1. TIME AND DURATION
The 20th Deaflympic Games will be held from 5 January to 16 January 2005 in Melbourne, Australia.

2. PROGRAM
The program of the 20th Deaflympic Games includes the following sports:

• Individual sports: Athletics, Badminton, Bowling, Cycling, Orienteering, Shooting Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis & Wrestling.
• Team sports: Basketball, Football, Handball, Volleyball (Beach & Indoor) & Water Polo (men only).

2.3. The events of each individual sport are specified in the Special Rules and Regulations of each sport.

2.4. Only those sports and events having preliminary entry registrations by at least five (5) countries from two regions for males and females shall remain on the official program. Should the final registrations be less than three (3) participants, this sport or event shall be cancelled.

2.5. In case of a cancellation of a sport or an event due to DG7 E (2003 version), the Secretary-General of the Deaflympics shall notify the affected National Associations at least fourteen (14) days after the deadline for preliminary registrations and, if necessary, immediately after the deadline for final registrations.

3. ELIGIBILITY

3.1. The Deaflympics bring together, in a honest and impartial competition, Deaf athletes of all affiliated full members.

3.2. No discrimination is permitted toward an Association or a person on account of race, religion or political affiliations.

3.3. Participation in the Deaflympics is restricted to persons who are:

1. Deaf, defined as a hearing loss of at least 55 dB in the better ear (3-tone frequency average at 500, 1000 and 2000 Hertz, ISO 1964 Standard),
2. Members of an affiliated National Association.

3.4. There is, as a rule, no age limit for competitors. There may, however, be age limits for a specific sport or event, per sport regulations.

3.5. The registration forms will include the text of the eligibility code to be signed by two officials (normally the president and secretary) of the Association: "We, the undersigned, declare that we have read the eligibility conditions for the Deaflympics and that we and our athletes comply with them. We agree to be filmed or photographed during the Deaflympics under the conditions and for the purposes authorized by the Deaflympics."

3.6. No entry shall be valid unless the above Rules shall have been observed.

3.7. All participants must hold the nationality of the country of their National Association. In case of objections, the Association concerned must provide proof of nationality, by providing a copy of passport.

4. CONTROL AND SANCTIONS

4.1. A list of athletes who have previously submitted an audiogram is distributed to each association. Athletes whose names appear on the list do not need to submit a new audiogram. All other athletes (whose names are not on the list) must, prior to participation, submit to Deaflympics an audiogram on forms supplied by Deaflympics through website.

4.2. The athletes registered for the Deaflympics may be required to take additional hearing tests during the Deaflympics.

4.3. All athletes may be required to undergo sex tests.

4.4. All athletes may be required to undergo doping tests.

4.5. An athlete who fails any of these above tests, he/she will be taken out of competition immediately. If he/she competes in different events in this sport, he/she will be disqualified only in the event the violation was done.

4.6. In the case where such an athlete is a member of a team he/she will be taken out of the game immediately. He/she will be disqualified for the rest of the game and the next game. A substitute for him/her may enter the competition.

4.7. In the case of fraud, the National Association will be obliged to pay all penalty expenses and fines imposed by the Executive Committee of Deaflympics.

4.8. All other expenses for tests taken during the Deaflympics are to be borne by the Organizing Committee.

4.9. An athlete who use medicine or forbidden substances due to permanent illness (allergy, asthma, epilepsy) must submit a doctor's declaration which must be handed over to the Organising Committee at the registration immediately after arrival).

5. ENGAGEMENTS

5.1. Only affiliated National Associations are allowed to register competitors in the Deaflympics.

5.2. The maximum number of engagements in each sport and event is specified in the Special Rules and Regulations for each sport.

5.3. For every three athletes entered the National Association is allowed to appoint one official plus one official for each sport (excluding delegates to the Congress).

5.4. The registration forms for the 20th Deaflympics will be supplied by Deaflympics.

6. TEAM SPORTS

6.1. The deadline for final registration for team sports has been 15 December 2003.

6.2. The fine for withdrawal after 1 December 2004 is USD $5,000 to be paid immediately after the withdrawal.

7. INDIVIDUAL SPORTS

7.1. Preliminary registrations with an indication of the probable number of athletes in each sport and event have been submitted to the Deaflympics Secretariat by 15 December 2003.

