an Association representing the sport in any other part of the same unity may apply for membership, provided that

1.17.1.2.1 its separateness is due to circumstances outside the sport and of the players concerned

1.17.1.2.2 the jurisdiction it claims is clearly limited, in title and constitution, to the territory in which it controls the sport;

1.17.1.2.3 it is otherwise qualified for membership.

1.17.1.3 In the consideration of such an application, the views of any Association already in membership from the same unity shall be taken into account and in no circumstances shall two Associations be recognised as exercising authority over the same territory.

1.17.1.4 An organisation located outside the territory of any Association may be granted temporary attachment to an Association for the purpose of receiving aid in development and competition; the extended territory shall be regarded as being within the member's control, but approval of the attachment shall be reviewed at each AGM and shall not be renewed indefinitely.

1.17.2 Application and Election

1.17.2.1 Applications for membership shall be made on a form approved by the Council.

1.17.2.2 All applications shall be submitted not later than 6 calendar months before the date of the General Meeting at which the application is to be considered.

1.17.2.3 The Executive Board shall review all applications on behalf of the Council and make recommendations on acceptance.

1.17.2.4 Applications for membership shall be considered by the next AGM and shall be accepted if they receive at least 2/3 of the votes cast. In the consideration of an application in respect of an area for which there is a recognised Continental Federation, the views of that Federation shall be taken into account.

1.17.2.5 In the consideration of applications for combined membership by Associations formerly in separate membership, or for separate membership by Associations which were formerly components of an Association which has divided, or for recognition of changes in the territory in which an Association controls the sport, the views of the organisations concerned and any circumstances outside their control shall be taken into account; secession in other circumstances is not to be encouraged.

1.17.2.6 The Council may, by a 2/3 majority of the votes cast, elect an applicant to "provisional membership", which shall entitle the Association to attend the next AGM, without voice or vote, and to compete meanwhile in all events except World Championships.

1.17.2.7 An Association in provisional membership may compete also in the following World Championships, subject to the assent of the Association organising these Championships, provided that no vote is cast against the election and that the application is received not later than 6 calendar months before the opening date of the Championships.

1.17.2.8 The representatives of an Association elected to membership at a General Meeting shall be entitled to attend the meeting and to vote after election.

1.17.2.9 Election and membership of an Association shall not carry any implications in respect of the political, diplomatic or national status of the area concerned, but only to its conduct of table tennis therein.

1.17.3 Suspension and Termination

1.17.3.1 An Association wishing to resign from the ITTF shall give notice in writing to the Secretariat; the resignation may take effect at any time from the receipt of such notice until the 31st December of the same year but the Association shall be liable for the subscription due for that year.

1.17.3.2 An Association which fails to pay its subscription for 3 successive years shall automatically be suspended from membership; it shall not be liable for subscriptions during the period of suspension and may be re-admitted to membership on payment of part or all of the subscriptions previously due, at the discretion of the Council.

1.17.3.3 An Association which is suspended from membership shall not be entitled to nominate or enter players for any event held under the jurisdiction of the ITTF nor to attend or be represented at a General Meeting.

1.17.3.4 An Association which seriously and persistently fails to maintain the principles or to respect the Constitution and decisions of the ITTF may be censured, fined, suspended or expelled by a General Meeting; a suspension may be cancelled only by a General Meeting or, in emergency, by a 3/4 majority of the votes cast at a Council meeting.

1.17.4 Personal Honorary Membership

1.17.4.1 An official who has given long, outstanding service to the ITTF may, on retirement, be appointed a Personal Honorary Member for his lifetime by the AGM on a recommendation by the Council.

1.17.4.2 Personal Honorary Members shall be entitled to attend World Championships, with free hospitality, and to attend General Meetings with the right to speak but not to vote.

1.18 ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS

1.18.1 Continental Federations

1.18.1.1 Associations may group themselves into Continental Federations for the purpose of promoting and regulating table tennis within a given continental area; such Federations shall be supported and encouraged by the ITTF, which shall co-operate with them in all matters, provided that the constitution, general principles, rules and policy of the Continental Federation conform to those of the ITTF.

1.18.1.2 Each Continental Federation shall provide the ITTF Secretariat with a copy its Constitution and with details of any subsequent changes not later than 3 calendar months after the meeting at which they are made.

1.18.1.3 Membership of the Continental Federation shall be open to Associations whose address in the ITTF Handbook is situated within the appropriate Continental area except where, for reasons outside the control of sport, an Association is not acceptable to its appropriate Continental Federation; in such circumstances, which shall not necessarily prevent recognition of the Continental Federation concerned, the Association failing to secure membership shall have the right to appeal to the ITTF to assist in securing membership or, failing that, attachment to another adjacent Continental Federation.

1.18.1.4 Organisations eligible for membership of the ITTF but not yet having applied for membership may, with the consent of the Council, be included in the appropriate Continental Federation for a period not exceeding 2 years but renewable by each AGM; the players of such an organisation shall enjoy the privileges of players of a member Association but only in the Continent concerned.

1.18.1.5 Parts of an Association which lie wholly within a Continental area other than that in which the address of that Association in the ITTF Handbook is situated may, with the permission of the Council and the consent of their Association, be attached to the Continental Federation in whose area they lie for the purpose of competition and the encouragement of table tennis; with the same permission and for the same purposes, Associations lying wholly outside but adjacent to the Continental area concerned may similarly be attached, with the consent of the Federation of the Continent of which they form a part.

1.18.1.6 The championship title competitions of a Continental Federation shall be open only to the players of its member and attached Associations and the ITTF shall recognise such competitions as the sole Continental title championships for that Continent.

1.18.2 Other Regional Groups

1.18.2.1 Associations may group themselves into non-Continental regional organisations for the purpose of competition provided that, where the competition is for a regional title, the event is open to all Associations in the region and that the Constitution is observed in respect of play with unaffiliated organisations or players.

1.19 GENERAL MEETINGS

1.19.1 Place and Time

1.19.1.1 A AGM shall be held at the place, and during the period, of the World Championships or, if the World Championships is not held at the due time, at such other place and date between 1 and 3 years since the last AGM as the Council may determine.

1.19.1.2 An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) may be convened at any time by the Council and shall be convened within 10 weeks of receipt by the Secretariat of a requisition in writing submitted by not less than 1/4 of the Associations not in arrears (1.16.3.3), representing at least 2 Continents.

1.19.2 Notice of Meeting

1.19.2.1 Notice of the meeting, giving details of the place, date and time and the business to be transacted, together with a proxy form, shall be sent by post to each Association; the person and address to which the notice is sent shall be as last notified by each Association to the Secretariat.

1.19.2.2 For a AGM the notice shall be sent not later than 2 calendar months before the date of the meeting.

1.19.2.3 For an EGM the notice shall be sent not later than 1 calendar month before the date of the meeting.

1.19.3 Notice of Business

1.19.3.1 Details in writing of business to be dealt with at a AGM must reach the Secretariat not later than 3 calendar months before the date of the meeting.

1.19.3.2 Notice of the actual closing date in each year for the receipt of business and propositions shall be sent to all Associations by the Secretariat not later than 6 calendar months before the date of the meeting.

1.19.3.3 Business and propositions, other than changes to the Constitution or the Laws, of which due notice has not been given but which, in the opinion of the Standing Orders Committee, relate to the business in hand without introducing a new principle or relate to an emergency may be admitted by a vote in favour of 2/3 of the votes cast at the AGM; a recommendation by the Standing Orders Committee to exclude such business or propositions may be challenged.

1.19.3.4 The requisition for an EGM shall specify the business for which the meeting is to be convened and no other business except the confirmation of the Minutes of the previous General Meeting shall be transacted at such a meeting.

1.19.4 Proxies

1.19.4.1 If an Association wishes to appoint a proxy to represent it at a General Meeting, notice of the appointment together with a declaration that the Agenda and the necessary instructions as indicated in the form of appointment have been given to the proxy must reach the Secretariat not later than 3 days before the date of the meeting.

1.19.4.2 No Association shall give a proxy to another Association where the territories over which both exercise authority form part of the same state unity.

1.19.4.3 No Association shall hold more than 1 proxy on behalf of other Associations, but in addition each member of the Council may hold a proxy in his own right.

1.19.5 Procedure

1.19.5.1 The agenda for a AGM shall include:

1.19.5.1.1 the appointment of a Chairman;

1.19.5.1.2 the adoption of the report of the Standing Orders Committee;

1.19.5.1.3 a roll-call of the Associations present and the verification of proxies;

1.19.5.1.4 the appointment of scrutineers;

1.19.5.1.5 the confirmation of the Minutes of the previous General Meeting;

1.19.5.1.6 the consideration of applications for membership;

1.19.5.1.7 the receipt of reports from Officers which, with the possible exception of that from the President, shall be given in writing;

1.19.5.1.8 the receipt of reports from Committees and the Olympics Commission;

1.19.5.1.9 the receipt of the audited statement of accounts for the previous 2 years;

1.19.5.1.10 the consideration of propositions and the reports of any Committees that have studied them;

1.19.5.1.11 the election of Officers, members of the Council, Committees, Commissions and Working Groups, and Auditors;

1.19.5.1.12 the consideration of arrangements for future World Championships.

1.19.5.2 No speaker shall speak more than once on a proposition except that the proposer shall have the right of reply and that the Chairman may, at his discretion, allow a speaker to speak more than once to answer a query arising from his original speech.

1.19.5.3 The Chairman shall decide how many speakers will be permitted to speak on a proposition and when the vote shall be taken, except that a motion "that the question now be put" shall be voted on immediately, without further discussion; if such a motion is carried the proposition or any amendment before the meeting shall then be voted on immediately, without further discussion, subject to the right of reply by the mover of the substantive proposition.

1.19.5.4 A question once decided may not be reverted to for re-discussion and re-vote unless the Chairman rules, as a matter of urgency, that a case has been made for supposing that the decision taken may jeopardise the whole welfare of the ITTF; a motion to challenge the Chairman's ruling that the matter is not of sufficient urgency to justify reconsideration must be taken whenever it is moved.

1.19.6 Voting

1.19.6.1 Each Association not in arrears (1.16.3.3) shall have 1 vote.

1.19.6.2 Questions shall be decided by a simple majority of the votes cast except that:

1.19.6.2.1 changes to the Constitution, the acceptance of belated or emergency business or propositions and the revocation of a World Championships option require a majority of 2/3 of the votes cast;

1.19.6.2.2 expulsions from membership and changes to the Laws of Table Tennis require a 3/4 majority of the votes cast;

1.19.6.2.3 dissolution of the ITTF requires a 4/5 majority of the votes cast.

1.19.6.3 If there is an equality of votes on an administrative or financial matter the Chairman shall have a casting vote; if there is an equality of votes on any other matter the motion shall fail and the meeting shall proceed with the next business.

1.19.6.4 Voting other than in elections shall be by roll-call in alphabetical order of Associations, starting with a name drawn at random, except where the Chairman is satisfied after a show of hands that such procedure is not necessary.

1.19.6.5 Each Continental Vice-President shall nominate 2 persons from his Continent, for approval by the meeting, to form a list of scrutineers.

1.19.6.6 For each vote requiring scrutineers, including elections, names shall be taken from the list in alphabetical order, omitting the representative of any Association having a particular interest in the item which is the subject of the vote.

