1. TECHNICAL COMMITTEE
The technical committee will be composed of the ICSD Technical Director for Cross Country Skiing and members appointed by the Organising Committee:

MALINEN Maarit ________________ ________________ DURCO Peter REPISKÁ Eliska

- ICSD Technical Director - FIS Representative - FIS Representative - Sports Liaison Officer - Deaf Representative

2. PROTEST COMMITTEE

MALINEN Maarit ________________ ________________ DURCO Peter REPISKÁ Eliska

- ICSD Technical Director - FIS Representative - FIS Representative - Sports Liaison Officer - Deaf Representative

3. EVENTS
The cross country skiing competitions will comprise the following events:

MEN
Individual Sprint (Freestyle)
15km Mass Start (Classic)
20km Double Pursuit (Classic, Freestyle)
3x10km Relay (1x Freestyle, 2x Classic) (one team only)
Team Sprint (Classic) (one team only)

WOMEN
Individual Sprint (Freestyle)
10km Mass Start (Classic)
15km Double Pursuit (Classic, Freestyle)
3x5km Relay (1x Freestyle, 2x Classic) (one team only) (CANCELLED)
Team Sprint (Classic) (one team only) (CANCELLED)

4. PARTICIPANTS

4.1. Age Eligibility
All cross country skiing competitors must be at least 15 years old in 2011 (born in 1996 or before) to compete in this event.

• Individual Sprint (Men/Women)
• Team Sprint (Men/Women)
• 3x5km Relay (Women) (CANCELLED)

All cross country skiing competitors must be at least 17 years old in 2011 (born in 1994 or before) to compete in this event.

• 10km Mass Start (Women)
• 15km Double Pursuit (Women)
• 15km Mass Start (Men)
• 3x10km Relay (Men)

All cross country skiing competitors must be at least 19 years old in 2011 (born in 1992 or before) to compete in this event.

• 20km Double Pursuit (Men)

4.2. Each National Federation may enter a maximum number of eight (8) men and eight (8) women for the cross country skiing events and one team for each of the relay events.

4.3. Four (4) men and four (4) women from the list of entered participants may be entered for Individual Sprint, Mass Start, and Double Pursuit. Three (3) men and three (3) women from the list may be entered for Relay. Only two (2) men and two (2) women from the list may be entered for Team Sprint. The names must be given to the organizing committee at the technical meeting for each event. No reserves or substitutes are allowed.

4.4. 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.

4.5. Competitors are participating at their own risk, in training and in competition.

5. REGISTRATION

5.1. The preliminary registrations with an indication of the probable number of athletes in each event must be submitted to the Secretariat no later than 15 January 2010.

5.2. The final registrations with the names of each athlete indicating event entered must be submitted to the Secretariat no later than 04 February 2011. Such submissions may be made by telefax if followed by the official registration form.

5.3. No changes or additional entries will be accepted after 04 February 2011.

6. VENUES

6.1. Competition Venue
The Cross Country Skiing competitions will take place at place at Strbské Pleso.

6.2. Training Venue
The training venue is the same as the competition venue.

7. SCHEDULE

7.1. Competition Schedule
Refer to the competition schedule on the Games website.

7.2. Training Schedule
Refer to the training schedule on the Games website.

8. COMPETITION RULES AND REGULATIONS

8.1. Technical Organisation
ICSD is responsible for the technical organisation of the Cross Country Skiing competitions.

8.2. Competition Rules
The Cross Country Skiing competitions will be conducted in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the FIS (Edition 2008). In case of disagreement in the interpretation of the Rules and Regulations, the English text shall prevail. Unforeseen incidents not covered by the Rules and Regulations shall be dealt with as follows:

8.2.1. Cases of a general nature will be resolved in accordance with Deaflympics Regulations, General Technical Rules – Winter Deaflympics, and this Cross Country Skiing Technical Regulations.

8.2.2. Technical questions related to competition rules shall be resolved according to the FIS Rules and Regulations.

Only athletes who comply with the Deaflympics Regulations are entitled to take part in the Deaflympics Cross Country Skiing competitions.

8.3. Competition Equipment
All equipment and implements used during competitions will comply with the FIS Rules and Regulations.

8.4. Competition Clothing
The Cross Country Skiing clothing will be conducted in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the FIS.

8.5. Draw

8.5.1. The draw for all events will be conducted in accordance with FIS Rules and Regulations. The Technical Committee will be responsible for the grouping of competitors and for the drawing of lots.

8.5.2. The drawings will be held at the technical meeting one day before each event.

9.2.3. A draw for starting order shall be assigned to each competitor in presence of a coach or team leader of each participating federation.

8.6. Competition Plan

8.6.1. The competitors will be placed in groups according to the FIS rules.

8.6.2. The starting order shall follow the FIS rules.

8.6.3. To pass during the race, the overtaking competitor shall tap his/her ski pole on the overtaken competitor's pole, in order to ask the latter to move aside so that he/she can pass. This rule is not permitted when there are two or more tracks. Otherwise there will be a disqualification.

8.7. Officials

8.7.1. Referee
The referee shall be fully qualified and certified by the FIS. The referee shall act in concert with the ICSD Technical Director. However, in matters concerning the interpretation of the FIS Rules, the referee's decision shall be final.

8.7.2. Appointment
The Organizing Committee shall appoint an appropriate number of referees and judges.

9.1. Procedure for lodging a protest
All sport related protests will be resolved in accordance to the FIS Rules and Regulations and will be managed by the Cross Country Skiing Protest Committee. Any official protest must be submitted in writing in English on the Official Deaflympics Protest Form. The form must be given to the ICSD Technical Director with USD $50 within 30 minutes after official posted results.

The ICSD Technical Director will decide whether the protest is sporting related or eligibility related. The Cross Country Skiing Protest Committee will review all sport related protests, and the ICSD Executive Committee will review all eligibility protests. The deposit of USD $50 will be returned to the appellant only if the protest is considered valid.

9.2. Procedures for reviewing a protest
The Cross Country Skiing Protest Committee will meet in the Technical Directors office in Strbské Pleso at a time decided upon by the chairperson of the committee.

• The ICSD Technical Director will be the chairperson of the committee.
• The Sports Liaison Officer (SLO) will be responsible to book the meeting room and interpreters.
• The Sports Liaison Officer (SLO) will contact all committee members to inform them of the meeting time and location.
• The ICSD Technical Director will be responsible for liaising with the State Sports Association's Competition Manager.

The Sports Liaison Officer (SLO) will be responsible for informing Games Headquarters GHQ and the ICSD Technical Director will be responsible for informing ICSD Executive Committee about the protest and also the outcome of the protest.

10. CONTROL AND SANCTIONS

10.1. Hearing Aids
The use of any hearing aid/amplification or external cochlear implant parts are not permitted within the restricted zone area.

10.1.1. Restricted Zone Area
The restricted zone area is in effect from the time athletes enter on the cross country skiing area during the warm-up and competition period.

10.1.2. Violation and Penalty
When this rule is violated, refer to Audiogram Regulations, 8: VIOLATIONS and PENALTIES.

10.2. Medical Control
Refer to General Technical Rules - Winter Deaflympics, Article 4 - CONTROL AND SANCTIONS.

11. TECHNICAL MEETING

11.1. Date and Location
The Cross Country Skiing technical meeting will be held on TBA February 2011 in TBA at TBA.

11.2. Attendance
Each participating National Federation may be represented by two officials, of whom at least one must be deaf and, if necessary, an interpreter.