Olympic Games Rules

The road to the Olympic games is a challenging one for any athlete. Those who want to know how to participate in Olympic events need to first get some excellent Olympic instruction and rules training. Because the Olympic games are a national event, Olympic games rules might be different than the rules for local organizations dedicated to a particular sport. That is why you cannot receive instruction on how to participate in Olympic events without first learning the specific Olympic games rules that apply to your sport.

Who Determines Olympic Games Rules

The International Olympic Committee is the organization that determines the rules that govern how to participate in Olympic sports. This organization also determines where the games will be held and what sports they will include. However, the members of the IOC are not experts in all sporting events. Therefore, they give the task of creating the actual Olympic games rules to the various International Sports Federations. The General Association of International Sports Federations is the group that all international sports federations belong to. All of the organizations responsible for Olympic games rules are a part of this body.

Olympic Games Rules Common to All Sports

While each sport will have its own Olympic instruction and rules, there are some rules that apply globally to the games in general. Most of these focus on the way an athlete can be disqualified from participating.

Players can be disqualified from the Olympics, even after the games are over, if they are found to be or have been in violation of the IOC Olympic games rules for participation. These include the following:

• No violent behavior on the field
• Respecting the spirit of fair play
• No use of substances deemed illegal according to IOC Olympic games rules
• Compliance with the Olympic Movement Anti-Doping Code
• Must be a national of the country he or she is playing for

Any team or player found in violation of these official Olympic games rules will be disqualified. If the event is already over and the team or player was found to have been in
violation of official Olympic games rules at the time of the event, such as in the case of finding illegal substances were used to enhance performance, the medal will be revoked and given to the next player.

In addition to these official Olympic games rules, each sporting event has its own rules, which are often different than the rules used in the various participating countries. These rules are governed by the ISF that controls that sport. The Olympic games rules specific to particular sport may change from year to year in an effort to enhance the sport for both players and spectators.

All Olympic events are governed by Olympic games rules that specify how old a player can be. Most sports have either a maximum and minimum age range for a player. For instance, Olympic games rules regarding gymnasts state that the gymnast must be 16 in the year the Olympics are played. On the other side of the coin, Olympic games rules relating to soccer state that all players, except three wild card players, must be 23 or younger.

Olympic Competition Rules for Sportswear

One of the ways that the IOC and ISFs try to bring a level of unity to the game is through Olympic competition rules for sportswear. Again, these are going to be different from sport to sport, but the Olympic governing bodies will say what can and cannot be worn on the field. Some of the Olympic competition rules for sportswear are designed to keep players safe. Others are designed to prevent an unfair advantage. Regardless, players must conform to all Olympic competition rules for sportswear if they are going to participate in the games.

Where to Find Olympic Instruction and Rules

Most players will get Olympic instruction and rules training from their coaches, trainers, and sponsors. It is the coach's job to make sure that a player is informed of all Olympic games rules, including Olympic competition rules for sportswear, playing, and game structure.

If you are interested in learning more about how to participate in Olympic events, start by finding a good coach. Not all great coaches will have Olympic players that they have coached, but a good Olympic coach will have experience coaching world and national champion players. They also need to be involved in the various ISFs so that they can be kept current on the changes in Olympic games rules.

Once you have found a coach you are considering for Olympic instruction and rules training, schedule an interview. Let the coach know your intentions, and show him your skill. Then you can discuss the various Olympic games rules and decide together if you have what it takes to become an Olympic champion. Keep in mind that you will have to have tremendous skill to land a spot with a qualified Olympic coach, so keep practicing your skill as you learn more about Olympic games rules.