1.19.7 Elections

1.19.7.1 Where there are more candidates for a post or posts than the number of vacancies there shall be a ballot, which shall be won by the candidate or candidates obtaining the highest numbers of votes.

1.19.7.2 In the election of Continental Vice-Presidents and of Continental representatives to the Council only Associations from the appropriate Continent shall be entitled to nominate and vote; in all other elections all Associations shall be entitled to nominate and vote.

1.19.7.3 If there is an equality of votes in the first ballot there shall be a second ballot among those equal; if there is still an equality of votes preference shall be given to the appointment of a representative of an Association which is otherwise unrepresented and, where this is not decisive, the outcome shall be determined by lot.

1.20 CHANGES TO RULES

1.20.1 Rule change propositions and resolutions may be submitted to the AGM or the Council by Associations, the Executive Committee, the Executive Board, Continental Federations, Committees and Commissions and to the AGM by the Council.

1.20.2 Rule change propositions to be considered at a AGM or a Council meeting must reach the Secretariat not later than 3 months before the date of the meeting.

1.20.3 Amendments to the Constitution and the Laws of Table Tennis shall be made only at a General Meeting; amendments to other Regulations shall be made only at a meeting of the Council held immediately after the AGM or in the year between AGMs.

1.20.4 Details of all rule change proposals shall be published in the agenda of the meeting at which they are to be considered.

1.20.5 Unless specifically decided otherwise changes shall take effect from the first day of the next playing season, which in the northern hemisphere shall be 1st September, except that

1.20.5.1 change affecting finance shall take effect from the first day of the next ITTF financial year

1.20.5.2 change affecting equipment shall take place from the first day of the playing season after the next AGM.

1.21 JURISDICTION OF ASSOCIATIONS

1.21.1 Membership and Representation

1.21.1.1 A player shall be regarded as resident in a territory if his normal or main residence or base is in that territory; residence shall not be determined by continuity or by duration.

1.21.1.2 Before accepting a player into membership an Association shall satisfy itself that he is or intends to be resident in its territory and it shall not retain him if he terminates such residence.

1.21.1.3 Unless notified of any suspension or expulsion, Associations shall be entitled to regard any player or organisation resident in the territory of an Association and known to have been affiliated to it as eligible for participation.

1.21.1.4 No Association shall make a resident in a territory controlled by another Association or, except after a genuine change of residence, a member of another Association, a member or representative of itself without the prior permission of the other Association, except as provided in 1.21.1.5.

1.21.1.5 An Association may nominate as its representative at a General Meeting a resident of the territory in which the meeting takes place, provided that he has never been a member of another Association; such a nominee may be admitted as a representative by majority vote at the General Meeting for which he is nominated.

1.21.1.6 Any dispute under these regulations shall be referred to the Council.

1.21.2 Extent of Jurisdiction

1.21.2.1 In administering and interpreting its own regulations and decisions an Association shall exercise jurisdiction over:

1.21.2.1.1 players resident in its territory, while they are in that territory or in any other territory;

1.21.2.1.2 visiting players, while they are in its territory, except as provided in 1.21.3.1;

1.21.2.1.3 players representing it in a competition who are normally resident in the territory of another Association, but only while they are taking part in that competition;

1.21.2.1.4 a resident of a territory in which a General Meeting takes place who is acting as its representative at the General Meeting, as provided in 1.21.1.5.

1.21.3 Visiting Players

1.21.3.1 If a visiting player is officially representing his Association as a result of an invitation by the visited Association, the visited Association shall acquire no rights of penalty.

1.21.3.1.1 The responsible management committee shall have jurisdiction over the conduct of the competition but no subsequent penalty shall be imposed on a visiting player for any offence committed in connection with that competition.

1.21.3.1.2 The visited Association may protest to the visiting player's Association about such an offence, but his own Association shall retain sole jurisdiction over him and the right to impose a penalty.

1.21.3.2 If a visiting player participates in table tennis activities other than as an official representative of his Association, whether or not his visit is the result of an invitation by the visited Association, he shall be subject also to the jurisdiction of the visited Association, which shall have the right to impose a penalty for any offence committed in connection with such activities.

1.21.3.2.1 No such penalty shall come into operation until at least 1 calendar month after its notification with an account of all the circumstances, to the visiting player's Association.

1.21.3.2.2 If the visiting player's Association makes no appeal within 1 calendar month of being notified the penalty may be imposed.

1.21.3.2.3 If an appeal is submitted within 1 calendar month the matter shall be referred to the Council and the penalty shall not come into operation before the appeal has been decided.

1.21.4 Payments to Players

1.21.4.1 Except when acting under the direct instructions of his Association as its representative, a player may accept payment, reward, benefit or allowances for playing in any competition other than World Championships or Olympic Games, or for exhibition or coaching, providing that he has previously obtained permission:

1.21.4.1.1 for the payment of such expenses, from the Association in whose area the event is to take place and

1.21.4.1.2 for the receipt of such expenses, from the Association having jurisdiction over him.

1.21.4.2 Subject to any overriding provisions of 1.21.4.1, each Association shall have absolute discretion to determine and regulate its own policy for payments, rewards, benefits and allowances in respect of players and events under its jurisdiction.

1.22 UNAFFILIATED PLAYERS AND ORGANISATIONS

1.22.1 The object is to control, but not to prevent, play between affiliated and unaffiliated players; only teams and players nominated by Associations shall participate in World and Continental Championships, but otherwise such play will, when not contrary to the principles of the ITTF or to the interests of its members, generally be permitted provided due application is made.

1.22.2 A player affiliated to an Association shall not take part in any competition, exhibition or coaching

1.22.2.1 in the territory of another Association, unless the body under whose auspices the activity takes place is affiliated to and in good standing with the Association of the visited territory, except with the prior permission of that Association;

1.22.2.2 in a territory not having an Association or whose governing organisation is not affiliated to the ITTF, except with the permission of the Executive Committee, unless the Council has previously given permission for the governing organisation to be included temporarily in the appropriate Continental Federation pending an application for membership;

1.22.2.3 organised by an unaffiliated body, unless permission for the event has been given by the Executive Committee, except as provided in 1.22.6.

1.22.3 The Association controlling the territory in which a player is resident shall be responsible for ensuring that he complies with the requirements of 1.22.2.

1.22.4 A player resident in a territory which has no governing organisation or whose governing organisation is not affiliated to the ITTF shall not take part in any competition, exhibition or coaching in the territory of an Association, except with the permission of the Executive Committee, unless the Council has previously given permission for the governing organisation to be included temporarily in the appropriate Continental Federation pending an application for membership.

1.22.5 The Executive Committee may give permission for a table tennis competition to be organised by an unaffiliated body provided that

1.22.5.1 the organising body has undertaken to comply with the appropriate ITTF regulations;

1.22.5.2 the organising body has undertaken not to include affiliated players in the event unless their Associations have given permission;

1.22.5.3 the organising body has undertaken not to include unaffiliated players in the event unless the Executive Committee has given permission;

1.22.5.4 the application to organise the event is supported by the Association, if any, controlling the territory in which the competition is to take place;

1.22.5.5 the supporting Association has accepted responsibility for ensuring that the organising body observes the requirements of 1.22.5.1-3.

1.22.6 Where an Association is prepared to accept responsibility for the conduct of an event organised in its territory by an unaffiliated organisation no special permission is required, but the Association shall notify the Secretariat, which will advise all other Associations that the event is in order.

1.23 DISSOLUTION

1.23.1 The ITTF shall not be dissolved other than at a General Meeting specially convened for the purpose.

1.23.2 The balance of funds in hand at the time of dissolution shall be divided equally among the Associations not at that time in arrears (1.6.3.3).

2.  Laws - The Rules of the Game 

2.1 THE TABLE

2.1.1 The upper surface of the table, known as the playing surface, shall be rectangular, 2.74m long and 1.525m wide, and shall lie in a horizontal plane 76cm above the floor.

2.1.2 The playing surface shall not include the sides of the table top.

2.1.3 The playing surface may be of any material and shall yield a uniform bounce of about 23cm when a standard ball is dropped on to it from a height of 30cm.

2.1.4 The playing surface shall be uniformly dark coloured and matt, but with a white side line, 2cm wide, along each 2.74m edge and a white end line, 2cm wide, along each 1.525m edge.

2.1.5 The playing surface shall be divided into 2 equal courts by a vertical net running parallel with the end lines, and shall be continuous over the whole area of each court.

2.1.6 For doubles, each court shall be divided into 2 equal half-courts by a white centre line, 3mm wide, running parallel with the side lines; the centre line shall be regarded as part of each right half-court.

2.2 THE NET ASSEMBLY

2.2.1 The net assembly shall consist of the net, its suspension and the supporting posts, including the clamps attaching them to the table.

2.2.2 The net shall be suspended by a cord attached at each end to an upright post 15.25cm high, the outside limits of the post being 15.25cm outside the side line.

2.2.3 The top of the net, along its whole length, shall be 15.25cm above the playing surface.

2.2.4 The bottom of the net, along its whole length, shall be as close as possible to the playing surface and the ends of the net shall be as close as possible to the supporting posts.

2.3 THE BALL

2.3.1 The ball shall be spherical, with a diameter of 40mm (with effect from 1.10.00).

2.3.2 The ball shall weigh 2.7g (with effect from 1.10.00).

2.3.3 The ball shall be made of celluloid or similar plastics material and shall be white or orange, and matt.

2.4 THE RACKET

2.4.1 The racket may be of any size, shape or weight but the blade shall be flat and rigid.

2.4.2 At least 85% of the blade by thickness shall be of natural wood; an adhesive layer within the blade may be reinforced with fibrous material such as carbon fibre, glass fibre or compressed paper, but shall not be thicker than 7.5% of the total thickness or 0.35mm, whichever is the smaller.

2.4.3 A side of the blade used for striking the ball shall be covered with either ordinary pimpled rubber, with pimples outwards having a total thickness including adhesive of not more than 2mm, or sandwich rubber, with pimples inwards or outwards, having a total thickness including adhesive of not more than 4mm.

2.4.3.1 Ordinary pimpled rubber is a single layer of non-cellular rubber, natural or synthetic, with pimples evenly distributed over its surface at a density of not less than 10 per sq cm and not more than 50 per sq cm.

2.4.3.2 Sandwich rubber is a single layer of cellular rubber covered with a single outer layer of ordinary pimpled rubber, the thickness of the pimpled rubber not being more than 2mm.

2.4.4 The covering material shall extend up to but not beyond the limits of the blade, except that the part nearest the handle and gripped by the fingers may be left uncovered or covered with any material.

2.4.5 The blade, any layer within the blade and any layer of covering material or adhesive shall be continuous and of even thickness.

2.4.6 The surface of the covering material on a side of the blade, or of a side of the blade if it is left uncovered, shall be matt, bright red on one side and black on the other.

2.4.7 Slight deviations from continuity of surface or uniformity of colour due to accidental damage or wear may be allowed provided that they do not significantly change the characteristics of the surface.

2.4.8 At the start of a match and whenever he changes his racket during a match a player shall show his opponent and the umpire the racket he is about to use and shall allow them to examine it.

