Selection Policy
TOKYO 2020 OLYMPIC GAMES - SELECTION POLICY
1.1 OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this selection policy is to maximise the prospects of success at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020. Skateboard GB is entitled to enter three (3) athletes per discipline should the athlete qualify from their respective discipline.
1.1.2 This policy intends to ensure the qualification of as many athletes as possible across all disciplines.
1.2 ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for selection consideration for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Skateboard GB athletes must:
1.2.1 Be a British citizen and hold a British passport which expires no less than six (6) months after the conclusion of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
1.2.2 Be a registered member of the Home Nations Federation affiliated with and recognised by Skateboard GB.
1.2.3 Be eligible to represent Great Britain at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games by satisfying both IOC eligibility criteria and BOA eligibility requirements.
1.2.4 Comply in all respects with the anti-doping policies of Skateboard GB, World Skate and the WADA code.
1.2.5 Not be subject to a suspension, ban or disqualification imposed by Skateboard GB or any other authority which has jurisdiction over the athlete or competition.
1.2.6 Comply with the provisions of the Olympic Charter that is currently in force including but not limited to, Rule 41 (Nationality of Competitors). Only those skateboarders who comply with the Olympic Charter may participate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
1.2.7 Have competed at some point in their respective Home Nations competition events (either Home Nation or British National Championship events) or a Tokyo 2020 Olympic Qualification event organised by World Skate.
1.2.8 Athletes must be listed by name in World Skate’s “World Skateboarding Rankings” at www.worldskate.org as of the 30th June 2021. The complete World Skate Skateboarding Qualification System – Games of the XXXII Olympiad – Tokyo 2020 can be found at:
http://www.worldskate.org/olympic-qualifying-system/tokyo-2020.html
1.3 ENTRY PROCESS FOR QUALIFICATION EVENTS
1.3.1 All athletes shall be entered by Skateboard GB in accordance with World Skate’s Qualification System (1.6) and comply with all abovementioned criteria.
1.4 ENTRY PROCESS FOR QUALIFICATION EVENTS
The Skateboard GB selection panel compromises of:
1.4.1 Skateboard GB Chief Executive, who will act as the Independent Chair in an ex-officio non-voting capacity.
1.4.2 Skateboard GB Team Manager.
1.4.3 A Representative from each Home Nation (representatives from Skateboard England, Skateboard: NI & Skateboard Scotland).
1.4.4 A representative from the skateboarding community who is regarded by Skateboard GB as an expert in the discipline of park skateboarding.
1.4.5 A representative from the skateboarding community who is regarded by Skateboard GB as an expert in the discipline of street skateboarding.
Each member of the selection panel will have one vote, subject to clause 1.2.1.
The Skateboard GB Team Manager shall have a casting vote if votes are tied.
All conflicts of interest must be declared, and the selection panel member will be required to abstain from voting on any such matters.
1.5 SUPPORT STAFF
1.5.1 Selection of the Skateboard GB Team Manager and other support staff is at the discretion of the Skateboard GB board of directors.
1.6 WORLD SKATE QUALIFICATION SYSTEM
The following qualification pathways are the methods in which quota places are earned for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, in accordance with the Qualification System established by World Skate and approved by the IOC.
1.6.1 2021 World Skate World Skateboarding Championships (see 1.7.2) - Street Skateboarding World Championships – Rome, Italy.
If the World Championships 2021 is not held, the relevant qualification quota will be assigned through the Olympic World Skateboarding Ranking
1.6.2 Olympic World Skateboarding Rankings (OWSR) as of the 30th June 2021.
In accordance with World Skate’s Skateboarding Qualification System for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games points will be awarded during the 2019 season (1st January 2019 to 30th September 2019, referred to as Season 1) and the 2020/2021 season (1st October 2019 to 30th June 2021, referred to as Season 2). The Olympic World Skateboarding Rankings (OWSR) are sanctioned by World Skate and are listed at www.worldskate.org.
The OWSR recognizes World Skate-sanctioned National Championship Continental Championship and World Championship events, as well as World Skate/SLS Pro Tour and 5-Star events.
Season One (1) Qualification Events (1st January to 30th September 2019)
Skateboard Street
SBGB National Championships, Manchester, UK, 12TH-14TH April 2019
WS SLS Pro Tour, London, UK, 20-26th May 2019
Dew Tour 5*, Long Beach, USA, 10th-16th June 2019
WS SLS Pro Tour, Los Angeles, USA, 23rd-28th July 2019
ISO 5*, Qingfeng, China, 3rd-8th September 2019
WS SLS World Championships, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 18th-22nd September 2019
Skateboard Park
SBGB National Championships, Manchester, UK, 12th-14th April 2019
Dew Tour 5*, Long Beach, USA, 10th-16th June 2019
ISO 5*, Nanjing, China, 14th-19th July 2019
WS World Championships, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 9th-15th September 2019
Season One (1): The 1st of January 2019 to the 30th September 2019. Each athlete’s two (2) best scores across all event categories listed in the paragraph above will count toward point accrual in the OWSR. The events results and rankings can be found at:
www.worldskate.org/skateboarding/results.html.