7.2. The final registrations with the names of each athlete indicating sport and event entered must be submitted to the CISS Secretariat no later than 1 December 2004. Such submissions may be made by telefax if followed by the official registration form.

7.3. No additional entries will be accepted after 1 December 2004.

7.4. A fine of USD$20 is levied on each non-starting athlete with the exception of those presenting a doctor's declaration that he/she should not be allowed to start.

7.5. The annual membership fee for 2005 and other previous outstanding debts must be paid before the opening of the Deaflympics or the entire team will not be allowed to participate in the competitions.

8. FINANCIAL REGULATIONS

8.1. Each delegation will be responsible for its own travel arrangements as well as for meals, accommodations and other related expenses.

8.2. Each athlete and official (including delegates) must pay a participation fee of USD$20 before the opening of the Deaflympics.

9. PRIZE AND AWARDS

9.1. In all individual sports and events the first prize will be a vermeil medal and a diploma, the second prize a silver medal and a diploma, and the third prize a bronze medal and a diploma.

9.2. In all team sports and in team events included in other sports, except for those of an "artificial" nature (see 1.9.3.), each member of a winning team who has participated in at least one match or competition held during the Deaflympics shall be awarded the first prize, each such member of the second team the second prize and each such member of the third team the third prize (see 1.9.1.). The other members of these teams are awarded diplomas but no medals.

9.3. In individual competitions the competitors placed fourth to eight shall be awarded diplomas.

10. TECHNICAL MEETINGS & DRAWS

10.1. For all sports at least one technical meeting will take place before the first contests in each sport. Date, time and place will be announced.

10.2. The technical meetings may be attended by the competition committee, the jury, the Technical Director of Deaflympics and two representatives (one of whom must be Deaf) for each participating nation. If a hearing person accompanies a deaf representative to the meeting, an interpreter will be allowed.

10.3. The draws for team sports have been conducted in Lausanne on 20 May 2004 for those nations registered for team sports.

10.4. The draw for the knock-out competitions in table-tennis, tennis and badminton will take place in Melbourne before or during the technical meetings for these sports. The seedings will be published before the draw takes place.

11. AUTHORITY AND JURISDICTION

11.1. The Executive Committee of Deaflympics constitutes the supreme authority which will decide, as the last resort, all disputes relating to the Games, on appeal by the Organizing Committee or the participating National Associations.

11.2. Protests made to ground judges, in matters of competition, are judged by them and are without appeal unless a protest has been made in writing (in English) on the official Deaflympics protest form. The protest must be delivered within a fixed time for each sport (see the technical regulations for each sport).

11.3. Protests against a decision of an official can be made to any member of the Protest Committee of the sport in question and must be accompanied by a deposit of USD$50.

11.4. The Protest Committee must decide on the protest within the time limits set forth for each sport, and the association in question must be informed about the decision immediately.

11.5. An appeal against the decision of Protest Committee can be addressed by an official of the protesting association to the Jury of Appeal of the Games within four hours after the decision of the first Protest Committee has been declared.

11.6. If a protest is accepted, the deposit is to be returned to the protesting association.

11.7. Appeals regarding hearing ability, sex tests, doping tests and nationality of an athlete are solely the jurisdiction of the Executive Committee of Deaflympics.

12. IDENTITY CARD
All athletes and officials will be given an identity card which must be carried when entering sites and stadiums. Without the identity card, no athletes may start.

13. ADVERTISEMENTS AND HEARING AIDS

13.1. Small logos and other advertisements are accepted on clothes and equipment provided that is not greater than a total of 400 cm2 in both front and back, either as part of the traditional distinctive design pattern or independent of the traditional design pattern. (Refer to DG Regulations DG15 ii)

13.2. Every kind of demonstration or propaganda, whether political, religious or racial, is forbidden in the Games area and outside these. (See IOC Olympic Charter, Article 61 - 2003 edition).

13.3. It is forbidden to wear hearing aids during competitions.

14. MISCELLANEOUS
For those cases not foreseen in the present Rules and Regulations of the Deaflympics or in the Statutes of Deaflympics,, the Deaflympics will refer to the Rules and Regulations of the IOC and of the International Federations. These are without appeal and have absolute priority over the rules and regulations of the National Federations of the Organizing country.