2.5 DEFINITIONS

2.5.1 A rally is the period during which the ball is in play.

2.5.2 The ball is in play from the last moment at which it is stationary on the palm of the free hand before being intentionally projected in service until it touches anything other than the playing surface, the net assembly, the racket held in the racket hand or the racket hand below the wrist, or until the rally is otherwise decided as a let or a point.

2.5.3 A let is a rally of which the result is not scored.

2.5.4 A point is a rally of which the result is scored.

2.5.5 The racket hand is the hand carrying the racket.

2.5.6 The free hand is the hand not carrying the racket.

2.5.7 A player strikes the ball if he touches it in play with his racket, held in the hand, or with his racket hand below the wrist.

2.5.8 A player obstructs the ball if he, or anything he wears or carries, touches it in play when it is travelling towards the playing surface and has not passed beyond his end line, not having touched his court since the being struck by the opponent.

2.5.9 The server is the player due to strike the ball first in a rally.

2.5.10 The receiver is the player due to strike the ball second in a rally.

2.5.11 The umpire is the person appointed to control a match.

2.5.12 The assistant umpire is the person appointed to assist the umpire with certain decisions.

2.5.13 Anything that a player wears or carries includes anything that he was wearing or carrying, other than the ball, at the start of the rally.

2.5.14 The ball shall be regarded as passing over or around the net assembly if it passes over, under or outside the projection of the net assembly outside the table.

2.5.15 The end line shall be regarded as extending indefinitely in both directions.

2.6 A GOOD SERVICE

2.6.1 At the start of service the ball shall be stationary, resting freely on the flat, open palm of the server's free hand, behind the end line and above the level of the playing surface.

2.6.2 The server shall then project the ball near vertically upwards, without imparting spin, so that it rises at least 16cm after leaving the palm of the free hand and then falls without touching anything before being struck.

2.6.3 As the ball is falling the server shall strike it so that it touches first his court and then, after passing over or around the net assembly, touches directly the receiver's court; in doubles, the ball shall touch successively the right half court of server and receiver.

2.6.4 The ball and the racket shall be above the level of the playing surface from the last moment at which the ball is stationary before being projected until it is struck.

2.6.5 When the ball is struck it shall be behind the server's end line but not farther back than the part of the server's body, other than his arm, head or leg, which is farthest from his end line.

2.6.6 It is the responsibility of the player to serve so that the umpire or assistant umpire can see that he complies with the requirements for a good service.

2.6.6.1 If the umpire is doubtful of the legality of a service but neither he nor the assistant umpire is sure that it is illegal he may, on the first occasion in a match, warn the server without awarding a point.

2.6.6.2 If subsequently in the match the same player's service is of dubious legality, for the same or for any other reason, he shall not be given the benefit of the doubt and the receiver shall score a point.

2.6.6.3 Whenever there is a clear failure to comply with the requirements for a good service no warning shall be given and the receiver shall score a point, on the first as on any other occasion.

2.6.7 Exceptionally, the umpire may relax the requirements for a good service where he is notified, before play begins, that compliance is prevented by physical disability.

2.7 A GOOD RETURN

2.7.1 The ball, having been served or returned, shall be struck so that it passes over or around the net assembly and touches the opponent's court, either directly or after touching the net assembly.

2.8 THE ORDER OF PLAY

2.8.1 In singles, the server shall first make a good service, the receiver shall then make a good return and thereafter server and receiver alternately shall each make a good return.

2.8.2 In doubles, the server shall first make a good service, the receiver shall then make a good return, the partner of the server shall then make a good return, the partner of the receiver shall then make a good return and thereafter each player in turn in that sequence shall make a good return.

2.9 A LET

2.9.1 The rally shall be a let

2.9.1.1 if in service the ball, in passing over the net assembly, touches it, provided the service is otherwise good or the ball is obstructed by the receiver or his partner;

2.9.1.2 if the service is delivered when the receiving player or pair is not ready, provided that neither the receiver nor his partner attempts to strike the ball;

2.9.1.3 if failure to make a good service or a good return or otherwise to comply with the Laws is due to a disturbance outside the control of the player;

2.9.1.4 if play is interrupted by the umpire or assistant umpire.

2.9.2 Play may be interrupted

2.9.2.1 to correct an error in the order of serving, receiving or ends;

2.9.2.2 to introduce the expedite system;

2.9.2.3 to warn or penalise a player;

2.9.2.4 because the conditions of play are disturbed in a way which could affect the outcome of the rally.

2.10 A POINT

2.10.1 Unless the rally is a let, a player shall score a point

2.10.1.1 if his opponent fails to make a good service;

2.10.1.2 if his opponent fails to make a good return;

2.10.1.3 if, after he has made a good service or a good return, the ball touches anything other than the net assembly before being struck by his opponent;

2.10.1.4 if the ball passes over his court or beyond his end line without touching his court, after being struck by his opponent;

2.10.1.5 if his opponent obstructs the ball;

2.10.1.6 if his opponent strikes the ball twice successively;

2.10.1.7 if his opponent strikes the ball with a side of the racket blade whose surface does not comply with the requirements of 2.4.3;

2.10.1.8 if his opponent, or anything his opponent wears or carries, moves the playing surface;

2.10.1.9 if his opponent, or anything his opponent wears or carries, touches the net assembly;

2.10.1.10 if his opponent's free hand touches the playing surface;

2.10.1.11 if a doubles opponent strikes the ball out of the sequence established by the first server and first receiver;

2.10.1.12 as provided under the expedite system (2.15.2).

2.11 A GAME

2.11.1 A game shall be won by the player or pair first scoring 21 points unless both players or pairs score 20 points, when the game shall be won by the player or pair first scoring subsequently 2 points more than the opposing player or pair.

2.12 A MATCH

2.12.1 A match shall consist of the best of 3 games or the best of 5 games.

2.12.2 Play shall be continuous throughout a match except that any player shall be entitled to an interval of not more than 2 minutes between successive games.

2.13 THE CHOICE OF SERVING, RECEIVING AND ENDS

2.13.1 The right to choose the initial order of serving, receiving and ends shall be decided by lot and the winner may choose to serve or to receive first or to start at a particular end.

2.13.2 When one player or pair has chosen to serve or to receive first or to start at a particular end, the other player or pair shall have the other choice.

2.13.3 After each 5 points have been scored the receiving player or pair shall become the serving player or pair and so on until the end of the game, unless both players or pairs have scored 20 points or the expedite system is in operation, when the sequences of serving and receiving shall be the same but each player shall serve for only 1 point in turn.

2.13.4 In each game of a doubles match, the pair having the right to serve first shall choose which of them will do so and in the first game of a match the receiving pair shall decide which of them will receive first; in subsequent games of the match, the first server having been chosen, the first receiver shall be the player who served to him in the preceding game.

2.13.5 In doubles, at each change of service the previous receiver shall become the server and the partner of the previous server shall become the receiver.

2.13.6 The player or pair serving first in a game shall receive first in the next game of the match and in the last possible game of a doubles match the pair due to receive next shall change their order of receiving when first either pair scores 10 points.

2.13.7 The player or pair starting at one end in a game shall start at the other end in the next game of the match and in the last possible game of a match the players or pairs shall change ends when first either player or pair scores 10 points.

2.14 OUT OF ORDER OF SERVICE, RECEIVING OR ENDS

2.14.1 If a player serves or receives out of turn, play shall be interrupted by the umpire as soon as the error is discovered and shall resume with those players serving and receiving who should be server and receiver respectively at the score that has been reached, according to the sequence established at the beginning of the match and, in doubles, to the order of serving chosen by the pair having the right to serve first in the game during which the error is discovered.

2.14.2 If the players have not changed ends when they should have done so, play shall be interrupted by the umpire as soon as the error is discovered and shall resume with the players at the ends at which they should be at the score that has been reached, according to the sequence established at the beginning of the match.

2.14.3 In any circumstances, all points scored before the discovery of an error shall be reckoned.

2.15 THE EXPEDITE SYSTEM

2.15.1 Except where both players or pairs have scored at least 19 points, the expedite system shall come into operation if a game is unfinished after 15 minutes' play or at any earlier time at the request of both players or pairs.

2.15.1.1 If the ball is in play when the time limit is reached, play shall be interrupted by the umpire and shall resume with service by the player who served in the rally that was interrupted.

2.15.1.2 If the ball is not in play when the time limit is reached, play shall resume with service by the player who received in the immediately preceding rally.

2.15.2 Thereafter, each player shall serve for 1 point in turn and if the receiving player or pair makes 13 good returns the receiver shall score a point.

2.15.3 If expedite is introduced, or if a game lasts longer than 15 minutes, all subsequent games of that individual match shall be played under the expedite system.

3. Regulations for International Competitions

3.1 SCOPE OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS

3.1.1 Types of Competition

3.1.1.1 An international competition is one which may include the players of more than one Association.

3.1.1.2 An international match is a match between teams representing Associations.

3.1.1.3 An open tournament is one which is open to the players of all Associations.

3.1.1.4 A restricted tournament is one which is restricted to specified groups of players other than age groups.

3.1.1.5 An invitation tournament is one which is restricted to specifed players, individually invited.

3.1.2 Applicability

3.1.2.1 Except as provided in 3.1.2.2, the Laws (Chapter 2) shall apply to World, Continental and Olympic title competitions, open tournaments and, unless otherwise agreed by the participating Associations, to international matches.

3.1.2.2 The Council shall have power to authorise the organiser of an open tournament to adopt experimental law variations specified by the Executive Committee.

3.1.2.3 The Regulations for International Competitions shall apply to

3.1.2.3.1 World and Olympic title competitions, unless otherwise authorised by the Council and notified in advance to the participating Associations;

3.1.2.3.2 Continental title competitions, unless otherwise authorised by the appropriate Continental Federation and notified in advance to the participating Associations;

3.1.2.3.3 Open International Championships (3.7.1.2), unless otherwise authorised by the Executive Committee and accepted by the participants in accordance with 3.1.2.4;

3.1.2.3.4 open tournaments, except as provided in 3.1.2.4.

3.1.2.4 Where an open tournament does not comply with any of these regulations the nature and extent of the variation shall be specified in the entry form; completion and submission of an entry form shall be regarded as signifying acceptance of the conditions of the competition, including such variations.

3.1.2.5 The Laws and Regulations are recommended for all international competitions but, provided that the Constitution is observed, international restricted and invitation tournaments and recognised international competitions organised by unaffiliated bodies may be held under rules laid down by the organising authority.

3.1.2.6 The Laws and the Regulations for International Competitions shall be presumed to apply unless variations have been agreed in advance or are made clear in the published rules of the competition.

3.1.2.7 Detailed explanations and interpretations of regulations, including equipment specifications, shall be published as Technical Leaflets authorised by the Council and in Handbooks for Match Officials and Tournament Referees.

3.2 EQUIPMENT AND PLAYING CONDITIONS

3.2.1 Approved and Authorised Equipment

3.2.1.1 The approval and authorisation of playing equipment shall be conducted on behalf of the Council by the Equipment Committee; approval or authorisation may be withdrawn by the Council at any time if its continuation is found to be detrimental to the sport.

3.2.1.2 The entry form or prospectus for an open tournament shall specify the brands and colours of table, net assembly and ball to be used; the choice of equipment shall be as laid down by the Association in whose territory the competition is held, selected from brands and types currently approved by the ITTF.