Season Two (2) Qualification Events (1st October 2019 to 30th June 2021)
Skateboard Street
STU Open 5*, Rio de Janiero, Brazil, 11th-17th November 2019
SBGB National Championships, Manchester, UK, 10th-11th April 2021
Dew Tour Pro Tour, Des Moines, USA, 16th-23rd May 2021
WS SLS World Championships, Rome, Italy, 30th – 6th June 2021
Skateboard Park
STU Open Pro Tour, Rio de Janiero, Brazil, 11th-17th November 2019
SBGB National Championships, Manchester, UK, 10th-11th April 2021
Dew Tour Pro Tour, Des Moines, USA, 16th – 23rd May 2021
Season Two (2): The 1st of October 2019 to the 30th June 2021. Each athlete’s three (3) best scores across all event categories listed above will count toward point accrual in the final OWSR.
Athletes should regularly check the schedule of events by visiting the World Skate calendar at scheduled events by visiting the World Skate calendar at:
www.worldskate.org/skateboarding/eventsskateboarding/competitions.html.
Skateboard GB’s National Championships have been sanctioned by World Skate as an Olympic Qualifying event for point accrual towards the OWSR. Two (2) National Championship scores can be homologated over the two (2) seasons; however, only the best result for each athlete will count towards the OWSR. National Championships scores will be added to the World Skateboarding Rankings on the 30th June 2021 at the end of Season 2. Information about how OWSR ranking points are designated for National Championships can be found through the “Download Point System” link at:
Skateboard GB National Championships will be open to all GB athletes with an OWSR ranking.
Additional places for British athletes who do not have an OWSR ranking will be available to athletes on a first-come, first-served basis upon the open of registration.
Due to complications surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, British athletes who do not have an OWSR ranking are invited to compete at the 2021 National Championships based on ranking places achieved at the 2019 Skateboard GB National Championships. To mitigate the risk of COVID-19, eight (8) athletes per discipline will compete at the event. Thirty two (32) in total.
1.7 ATHLETE QUALIFICATION PROCESS
1.7.1 The Tokyo 2020 Skateboard GB team will be compromised of a maximum of twelve (12) athletes, three (3) athletes per discipline (Men’s Park, Men’s Street, Women’s Park, and Women’s Street), provided all available quota places are filled in accordance with World Skate’s “Tokyo 2020 Olympic Qualification System”. Quota places are allocated to athletes by name through the qualification pathways identified by World Skate as detailed below:
The Tokyo 2020 Men and Women’s Park and Street events will each be comprised of exactly twenty (20) athletes, based on the following criteria:
1.7.2 The three (3) highest placed athletes in each of the four (4) events (two disciplines) contested in the 2021 World Skate World Skateboarding Championships (1.6.1) will be directly qualified to participate in the Olympic Games regardless of their OWSR. If the World Championships 2021 is not held, the relevant qualification quota will be assigned through the Olympic World Skateboarding Ranking.
1.7.3 The sixteen (16) highest ranked athletes who have not already qualified (via 1.3.1) in each of the four (4) disciplines will qualify through the OWSR, respecting the maximum quota of three (3) athletes per country and ensuring continental representation.
The Olympic World Skateboarding Rankings are sanctioned by World Skate and are published at www.workdskate.org.
Athletes will be selected by name on the Olympic World Skateboarding Rankings as of the 30th June 2021 (following the conclusion of all eligible OWSR events). A maximum quota of three (3) athletes per NOC for each discipline until the number of sixteen (16) athletes is reached, including representation from each of the five (5) continents with at least one (1) athlete per event.
1.7.4 If not already present in the above qualifications, one host country place will be allocated to the highest ranked host country skateboarder in each event.
1.8 NOMINATION FOR SELECTION TO THE BOA
1.8.1 Any British athlete that qualifies for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games via the OWSR or a World Championship event will be nominated to the BOA by Skateboard GB to participate at the Olympic Games, subject to compliance with the eligibility criteria (1.2) and with this policy generally.
1.9 DESELECTION
1.9.1 If for any reason an athlete is unable or unwilling to fully comply with Skateboard GB’s eligibility criteria (1.2) or this policy generally, or behave in a way deemed to be detrimental to Skateboard GB or the British Olympic Association, they may be withdrawn from the team prior to the Delegation Registration Meeting (DRM) following consultation with the British Olympic Association.
1.9.2 Athletes becoming unfit due to illness or injury at any time following their nomination to the British Olympic Association by Skateboard GB must notify Skateboard GB immediately and will be required to undertake a full medical examination by Skateboard GB medical staff, which may result in the athlete being de-selected from the team at the complete discretion of the Team Manager following consultation with the British Olympic Association.
