Competition Rules

The Swimming competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will be held in accordance with the rules of Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) Handbook 2005-2009 and the Olympic Charter, in force at the time of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Pursuant to the Olympic Charter, FINA assumes the responsibility for the technical control and direction of Swimming at the Olympic Games.

A Commission shall be appointed, consisting of the Swimming Technical Delegates and the Chairman and Honorary Secretary of the Technical Swimming Committee and the Chairman and Honorary Secretary of the Technical Open Water Swimming Committee.

Protests and Appeals

Protests are possible and shall be resolved under FINA rule GR 9.2.2 and GR 9.2.3. Protests must be submitted to the referee in writing by the team leader with a deposit of 100 Swiss Francs or its equivalent, within 30 minutes following the conclusion of the respective competition. The

referee shall consider all protests. If he rejects the protest, he must state the reasons for his decision. The team leader may appeal the rejection to the Jury of Appeal whose decision shall be final. The Commission shall consider appeals against decision by the referee and recommendations to the Jury of Appeal.

Draw

There will be no draw for Pool Swimming competition and lanes will be assigned based on entry times. For Marathon Swimming the standard draw for starting positions will be used.

Appointment of the International Technical Officials

Swimming

Each FINA Member Federation is entitled to send Applications for one (1) Starter and one (1) Judge included on the FINA Swimming Officials Lists No.13 and No.14. The FINA TSC will nominate:

Host Federation: twelve (12) Deck Officials, one (1) Starter

Other NFs: twenty-one (21) Judges, one (1) Starter

Marathon Swimming

Each FINA Member Federation is entitled to send Applications for one (1) Judge included on the FINA Open Water Swimming Officials Lists No.6 and No. 7. The FINA TOWSC will nominate:

Host Federation: eight (8) Judges

Other NFs: five (5) Judges