3.2.1.3 The covering material on a side of the blade used for striking the ball shall be of a brand and type currently authorised by the ITTF and shall be attached to the blade so that the trademark and the ITTF logo are clearly visible near the edge of the striking surface.

3.2.1.4 Coverings may be attached to racket blades only by means of pressure-sensitive adhesive sheets or adhesives which do not contain a prohibited solvent (3.5.4); a list of authorised adhesives is available from the Secretariat.

3.2.2 Clothing

3.2.2.1 Playing clothing shall normally consist of a short-sleeved shirt and shorts or skirt, socks and playing shoes; other garments, such as part or all of a track suit, shall not be worn during play except with the permission of the referee.

3.2.2.2 The main colour of a shirt, skirt or shorts, other than sleeves and collar of a shirt shall be clearly different from that of the ball in use.

3.2.2.3 Clothing may bear

3.2.2.3.1 a badge or lettering, other than advertisement, on the front or side, contained within a total area of 64cm2;

3.2.2.3.2 numbers or lettering on the back of the shirt to identify a player, his Association or, in club matches, his club;

3.2.2.3.3 advertisements in accordance with the provisions of 3.2.4.7;

3.2.2.3.4 the ITTF logo, where the design has been authorised by the ITTF (until 1.1.99).

3.2.2.4 Any numbers required by organisers to identify a player shall have priority over advertisements on the centre part of the back of a shirt; such numbers shall be contained within a panel having an area not greater than 600cm2.

3.2.2.5 Any markings or trimming on the front or side of a playing garment and any objects such as jewellery worn by a player shall not be so conspicuous or brightly reflecting as to unsight an opponent.

3.2.2.6 Clothing shall not carry designs or lettering which might cause offence or bring the game into disrepute.

3.2.2.7 Any question of the legality or acceptability of playing clothing shall be decided by the referee. (Until 1.1.99, a referee may not rule illegal or unacceptable a design which has been authorised by the ITTF).

3.2.2.8 The players of a team taking part in a team match, and players of the same Association forming a doubles pair, shall be dressed uniformly, with the possible exception of socks and shoes.

3.2.2.9 Opposing players and pairs shall wear shirts that are of sufficiently different colours to enable them to be easily distinguished by spectators.

3.2.2.10 Where opposing players or teams have similar clothing and cannot agree which of them will change, the decision shall be made by lot.

3.2.2.11 Players competing in a World or Olympic title competition or Open International Championships shall wear shirt and shorts or skirt of types authorised by their Association.

3.2.3 Playing Conditions

3.2.3.1 The playing space shall not be less than 14m long, 7m wide and 5m high.

3.2.3.2 The playing area shall be enclosed by surrounds about 75cm high, all of the same dark background colour, separating it from adjacent playing areas and from spectators.

3.2.3.3 In World and Olympic title competitions the light intensity, measured at the height of the playing surface, shall be at least 1000 lux uniformly over the whole of the playing surface and at least 500 lux elsewhere in the playing area; in other competitions the intensity shall be at least 600 lux uniformly over the playing surface and at least 400 lux elsewhere in the playing area.

3.2.3.4 Where several tables are in use, the lighting level shall be the same for all of them and the level of background lighting in the playing hall shall not be higher than the lowest level in the playing area.

3.2.3.5 The light source shall not be less than 5m above the floor.

3.2.3.6 The background shall be generally dark and shall not contain bright light sources nor daylight through uncovered windows or other apertures.

3.2.3.7 The flooring shall not be light-coloured nor brightly reflecting and its surface shall not be of brick, concrete or stone; in World and Olympic title competitions the flooring shall be of wood or of a brand and type of rollable synthetic material authorised by the ITTF.

3.2.4 Advertisements

3.2.4.1 Inside the playing area, advertisements shall be displayed only on equipment or fittings which are normally present and there shall be no special additional displays.

3.2.4.2 Fluorescent or luminescent colours shall not be used anywhere in the playing area.

3.2.4.3 Lettering or symbols on the inside of surrounds shall not include white or orange nor more than two colours and shall not be greater in height than 40cm; it is recommended that they be of the same colour as the surrounds but slightly lighter or slightly darker;

3.2.4.4 Marking on flooring and on the ends and side of the table top shall be in a slightly darker or a slightly lighter shade of the background colour or black.

3.2.4.5 There shall be up to 4 advertisements on the floor of the playing area, 1 at each end and 1 at each side of the table, each contained within an area of 2.5m2; they shall be not less than 1m from the surrounds and those at the ends shall not be more than 2m from the surrounds.

3.2.4.6 There may be 1 temporary advertisement on each half of each side of the table top and 1 on each end, clearly seperated from any permanent advertisements; they shall not be for other table tennis equipement suppliers and each shall be contained within a total length of 60cm.

3.2.4.7 Advertisements on the nets shall be in a slightly darker or slightly lighter shade of the background colour, shall not be withing 3cm of the tape along the top edge and shall not obscure visibility through the mesh.

3.2.4.8 Advertisements on umpires' tables or other furniture inside the playing area shall be contained within a total area on any face of 750cm2.

3.2.4.9 Advertisements on players' clothing shall be limited to

3.2.4.9.1 the maker's normal trademark, symbol or name contained within a total area of 24cm2;

3.2.4.9.2 not more than 3 clearly separated advertisements, contained within a combined total area of 200cm2, on the front or side of a shirt;

3.2.4.9.3 1 advertisement, contained within a total area of 200cm2, on the back of a shirt;

3.2.4.9.4 not more than 2 advertisements, contained within a combined total area of 80cm2, on shorts or skirt.

3.2.4.10 Advertisements on players' numbers shall be contained within a total area of 100cm2.

3.2.4.11 Advertisements on umpires' clothing shall be contained within a total area of 40cm2.

3.2.4.12 There shall be no advertisements on players' clothing or numbers for tobacco goods, alcoholic drinks or harmful drugs.

3.3 JURISDICTION OF OFFICIALS

3.3.1 Referee

3.3.1.1 For each competition as a whole a referee shall be appointed and his identity and location shall be made known to the participants and, where appropriate, to the team captains.

3.3.1.2 The referee shall be responsible for

3.3.1.2.1 the conduct of the draw;

3.3.1.2.2 the scheduling of the matches by time and table;

3.3.1.2.3 the appointment and, if necessary, the replacement or suspension of match officials;

3.3.1.2.4 conducting a pre-tournament briefing for match officials;

3.3.1.2.5 checking the eligibility of players for representative events;

3.3.1.2.6 deciding whether play may be suspended in an emergency;

3.3.1.2.7 deciding whether players may leave the playing area during a match;

3.3.1.2.8 deciding whether statutory practice periods may be extended;

3.3.1.2.9 deciding whether players may wear track suits during a match;

3.3.1.2.10 deciding any question of interpretation of Laws or Regulations, including the acceptability of clothing, playing equipment and playing conditions;

3.3.1.2.11 deciding whether, and where, players may practise during an emergency suspension of play;

3.3.1.2.12 taking disciplinary action for misbehaviour or other breaches of regulations.

3.3.1.3 Where, with the agreement of the competition management committee, any of the duties of the referee are delegated to other persons, the specific responsibilities and locations of each of these persons shall be made known to the participants and, where appropriate, to the team captains.

3.3.1.4 The referee, or a responsible deputy appointed to exercise authority in his absence, shall be present at all times during play.

3.3.1.5 Where the referee is satisfied that it is desirable to do so he may replace an umpire, assistant umpire or stroke counter at any time, but he may not alter any decision already made by the replaced official on a question of fact within his jurisdiction.

3.3.2 Match Officials

3.3.2.1 An umpire and 1 or 2 assistant umpires shall be appointed for each match.

3.3.2.2 The umpire shall sit or stand in line with the net and the assistant umpire or umpires shall sit facing him, at the other side of the table; when there is 1 assistant umpire he shall sit in line with the net and when there are 2 assistant umpires they shall sit in line with the end lines.

3.3.2.3 The umpire shall be responsible for

3.3.2.3.1 checking the acceptability of equipment and playing conditions and reporting any deficiency to the referee;

3.3.2.3.2 taking a ball at random as provided in 3.4.2.1.1-2;

3.3.2.3.3 conducting the draw for the choice of serving, receiving and ends;

3.3.2.3.4 deciding whether the requirements of the service law may be relaxed for a player with physical disability;

3.3.2.3.5 controlling the order of serving, receiving and ends and correcting any errors therein;

3.3.2.3.6 deciding each rally as a point or a let;

3.3.2.3.7 calling the score, in accordance with specified procedure;

3.3.2.3.8 introducing the expedite system at the appropriate time;

3.3.2.3.9 maintaining the continuity of play;

3.3.2.3.10 taking action for breaches of the advice or behaviour regulations.

3.3.2.4 The assistant umpire shall decide whether the ball in play touches the edge of the playing surface nearest to him.

3.3.2.5 Either the umpire or an assistant umpire may

3.3.2.5.1 decide that a player's service action is illegal;

3.3.2.5.2 decide that, in an otherwise good service, the ball touches the net assembly while passing over or around it;

3.3.2.5.3 decide that a player obstructs the ball;

3.3.2.5.4 decide that the conditions of play are disturbed in a way which may affect the outcome of the rally;

3.3.2.5.5 time the duration of the practice period, of play and of intervals.

3.3.2.6 A decision made by either the umpire or an assistant umpire in accordance with the provisions of 3.3.2.5 may not be overruled by another official of that match.

3.3.2.7 If there are 2 assistant umpires each shall make the decisions referred to in 3.3.2.4, 3.3.2.5.1 and 3.3.2.5.3, and the associated announcements, only in respect of the half-side of the table nearest to him and a player at his end of the table.

3.3.2.8 If there is 1 assistant umpire a separate official shall act as stroke counter when the expedite system is in operation; if there are 2 assistant umpires each shall act as stroke counter when the receiver is at his end of the table.

3.3.3 Appeals

3.3.3.1 No agreement between players, in an individual event, or between team captains, in a team event, can alter a decision on a question of fact by the responsible match official, on a question of interpretation of Laws or Regulations by the responsible referee or on any other question of tournament or match conduct by the responsible management committee.

3.3.3.2 No appeal may be made to the referee against a decision on a question of fact by the responsible match official or to the management committee on a question of interpretation of Laws or Regulations by the referee.

3.3.3.3 An appeal may be made to the referee against a decision of a match official on a question of interpretation of Laws or Regulations, and the decision of the referee shall be final.

3.3.3.4 An appeal may be made to the competition management committee against a decision of the referee on a question of tournament or match conduct not covered by the Laws or Regulations, and the decision of the management committee shall be final.

3.3.3.5 In an individual event an appeal may be made only by a player participating in the match in which the question has arisen; in a team event an appeal may be made only by the captain of a team participating in the match in which the question has arisen.

3.3.3.6 A question of interpretation of Laws or Regulations arising from the decision of a referee, or a question of tournament or match conduct arising from the decision of a competition management committee, may be submitted by the player or team captain eligible to make an appeal, through his parent Association, for consideration by the ITTF Rules Committee.

3.3.3.7 The Rules Committee shall give a ruling as a guide for future decisions, and this ruling may also be made the subject of a protest by an Association to the Council or a General Meeting, but it shall not affect the finality of any decision already made by the responsible referee or management committee.