1.9.3 Where athletes are de-selected from the Team following the DRP, any replacement decisions shall be made by the BOA (in consultation with Skateboard GB) in accordance with the IOC Late Athlete Replacement Policy.
1.10 APPEALS
An athlete may appeal against a selection decision falling within one of the categories above only on the grounds that:
1.10.1 There has been failure to apply the applicable selection criteria; and/or that there has been a failure to adhere to the procedure set out in the selection policy.
1.10.2 The athlete does not have the right to appeal against any judgment or discretion exercised in the course of making a selection decision, or against the content of the selection policy.
1.11 HOW TO APPEAL
1.11.1 This appeals process is commenced when an athlete affected by a selection decision, or the athlete’s authorised representative, submits a formal written appeal (‘the Notice of Appeal’) to the Skateboard GB Chair, contactable at the following email address: chair@skateboardgb.org
1.11.2 The notice of appeal must be submitted within 72 hours of the selection decision being announced or communicated to the athlete, whichever is later.
1.11.3 If the athlete fails to submit the notice of appeal within the time limit set out in this appeals process they will have lost their right of appeal, save in wholly exceptional circumstances which will be judged by the appeal panel in their absolute discretion.
1.11.4 The notice of appeal must set out full details of the athlete’s ground(s) of appeal and include:
1.11.5 Details of the decision which the athlete is appealing;
1.11.6 Details of the grounds(s) upon which the athlete relies, including the precise manner in which the athlete alleges that the selection criteria have not been applied or in which the procedure set out in the selection policy has not been followed.
1.11.7 Any documents of written evidence upon which the athlete relies in support of their appeal. These documents must be relevant specifically to the athlete’s grounds of appeal.
1.11.8 The notice of appeal must be accompanied by a deposit of £100, payable to Skateboard GB, as a contribution towards the administrative costs of processing the appeal.
1.11.9 Athletes should be aware that appeals are normally conducted by reference to the written notice of appeal and supporting documents and that the athlete (or their authorised representative) will not normally be allowed to attend the meeting of the appeal panel in person. The athlete should therefore ensure that the notice of appeal is as comprehensive as possible.
1.12 APPEAL PANEL
1.12.1 The Skateboard GB Chair will appoint the appeal panel. The appeal panel will be composed of three (3) members, namely:
1.12.2 Two (2) Skateboard GB board directors (whom were not part of the selection panel) from which one shall be nominated as chair; and
1.12.3 An external person with high performance and elite sport knowledge/experience.
1.12.4 The Skateboard GB Chair shall make best endeavours to ensure that when selecting the Appeal Panel, those appointed do not have an actual, or perceived, conflict of interest in respect of the appeal.
1.12.5 In the event that any member of the appeal panel has any involvement with, or is related to an appellant or any athlete who might be affected by the outcome of the appeal, or had any involvement with the selection decision under appeal, or is in any way placed in a position of conflicting interests in respect of the appeal, he or she shall be disqualified from sitting on the appeal panel and will be replaced by an alternate who shall be nominated by the Skateboard GB Chair.
1.12.6 Upon receipt of the notice of appeal, the Skateboard GB Chair will as soon as reasonably practicable circulate it to all members of the appeal panel.
1.12.7 The chair of the appeal panel will convene a meeting to take place as soon as practical, and in any event within five (5) working days of receipt of the notice of appeal, at which the appeal panel will consider the notice of appeal.
1.12.8 The appeal panel will investigate the grounds set out in the notice of appeal and establish to their reasonable satisfaction whether or not there has been a failure to apply the applicable selection criteria and/or that there has been a failure to adhere to the procedure set out in the selection policy
1.12.9 The appeal panel, when considering the notice of appeal, shall be entitled to take advice (including legal advice) as they see fit.
1.12.10 The appeal panel shall be entitled to:
1.12.11 Confirm the selection decision under appeal and reject the appeal; or
1.12.12 Quash the selection decision under appeal and remit the matter back to the original decision maker identifying the errors they have identified in the conduct of the selection process and requesting that a new decision is made within 72 hours; or
1.12.13 Rescind the selection decision under appeal and confirm the selection of the athlete.
1.12.14 The decision of the appeal panel shall be reached by majority vote and all members shall have one vote each.
1.12.15 The Skateboard GB Chair will in writing inform all parties about the appeal panel’s decision to either uphold or reject the appeal under the guidelines of 1.13.10.
1.12.16 The decision of the appeal panel shall be final.
1.12.17 If the appeal is upheld the deposit will be refunded in full and detailed in the appeal panel’s decision letter from the Skateboard GB Chair.
1.13 UPDATES
1.13.1 Updates to these procedures may be made by Skateboard GB directors, any such updates must be approved by the board of directors prior to coming into effect. Any amendments to this policy will be communicated to all athletes, and the board of directors reserve the right (in particular) to make any necessary changes to the policy as may be brought about as a result of COVID-19 impacting any qualification schedules.