3.4 MATCH CONDUCT

3.4.1 Score Indication

3.4.1.1 The umpire shall call the score as soon as the ball is out of play at the completion of a rally, or as soon as is practicable thereafter.

3.4.1.1.1 In calling the score during a game the umpire shall call first the number of points scored by the player or pair due to serve in the next rally of the game and then the number of points scored by the opposing player or pair.

3.4.1.1.2 At the beginning of a game and when a change of server is due the umpire shall follow the score call by naming and pointing to the next server.

3.4.1.1.3 At the end of a game the umpire shall name the winning player or pair and shall then call the number of points scored by the winning player or pair followed by the number of points scored by the losing player or pair.

3.4.1.2 In addition to calling the score the umpire may use hand signals to indicate his decisions.

3.4.1.2.1 When a point has been scored, he may raise to shoulder level the hand nearer to the player or pair who won the point.

3.4.1.2.2 When for any reason the rally is a let, he may raise his hand above his head to show that the rally has ended.

3.4.1.3 The score and, under the expedite system, the number of strokes shall be called in English or in any other language acceptable to both players or pairs and to the umpire.

3.4.1.4 The score shall be displayed on mechanical or electrical indicators so that it is clearly visible to the players and the spectators.

3.4.1.5 When a player is formally warned for bad bevahiour, a yellow marker shall be placed on or near the score indicator, next to that player's score.

3.4.2 Equipment

3.4.2.1 Players shall not choose balls in the playing area.

3.4.2.1.1 Wherever possible players shall be given the opportunity to choose one or more balls before coming to the playing area and the match shall be played with one of these balls, taken at random by the umpire.

3.4.2.1.2 If a ball has not been chosen before players come to the playing area, the match shall be played with a ball taken at random by the umpire from a box of those specified for the competition.

3.4.2.1.3 If a ball has to be replaced during a match, the replacement shall be provided according to the procedure of 3.4.2.1.1-2.

3.4.2.2 If a player breaks his racket during a game he shall replace it immediately with another racket which he has brought with him to the playing area or one which is handed to him in the playing area.

3.4.2.3 Unless otherwise authorised by the umpire, players shall leave their rackets on the table during intervals.

3.4.3 Practice

3.4.3.1 Players are entitled to practise on the match table for up to 2 minutes immediately before the start of a match but not during normal intervals; the specified practice period may be extended only with the permission of the referee.

3.4.3.2 During an emergency suspension of play the referee may allow players to practise on any table, including the match table.

3.4.3.3 Players shall be given reasonable opportunity to check and to familiarise themselves with any equipment which they are to use, but this shall not automatically entitle them to more than a few practice rallies before resuming play after the replacement of a damaged ball or racket.

3.4.4 Intervals

3.4.4.1 A player is entitled to

3.4.4.1.1 an interval of up to 2 minutes between successive games of a match;

3.4.4.1.2 brief intervals for toweling after every 5 points from the start of each game and at the change of ends in the last possible game of the match.

3.4.4.2 A player or pair may claim one time-out period of up to 1 minute during a match.

3.4.4.2.1 In an individual event the request for a time-out may be made by the player or pair or by the designated advisor; in a team event it may be made by a player or pair or by the team captain.

3.4.4.2.2 The request for a time-out, which may be made only when the ball is out of play, shall be indicated by making a "T" sign with the hands.

3.4.4.2.3 On receiving a valid request for a time-out the umpire shall suspend play and hold up a white card; a white marker shall be placed on the court of the player or pair making the request.

3.4.4.2.4 The marker shall be removed and play resumed as soon as the player or pair making the request is ready to continue or at the end of 1 minute, whichever is sooner.

3.4.4.3 The referee may allow a suspension of play, of the shortest practical duration, and in no circumstances more than 10 minutes, if a player is temporarily incapacitated by an accident, provided that in the opinion of the referee the suspension is not likely to be unduly disadvantageous to the opposing player or pair.

3.4.4.4 A suspension shall not be allowed for a disability which was present or was reasonably to be expected at the beginning of the match, or where it is due to the normal stress of play; disability such as cramp or exhaustion, caused by the player's current state of fitness or by the manner in which play has proceeded, does not justify such an emergency suspension, which may be allowed only for incapacity resulting from an accident, such as injury caused by a fall.

3.4.4.5 If anyone in the playing area is bleeding, play shall be suspended immediately and shall not resume until that person has received medical treatment and all traces of blood have been removed from the playing area.

3.4.4.6 Players shall remain in or near the playing area throughout a match, except with the permission of the referee; during intervals between games they shall remain within 3 metres of the playing area, under the supervision of the umpire.

3.5 DISCIPLINE

3.5.1 Advice

3.5.1.1 In a team event, players may receive advice from anyone.

3.5.1.2 In an individual event, a player or pair may receive advice only from one person, designated beforehand to the umpire, except that where the players of a doubles pair are from different Associations each may designate an adviser; if an unauthorised person gives advice the umpire shall hold up a red card and send him away from the playing area.

3.5.1.3 Players may receive advice only during the intervals between games or during other authorised suspension of play; if any authorised person gives advice at other times the umpire shall hold up a yellow card to warn him that any further such offence will result in his dismissal from the playing area.

3.5.1.4 After a warning has been given, if in the same team match or the same match of an individual event anyone again gives advice illegally, the umpire shall hold up a red card and send him away from the playing area, whether or not he was the person warned.

3.5.1.5 In a team match the dismissed adviser shall not be allowed to return, except when required to play, until the team match has ended; in an individual event he shall not be allowed to return until the individual match has ended.

3.5.1.6 If the dismissed adviser refuses to leave, or returns before the end of the match, the umpire shall suspend play and report to the referee.

3.5.1.7 These regulations shall apply only to advice on play and shall not prevent a player or captain, as appropriate, from making a legitimate appeal nor hinder a consultation with an interpreter or Association representative on the explanation of a juridical decision.

3.5.2 Misbehaviour

3.5.2.1 Players and coaches shall refrain from behaviour that may unfairly affect an opponent, may offend spectators or may bring the sport into disrepute, such as abusive language, deliberately breaking the ball or hitting it out of the playing area, kicking the table or surrounds and disrespect of match officials.

3.5.5.2 if at any time a player or coach commits a serious offence the umpire shall suspend play and report immediately to the referee; for less serious offences the umpire may, on the first occasion, hold up a yellow card and warn the offender that any further offence is liable to incur penalties.

3.5.2.3 Except as provided in 3.5.5.2 and 3.5.2.5, if a player who has been warned commits a second offence in the same individual match or team match, the umpire shall award 1 point to the offender's opponent, and for a further offence 2 points, each time holding up a yellow and a red card together.

3.5.2.4 If a player against whom 3 penalty points have been awarded in the same individual match or team match continues to misbehave, the umpire shall suspend play and report immediately to the referee.

3.5.2.5 A racket shall not be changed during an individual match unless it is accidentally damaged so badly that it cannot be used; if a player changes his racket during an individual match without notification, the umpire shall suspend play and report to the referee.

3.5.2.6 A warning or penalty incurred by either player of a doubles pair shall apply to the pair, but not to the non-offending player in a subsequent individual match of the same team match; at the start of a doubles match the pair shall be regarded as having incurred the higher of any warning or penalties incurred by either player in the same team match.

3.5.2.7 Except as provided in 3.5.2.2, if a coach who has been warned commits a further offence in the same individual match or team match, the umpire shall hold up a red card and send him away from the playing area until the end of the team match or, in an individual event, of the individual match.

3.5.2.8 The referee shall have power to disqualify a player from a match, an event or a competition for seriously unfair or offensive behaviour, whether reported by the umpire or not; as he does so he shall hold up a red card.

3.5.2.9 A player who is disqualified from 2 individual matches of a team or individual event shall automatically be disqualified from that team event or individual competition.

3.5.2.10 The referee may disqualify for the remainder of the competition anyone who has twice been sent away from the playing area during that competition.

3.5.2.9 Cases of very serious misbehaviour shall be reported to the offender's Association.

3.5.3 Gluing

3.5.3.1 Adhesives used to attach racket coverings shall not contain a prohibited solvent; a list of prohibited solvents is available from the Secretariat.

3.5.3.2 Tests for prohibited solvents will be carried out at World and Olympic title competitions and major Pro-Tour tournaments and a player whose racket is found to such a solvent is liable to be disqualified from the competition and reported to his Association.

3.5.3.3 A properly ventilated area shall be provided for the attachment of racket coverings to rackets and liquid adhesives shall not be used anywhere else in the hall.

3.6 DRAW FOR KNOCK-OUT COMPETITIONS

3.6.1 Byes and Qualifiers

3.6.1.1 The number of places in the first round proper of a knock-out event shall be a power of 2.

3.6.1.1.1 If there are fewer entries than places, the first round shall include enough byes to make up the required number.

3.6.1.1.2 If there are more entries than places, a qualifying competition shall be held such that the number of qualifiers and the number of direct entries together make up the required number.

3.6.1.2 Byes shall be distributed as evenly as possible throughout the first round, being placed first against seeded places, in seeding order.

3.6.1.3 Qualifiers shall be drawn as evenly as possible among the halves, quarters, eighths or sixteenths of the draw, as appropriate.

3.6.2 Seeding by Ranking

3.6.2.1 The highest ranked entries in an event shall be seeded so that they cannot meet before the closing rounds.

3.6.2.2 The number of entries to be seeded shall not exceed the number of entries in the 1st round proper of the event.

3.6.2.3 The entry ranked 1 shall be placed at the top of the first half of the draw and the entry ranked 2 at the bottom of the second half, but all other seeded entries shall be drawn among specified places in the draw, as follows:

3.6.2.3.1 the entries ranked 3 and 4 shall be drawn between the bottom of the first half of the draw and the top of the second half;

3.6.2.3.2 the entries ranked 5-8 shall be drawn among the bottom places of the odd-numbered quarters of the draw and the top places of the even-numbered quarters;

3.6.2.3.3 the entries ranked 9-16 shall be drawn among the bottom places of the odd-numbered eighths of the draw and the top places of the even-numbered eighths;

3.6.2.3.4 the entries ranked 17-32 shall be drawn among the bottom places of the odd-numbered sixteenths of the draw and the top places of the even-numbered sixteenths.

3.6.2.4 In a team knock-out event only the highest ranked team from an Association shall be eligible for seeding by ranking.

3.6.2.5 Seeding by ranking shall follow the order of the latest ranking list published by the ITTF except that

3.6.2.5.1 where all the entries eligible for seeding are from Associations belonging to the same Continental Federation the latest list published by that Federation shall take precedence;

3.6.2.5.2 where all the entries eligible for seeding are from the same Association the latest list published by that Association shall take precedence.

3.6.3 Seeding by Association Nomination

3.6.3.1 Nominated players and pairs of the same Association shall, as far as possible, be separated so that they cannot meet before the closing rounds of an event.

3.6.3.2 Associations shall list their nominated players and pairs in descending order of playing strength, starting with any players included in the ranking list used for seeding, in the order of that list.

3.6.3.3 The entries ranked 1 and 2 shall be drawn into different halves and those ranked 3 and 4 into quarters other than those occupied by the first two;

3.6.3.4 the entries ranked 5-8 shall be drawn as evenly as possible into eighths other than those occupied by the first four;

3.6.3.5 the entries ranked 9-16 shall be drawn as evenly as possible into sixteenths other than those occupied by higher ranked players or pairs and so on, until all the entries have been allocated.

3.6.3.6 A men's or women's doubles pair consisting of players from different Associations shall be considered a pair of the Association of the player ranked higher in the World Ranking List, or, if neither player is in this list, in the appropriate Continental Ranking List; if neither player is included in a World or Continental Ranking List, the pair shall be considered a member of the Association whose team is ranked higher in the appropriate World Team Ranking List.

3.6.3.7 A mixed doubles pair consisting of players from different Associations shall be considered a pair of the Association to which the man belongs.

3.6.3.8 In a qualifying competition, entries from the same Association, up to the number of qualifying groups, shall be drawn into separate groups in such a way that qualifiers are, as far as possible, separated in accordance with the principles of 3.6.3.3-5.

3.6.3.9 An Association may nominate a player under its jurisdiction to enter any individual events for which he is qualified, but a player who is eligible to represent another Association shall have the right to accept nomination by that Association.

3.6.4 Alterations

3.6.4.1 A completed draw may be altered only with the permission of the responsible management committee and, where appropriate, the agreement of the representatives of Associations directly concerned.

3.6.4.2 The draw may be altered only to correct errors and genuine misunderstandings in the notification and acceptance of entry, to correct serious imbalance, as provided in 3.6.5, or to include additional players or pairs, as provided in 3.6.6.

3.6.4.3 No alterations other than necessary deletions shall be made to the draw of an event after it has started; for the purpose of this regulation a qualifying competition may be regarded as a separate event.

3.6.4.4 A player shall not be deleted from the draw without his permission, unless he is disqualified; such permission must be given either by the player if he is present or, if he is absent, by his authorised representative.

3.6.4.5 A doubles pair shall not be altered if both players are present and fit to play, but injury, illness or absence of one player may be accepted as justification for an alteration.

3.6.5 Re-draw

3.6.5.1 Except as provided in 3.6.4.2, 3.6.4.5 and 3.6.5.2, a player shall not be moved from one place in the draw to another and if for any reason the draw becomes seriously unbalanced the event shall, wherever possible, be completely re-drawn.

3.6.5.2 Exceptionally, where the imbalance is due to the absence of several seeded players or pairs from the same section of the draw, the remaining seeded players or pairs only may be re-numbered in ranking order and re-drawn to the extent possible among the seeded places, taking account as far as is practicable of the requirements for seeding by Association nomination.

3.6.6 Additions

3.6.6.1 Players not included in the original draw may be added later, at the discretion of the responsible management committee and with the agreement of the referee.

3.6.6.2 Any vacancies in seeded places shall first be filled, in ranking order, by drawing into them the strongest new players or pairs; any further players or pairs shall be drawn into vacancies due to absence or disqualification and then into byes other than those against seeded players or pairs.

3.6.6.3 Any players or pairs who would have been seeded by ranking if they had been included in the original draw may be drawn only into vacancies in seeded places.

3.7 ORGANISATION OF COMPETITIONS

3.7.1 Authority

3.7.1.1 Provided the Constitution is observed, any Association may organise or authorise open, restricted or invitation tournaments within its territory or may arrange international matches.

3.7.1.2 In any season, an Association may nominate one senior and one junior open tournament which it organises as its senior and junior Open International Championships; a player may compete in such championships only with the permission of his Association, but such permission shall not be unreasonably withheld.

3.7.1.3 A player may not take part in a restricted or invitation tournament without the permission of his Association, unless general permission has been given by the ITTF or, where all the players concerned are from the same Continent, by the appropriate Continental Federation.

3.7.1.4 No event may use a World title without the permission of the ITTF, nor a Continental title without the permission of the appropriate Continental Federation.

3.7.2 Representation

3.7.2.1 Representatives of all Associations whose players are taking part in an Open International Championships event shall be entitled to attend the draw and shall be consulted on any alterations to the draw or any decisions of appeal that may directly affect their players.

3.7.2.2 A visiting Association shall be entitled to nominate at least one representative to the management committee of any international match in which it is taking part.

3.7.3 Entries

3.7.3.1 Entry forms for Open International Championships shall be sent to all Associations not later than 2 calendar months before the start of the competition and not later than 1 calendar month before the date for the close of entries.

3.7.3.2 All entries nominated by Associations for open tournaments shall be accepted but the organisers shall have power to allocate entries to a qualifying competition; in deciding this allocation they shall take account of the relevant ITTF and Continental ranking lists and of any ranking order of entries specified by the nominating Association.

3.7.4 Events

3.7.4.1 Open International Championships shall include men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles and women's doubles and may include mixed doubles and international team events for teams representing Associations.

3.7.4.2 It is recommended that players in junior and cadet events be under 17 and under 14 respectively on 30th June immediately before the start of the season in which the event takes place.

3.7.4.3 It is recommended that team matches at Open International Championships be played according to one of the systems specified in 3.7.6; the entry form or prospectus shall show which system has been chosen.

3.7.4.4 In individual events, other than in qualifying rounds, senior singles matches shall be the best of 5 games and junior singles matches shall be the best of 3 or of 5 games; all other matches shall be the best of 3 games.

3.7.4.5 Individual events proper shall be played on a knock-out basis, but team events and qualifying rounds of individual events may be played on either a knock-out or a group basis.

3.7.5 Group Competitions

3.7.5.1 In a group, or "round robin", competition, all members of the group shall compete against each other and shall gain 2 match points for a win, 1 for a loss in a played match and 0 for a loss in an unplayed or unfinished match; the ranking order shall be determined primarily by the number of match points gained.

3.7.5.2 If two or more members of the group have gained the same number of match points their relative positions shall be determined only by the results of the matches between them, by considering successively the numbers of match points, the ratios of wins to losses first in individual matches (for a team event), games and points, as far as is necessary to resolve the order.

3.7.5.3 If at any step in the calculations the positions of one or more members of the group have been determined while the others are still equal, the results of matches in which those members took part shall be excluded from any further calculations needed to resolve the equalities in accordance with the procedure of 3.7.5.1 and 3.7.5.2.

3.7.5.4 If it is not possible to resolve equalities by means of the procedure specified in 3.7.5.1-3 the relative positions shall be decided by lot.

3.7.6 Team Match Systems

3.7.6.1 Best of 5 Matches (5 singles)

3.7.6.1.1 A team shall consist of 3 players.

3.7.6.1.2 The order of play shall be A v X, B v Y, C v Z, A v Y, B v X.

3.7.6.2 Best of 5 Matches (4 singles and 1 doubles)

3.7.6.2.1 A team shall consist of 2, 3 or 4 players.

3.7.6.2.2 The order of play shall be A v X, B v Y, a doubles, A v Y, B v X.

3.7.6.3 Best of 7 Matches (6 singles and 1 doubles)

3.7.6.3.1 A team shall consist of 3, 4 or 5 players.

3.7.6.3.2 The order of play shall be A v Y, B v X, C v Z, a doubles, A v X, C v Y, B v Z.

3.7.6.4 Best of 9 Matches (9 singles)

3.7.6.4.1 A team shall consist of 3 players.

3.7.6.4.2 The order of play shall be A v X, B v Y, C v Z, B v X, A v Z, C v Y, B v Z, C v X, A v Y.

3.7.7 Team Match Procedure

3.7.7.1 All players shall be selected from those nominated for the event.

3.7.7.2 Before a team match the right to choose A,B,C or X,Y,Z shall be decided by lot and the captains shall name their teams to the referee or his representative, assigning a letter to each singles player.

3.7.7.3 The pairs for a doubles match need not be nominated until the end of the immediately preceding singles match.

3.7.7.4 A player who is required to play in successive matches may claim an interval of up to 5 minutes between those matches.

3.7.7.5 All individual matches shall be the best of 3 games.

3.7.7.6 A team match shall end when one team has won a majority of the possible individual matches.

3.7.8 Results

3.7.8.1 As soon as possible after the end of a competition and not later than 7 days thereafter the organising Association shall send to the ITTF Secretariat and to the Secretary of the appropriate Continental Federation details of the results, including points scores, of international matches, of all rounds of Continental and Open International Championships and of the closing rounds of national championships.

3.7.9 Television

3.7.9.1 An event other than World, Continental or Olympic title competitions may be broadcast by television only with the permission of the Association from whose territory the broadcast is made.

3.7.9.2 Participation in an international event presumes the consent of the Association controlling the visiting players to the televising of that event; in World, Continental or Olympic title competitions such consent is presumed for the showing anywhere of live or recorded television during the period of the event and within 1 calendar month afterwards.

3.8 INTERNATIONAL ELIGIBILITY

3.8.1 The following regulations shall apply to team competitions in World and Open International Championships.

3.8.2 A player may represent an Association only if he is a national of the country in which that Association has jurisdiction, except that a player who on 31st August 1997 was eligible by birth or residence to represent an Association of which he was not a national may retain that eligibility.

3.8.2.1 A player who is at the same time a national of more than one country may choose which of the relevant Associations he will represent.

3.8.2.2 Where the players of more than one Association have the same nationality, each such Association may determine its own additional requirements for eligibility.

3.8.3 A player shall not represent different Associations within a period of 3 years.

3.8.4 A player shall be regarded as having represented an Association if he has accepted nomination to represent it, whether or not he plays; the date of representation shall be the date of nomination or the date of playing, whichever is the later.

3.8.5 An Association may nominate to represent it a player who is eligible to do so but who is resident in a territory controlled by another Association provided that he has not been suspended or expelled by that Association.

3.8.6 Any appeal on a question of eligibility shall be referred to the Executive Board, whose decision shall be final.

4. Regulations for World and Olympic Title Competitions

4.1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

4.1.1 Authority for Organisation

4.1.1.1 The title "World Championships", referred to in this Chapter as "Championships", shall be bestowed by the BGM on the championship events at a tournament organised by an Association entrusted with the task.

4.1.1.2 An Association wishing to organise the Championships shall send a written application to the ITTF Secretariat not later than 10 weeks before the BGM, giving details of the accessibility of the venue to all Associations, the proposed accommodation for players, any special arrangements for travel or visas and any other information as may be requested in the current ITTF application form.

4.1.1.3 All applications shall be considered by the Standing Orders Committee and shall be submitted to the BGM, together with the report of the Standing Orders Committee on venues for the occasion in question.

4.1.1.4 When assigning options, the ITTF shall take account of the probable accessibility to all members, so as to ensure that players and delegates of all Associations may participate in the Championships and the BGM without any obstacles.

4.1.1.5 The right to organise future Championships shall normally be granted for 2 occasions ahead; an Association may be granted a provisional option for an occasion later than the next 2 Championships but such an option shall be subject to confirmation at a subsequent BGM.

4.1.1.6 Where necessary, the BGM or the Executive Committee may ask one or more members of the appropriate Committee to visit the country of an Association applying for the right to organise the Championships to satisfy themselves as to the adequacy of the proposed playing and other arrangements; the cost of such visits shall be borne by that Association.

4.1.1.7 If, after an option has been granted, circumstances change in such a way as to be likely to prejudice the satisfactory conduct of the Championships, the option may be revoked by a 2/3 majority vote at the BGM preceding the Championships; between BGMs the Council shall have power to transfer the Championships or to take any other appropriate action.

4.1.2 Responsibilities of Organisers

4.1.2.1 An Association granted the right to organise the Championships, hereafter referred to as the "organisers" shall be responsible for conducting them in accordance with the Laws of Table Tennis, the Regulations for International Competitions and the Regulations for World Title Competitions, as modified or supplemented by any directives authorised by the Council.

4.1.2.2 The organisers shall provide accommodation and meals from the evening before the Championships begin until the morning after the Championships end for

4.1.2.2.1 not more than 7 players, including playing or non-playing captains, nominated by an Association competing in both the men's and women's team events;

4.1.2.2.2 not more than 4 players, including playing or non-playing captains, nominated by an Association competing only in either the men's or the women's team event;

4.1.2.2.3 not more than 2 players nominated by an Association not competing in either of the team events;

4.1.2.2.4 1 delegate to the BGM from each Association if he is not already included in the nominated players listed above;

4.1.2.2.5 ITTF Officers, members of the Council and the Olympics Commission and full members of Committees;

4.1.2.2.6 up to 4 members of the Doping Control Panel appointed by the Sports Science Committee;

4.1.2.2.7 up to 3 members of the Calendar Working Group;

4.1.2.2.8 up to 8 members of the Athletes' Commission;

4.1.2.2.9 Personal Honorary Members;

4.1.2.2.10 International Umpires and Referees from other Associations invited in accordance with directives issued by the ITTF.

4.1.2.3 If the business of the ITTF extends outside the period of the Championships the period of hospitality for those entitled to participate in such business shall be extended correspondingly.

4.1.2.4 The organisers shall provide free medical care and medicine for all participants, but each Association is recommended to insure its players and officials against illness and injury for the duration of the Championships.

4.1.2.5 The organisers are recommended to meet the cost of transport between the place of accommodation and the playing hall, and to request its national authorities to waive visa charges for all participants.

4.1.2.6 The organisers shall ensure free access to the playing hall and free circulation therein for all the players, officials and members listed in 4.1.2.2, for any additional players and committee members and for any interpreter, doctor or medical adviser appointed by the ITTF.

4.1.2.7 The organisers shall provide first-class interpreting in at least three languages, preferably by simultaneous translation with the appropriate equipment.

4.1.2.8 The organisers shall provide the ITTF with offices at the venue of the Championships and place at its disposal translation, typing and duplicating facilities.

4.1.2.9 The organisers shall publish a prospectus giving the main details of the organisation of the Championships, including

4.1.2.9.1 the dates and place of the Championships;

4.1.2.9.2 the events to be held;

4.1.2.9.3 the equipment to be used;

4.1.2.9.4 the procedure for entry, the entry fees and the undertakings required;

4.1.2.9.5 the date and place of the draw;

4.1.2.9.6 the dates of Jury meetings and of BGM sessions;

4.1.2.9.7 the extent of hospitality for players and officials;

4.1.2.9.8 any directives authorised by the Council for the Championships.

4.1.2.10 During the Championships the organisers shall make available promptly to ITTF Officers, Council members and team captains details of results, including points scores; as soon as possible after the completion of the Championships the organisers shall publish the complete results, including points scores, and circulate them to all Associations.

4.1.3 Eligibility

4.1.3.1 Only an Association which is not in arrears (1.16.3.3) shall be eligible to enter teams or individual players in the Championships.

4.1.3.2 All players nominated by an Association to represent it in a team event must be eligible to do so in accordance with the provisions of 3.8 and must not have represented a different Association in either of the previous 2 Championships.

4.1.3.3 A player representing an Association for the first time shall provide, if so requested by the Referee, official documentary proof of his eligibility.

4.1.4 Entry Fees and Levy

4.1.4.1 The entry fees shall be £60 for each entry in a team event, £30 for each pair in a doubles event and £15 for each entry in a singles event.

4.1.4.2 The entry fees shall be paid to the organisers at the time of entry and shall become their property.

4.1.4.3 Fees for entries from an Association are due from that Association and shall always be payable, except that the Council may waive the fees where an Association is prevented from participating in the Championships by circumstances outside its control.

4.1.4.4 The organisers shall pay to the ITTF a levy of £350 for each Association entering 1 or 2 teams; 3/4 of the total sum shall be paid before the end of the Championships and the remainder within the following 3 calendar months.

4.1.5 Submission of Entries

4.1.5.1 The intention to enter teams or players shall be notified to the organisers and the ITTF in a preliminary notification form provided by the Secretariat; the closing date for the receipt of this form shall be not later than 4 calendar months before the start of the Championships.

4.1.5.2 Entries shall be submitted on forms distributed, together with the prospectus, by the Secretariat.

4.1.5.3 Two sets of these entry forms shall be returned to the organisers and one set to the Secretariat; the closing date for the receipt of these forms shall be not later than 2 calendar months before the start of the Championships.

4.1.5.4 An Association may nominate up to 5 players and a non-playing captain for a team event; if a non-playing captain is not appointed one of the team players shall be designated as captain.

4.1.5.5 An Association shall rank its nominated players and pairs in order of playing strength.

4.1.5.6 The organisers may accept only formal nominations by an eligible Association which are received, properly signed by a responsible representative of the nominating Association, on or before the closing date.

4.1.6 Modification of Entries

4.1.6.1 Additional or modified entries may be accepted by the organisers, if notified by a representative of the nominating Association, at any time up to the date of the draw.

4.1.6.2 The nominating Association may change the composition of a team by notifying the organisers up to 10 days before the start of the Championships, but thereafter only with the consent of the Jury and in no circumstances after the start of the event.

4.1.6.3 As soon as he arrives at the Championships, the representative of an Association requesting a change to the draw in consequence of any error or absence shall notify the referee or his deputy, or confirm any change already notified, on a form provided for the purpose.

4.1.6.4 A request for modification of an entry cannot be considered unless it is made or confirmed by the representative of an Association immediately on arrival, other than a request based on the subsequent absence, illness or injury of one player of a doubles pair, which shall be made as soon as the contingency arises.

4.1.6.5 A player entered in a team event may be allowed to enter the appropriate singles event, priority being given to any player concerned in a change of which notice has been given in due time.

4.1.6.6 A player included in a team or a singles event may be allowed to pair with the partner of an absent, ill or injured player in a doubles event, provided that he is not already entered in that event with a partner who is present and fit to play.

4.1.6.7 All alterations that are authorised shall be notified immediately to team captains and, where appropriate, to Association representatives.

4.1.7 Entry Obligations

4.1.7.1 The entry form shall contain a statement, to be signed by a responsible representative of the nominating Association on behalf of all its nominated players and captains, that they understand and accept the conditions of the Championships and that they are prepared to compete against all other teams and individuals participating; no entry shall be valid unless accompanied by this declaration.

4.1.7.2 In individual events all entrants are accepted as individual competitors; they shall be bound to do their utmost to win the events for which they are entered, irrespective of whether other entrants from the same Association have been accepted to take part, and they shall not withdraw except for reasons of illness or injury.

4.1.8 Jury

4.1.8.1 Matters of appeal within the jurisdiction of a tournament management committee, and the authorisation of team changes requested later than 10 days before the start of the Championships, shall be the responsibility of the Jury.

4.1.8.2 The Jury shall consist of the Technical Committee, the Chairmen of the Ranking and Rules Committees, the Championships Director (or his equivalent), a representative of the organising committee and the referee; the referee shall have the right to speak but not to vote.

4.1.8.3 If either the Chairman of the Ranking Committee or the Chairman of the Rules Committee is unable to attend a meeting of the Jury he may nominate to attend in his place another member of his Committee, who shall have the right to speak and to vote.

4.1.8.4 The Chairman of the Jury shall be appointed by the Technical Committee.

4.1.8.5 Any Association directly affected by a matter under consideration at a Jury meeting shall be entitled to be represented at that meeting but shall not be entitled to vote.

4.1.8.6 The Jury shall meet before the start of the Championships to be informed of all draw alterations requested up to that time and to decide any outstanding requests for changes in the composition of teams; any subsequent questions of draw alteration shall be decided by the Technical Committee and the Jury shall meet again only when convened by that Committee to consider appeals against its administrative decisions or decisions of the referee.

4.1.9 Events

4.1.9.1 The Championships shall include men's team, women's team, men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles events.

4.1.9.2 The system of play in the team events, in groups and stages, shall be decided by the Council, on the recommendation of the Technical Committee, and shall be notified to all Associations not later than 6 calendar months before the start of the Championships.

4.1.9.3 Team matches shall be the best of 5 singles, as provided in 3.7.6.1.

4.1.9.4 There shall not be more than 128 places in the first round proper of a singles event nor more than 64 places in the first round proper of a doubles event, unless otherwise authorised by the Executive Committee.

4.1.9.5 Each Association shall be entitled to at least a set number of entries in each singles event, but additional entries may be allowed to the organising Association and to other Associations with players near the top of the ranking list current 3 calendar months before the Championships; the number of entries permitted to each Association and the basis on which entries may be assigned to a qualifying competition shall be authorised by the Council and notified to all Associations not later than 6 calendar months before the start of the Championships.

4.1.10 Schedule

4.1.10.1 Team matches may be held after the individual events have started only in emergency and with the permission of the Jury.

4.1.10.2 It is recommended that one day free of play is scheduled during the Championships, preferably between the team and the individual events.

4.1.11 Default

4.1.11.1 An Association whose team is entered in the draw but which fails to compete in the event without adequate justification may be subject to disciplinary action by the BGM.

4.1.11.2 A team may begin, continue and complete a team match only with the full complement of players specified for the event, except that the referee may, at his discretion, allow a team to play with one player absent or an individual match to be omitted from the sequence where he is satisfied that the absence is due to accident, illness, injury or other circumstances outside the control of the player or the Association concerned, including disqualification by the referee in accordance with his authority.

4.1.11.3 An Association whose team begins to play in the event but which fails to complete its schedule of matches shall be liable to forfeit its entitlement to hospitality for its representatives at the Championships; an appeal against forfeit may be made to the Jury, whose decision shall be final.

4.1.12 Anti-Doping Control

4.1.12.1 Anti-doping controls shall be carried out in accordance with directives issued by the Council, which shall be issued to all Associations not later than 6 calendar months before the start of the Championships to which they are to apply.

4.1.12.2 These directives, which shall be based on medical advice, shall include details of the procedure for the conduct of tests and of the imposition of penalties.

4.1.13 Awards and Presentations

4.1.13.1 The permanent Championship trophies shall be:

4.1.13.1.1 the Swaythling Cup for the men's team event;

4.1.13.1.2 the Marcel Corbillon Cup for the women's team event;

4.1.13.1.3 the St Bride Vase for the men's singles event;

4.1.13.1.4 the G Geist Prize for the women's singles event;

4.1.13.1.5 the Iran Cup for the men's doubles event;

4.1.13.1.6 the W J Pope Trophy for the women's doubles event;

4.1.13.1.7 the Heydusek prize for the mixed doubles event.

4.1.13.2 The Association whose team wins a team event, and the winner of an individual event, shall be entitled to hold the appropriate trophy until 31st December in the year following that in which it is won; the pair winning a doubles event shall agree or decide by lot the order in which each of them shall hold the trophy for half of the specified period.

4.1.13.3 A player who wins the men's or women's singles event 3 times in succession or 4 times in all shall receive from the ITTF a half-size replica of the appropriate trophy as a permanent possession.

4.1.13.4 In both team and individual events the winners shall receive gold medals, the losing finalists silver medals and the losing semi-finalists bronze medals.

4.1.13.5 At presentation ceremonies for both team and individual events the national flags of the gold, silver and bronze medal winners shall be raised and the national anthem of the gold medal winner shall be played.

4.1.13.6 The Association whose team or player wins a trophy shall acknowledge its receipt in writing and at the end of the specified period shall deliver it, within 14 days of a formal notification by the Secretariat, at an agreed time and to an agreed place.

4.1.13.7 The Association acknowledging receipt of a trophy shall be responsible for its safe keeping including the arrangement of insurance, but the cost of insurance and of inscription of winners' names, which in team events should include any non-playing captain, shall be borne by the ITTF.

4.1.13.8 If a trophy is lost while in the possession of an Association, that Association shall be responsible for the provision of a similar replacement.

4.1.13.9 A representative of the city in which the Championships is held shall be entitled to hold for the same period as for the Championships trophies the Egypt Cup, the symbol of the friendship of the Championships, handed over at the opening ceremony.

4.1.14 Television

4.1.14.1 The right to televise the Championships shall be vested in the ITTF, which shall receive a levy on any fees paid of £20,000 or 20% of the fees, whichever is the greater, unless otherwise agreed by the Executive Committee.

4.2 WORLD CUP

4.2.1 Composition

4.2.1.1 Separate World Cup Tournaments for men and women will be held annually and each will be a singles competition for 16 players.

4.2.1.2 The participants will consist of the current holder of the World Cup, the champion player or the strongest current player from each of the 6 continents, 1 player from the host Association, the top 6 players from the World Ranking List and 2 "wild card" selections.

4.2.1.3 There shall not be more than 2 players from an Association unless a third is invited as a "wild card" selection.

4.2.1.4 Participants will be provided with free return travel tickets to the venue and with free meals and accommodation from dinner on the evening before the start of the competition to breakfast on the morning after it ends.

4.2.2 Authority

4.2.2.1 The ITTF shall be the sole owner of the World Cup title and tournaments.

4.2.2.2 An Association may be granted permission to organize the tournament; submission of an application to do so shall be regarded as implying knowledge and acceptance of these and all other applicable regulations.

4.2.2.3 The organisers shall not, without prior consent of the ITTF, delegate any of their authority nor make any contract or agreement with any other body, such as a Regional Association, a municipal authority or a sponsor.

4.2.2.4 Any agreement made between the organisers and any other body shall not conflict with nor derogate from the principle of these regulations; in case of any dispute the authority of the ITTF, as exercised through its representatives, shall be paramount.

4.2.2.5 The ITTF may enter into contracts with promoters or sponsors.

4.2.3 Appointments

4.2.3.1 For each tournament the Executive Committee shall appoint, with the approval of the Council, a Tournament Director and a Technical Representative, each of whom shall be an Officer or an ITTF official.

4.2.3.2 The Tournament Director shall be responsible to the Executive Committee for ensuring observance of the conditions laid down for the tournament, including approval of the arrangements made by the organisers for ceremonies and presentations, protocol and seating arrangements at ceremonies and social functions and the presentation of play.

4.2.3.3 The Technical Representative shall be responsible to the Technical Committee for ensuring the adequacy of equipment and playing conditions, supervising the draw and, in collaboration with the Tournament Director, scheduling matches.

4.2.4 Publications

4.2.4.1 The organisers shall submit for the ITTF's prior approval the proposed wording of all posters, publicity material, programmes and other printed matter about the tournament.

4.2.4.2 In addition to meeting the normal requirements for reporting results the organisers shall supply the Secretariat, as soon as possible after the end of the tournament, with an agreed number of copies of all posters, programmes, souvenir programmes and results, an album containing press cuttings and a selection of the best photographs of play and of any ceremonies.

4.2.5 Playing System

4.2.5.1 In the 1st stage of each tournament the players will be divided into 4 equal groups, with all the members of a group playing each other, and in the 2nd stage the group winners and runners-up will compete in a knock-out.

4.2.5.2 For the 1st stage, the highest-ranked player will be placed in Group A, the 2nd highest in Group B, the 3rd highest in Group C and the 4th highest in Group D, and the remaining players will be drawn into the groups 4 at a time in ranking order.

4.2.5.3 If there are 2 players from the same Association, they will be drawn into separate groups but a 3rd player from the same Association may be drawn into any group.

4.2.5.4 For the 2nd stage, the winners of Groups A and B will be placed in positions 1 and 8 and the winners of groups C and D will be drawn between positions 4 and 5; the runners-up will be drawn into the remaining places, in opposite halves from the winners of the same groups.

4.2.5.5 In the semi-finals, the winner of the 1st quarter-final will play the winner of the 2nd and the winner of the 3rd will play the winner of the 4th; the winners of the semi-finals will play each other in the final.

4.2.5.6 The tournaments will be played in accordance with the Laws of Table Tennis and the Regulations for International Competitions, as modified or supplemented by any directives authorised by the Council.

4.2.5.7 Matches in the knock-out stage will be the best of 5 games; all other matches will be the best of 3 games.

4.3 OLYMPICS COMPETITION

4.3.1 Eligibility

4.3.1.1 To be eligible to play in the Olympic Games, a player must

4.3.1.1.1 be nominated, through his NOC, by the Association having jurisdiction over him;

4.3.1.1.2 respect the spirit of fair play and non-violence;

4.3.1.1.3 refrain from the use of any substance prohibited by the regulations of the ITTF or the IOC;

4.3.1.1.4 agree to undergo any medical tests carried out in accordance with the rules of the IOC Medical Commission;

4.3.1.1.5 accept no reward of any kind for participating in the Olympic Games;

4.3.1.1.6 carry no advertisements on his clothing or equipment at the Olympic Games, other than trademarks authorised by the IOC;

4.3.1.1.7 comply with all appropriate ITTF regulations and the rules of the IOC.

4.3.1.2 The observation of the eligibility regulations shall be the responsibility of the Olympics Commission and the NOCs concerned, acting in accordance with the direction of the IOC Eligibility Commission.

4.3.1.3 Any alleged infringement of the eligibility regulations shall be notified to the IOC by the Olympics Commission or the NOC concerned, to be taken into consideration by the IOC Eligibility Commission.

4.3.1.4 A player accused of an infringement of the eligibility regulations shall have the right to request a hearing by the IOC Executive Board, whose decision shall be final.

4.3.2 Events

4.3.2.1 The Olympics competition shall include men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles and women's doubles.

4.3.2.2 All singles matches shall be the best of 5 games.

4.3.3 Anti-Doping Control

4.3.3.1 Anti-doping control shall be carried out in accordance with directives agreed with the IOC.

DIRECTIVES FOR MATCH OFFICIALS AT WORLD TITLE COMPETITIONS

1 The referee and deputy referees shall be International Referees.

2 At least 1/3 of the referees shall be from Associations other than the organising Association and at World Championships there shall be at least 2 from another Continent.

3 All umpires shall be International Umpires, except that at World Championships up to 1/4 of the total may be National Umpires of the organising Association.

4 At World Championships, at least 1/3 of the umpires shall be from Associations other than the organising Association, representing at least 5 Associations and including at least 3 from each Continent.

5 Umpires from the same Association shall be dressed alike.

6 All IUs shall wear the IU lapel badge and organisers are recommended to provide name badges for all match officials.

7 All visiting match officials shall be provided with free accommodation, meals and local transport on the same basis and to the same standard as visiting players, and with pocket money of $US15 or the equivalent for each day of the competition.

8 The names and Associations of all match officials shall be included in the official programme and in staged matches the names of the umpires shall be announced.

9 No match official shall be on duty for more than 8 hours in a day and at World Championships each shall have 1 free day.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OPEN INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

1 FACILITIES

1.1 Hotels should be of at least 3-star standard and with easy access to the playing hall, which ideally should be within walking distance; there should be rooms for 1 or 2 persons, with bath or shower.

1.2 Where necessary, a frequent transport service should be provided between hotel and playing hall; its schedule should be flexible enough to cope with unplanned requirements, such as taking players back to the hotel after a late finish.

1.3 There should be a choice of meals, taking account of any special dietary requirements, and meal times should be flexible and coordinated with the times of playing sessions; refreshments, especially soft drinks, should be available in or near to the playing hall.

1.4 The playing hall should be large enough to accommodate at least 8 tables, in separate playing areas of at least 14m X 7m; there should be a practice hall, or a separate practice area in the main hall, with not fewer than half as many tables as in the main hall and with similar playing conditions.

1.5 Changing rooms should be of a good standard with enough showers and toilets for the numbers of players taking part, preferably with individual lockers for players' clothing; there should also be rest rooms for players and match officials.

1.6 The medical service in the playing hall should be capable of dealing with all likely minor illnesses and injuries and there should be provision for taking anyone needing more extensive treatment to a suitable medical centre or hospital.

2 EVENTS, DRAW AND SCHEDULE

2.1 The events should include men's singles, men's doubles, women's singles and women's doubles; any associated team events should be completed before individual events begin.

2.2 There should be a knock-out of not more than 64 places in singles and not more than 32 places in doubles, with 25% of the places for seeds, 25% for other direct entries, 25% for byes and 25% for qualifiers; singles qualifying competitions should be run on the basis of round-robin groups of at least 4 players.

2.3 Direct entry should be based on ranking except that, where necessary, the organising Association may allocate up to 2 wild card entries in singles and 1 in doubles to ensure that 2 of its players in singles, and 1 of its pairs in doubles, are given direct entry.

2.4 In the knock-out stage, matches should not be scheduled to start before 1000 nor to end after 2200 and no player should be required to play more than 4 matches in a day.

3 MATCH OFFICIALS

3.1 The referee and deputy referees should be International Referees or International Umpires; at least one of these officials should be from a foreign Association.

3.2 At least 30% of the umpires should be IUs from foreign Associations; all visiting umpires and referees should receive free hospitality and a daily allowance equivalent to US$15.

3.3 There should be a qualified umpire and assistant umpire for each match and for any match the umpires should be from Associations other than those of the players taking part.

3.4 Before the tournament the referee should conduct a briefing meeting for umpires and provide them with a schedule of duties, which should not require them to officiate at more than 2 sessions of about 4 hours' duration in a day.

4 PRESENTATION

4.1 The playing hall should be kept tidy and only necessary players and officials allowed in the playing area; around the playing area there should be no refreshment bars or vendors' stands, nor any obtrusive advertisements or bright lights which might disturb players.

4.2 Interesting matches should be scheduled at times and on tables that are convenient for spectators and the media; finals and semi-finals should be properly staged, on not more than 2 tables at once.

4.3 Media personnel should be provided with all necessary services, including access to telephone and fax facilities, and should be supplied promptly with all results and news items; there should be public displays of results, regularly updated.

4.4 Press photographers and TV camera operators should have good access to the playing area, taking account of the interests of spectators and players; there should be one or more rooms in which players can be interviewed by press and TV reporters.