Have you started training for the first IJRU World Championship? At IJRU, we are in full tournament planning mode! We are pleased to announce more details about the International Open Tournament (IOT). The IOT will take place in Ottawa from July 6 to 7, 2020.

Learn more about the IJRU 2020 World Championships including the our information package and pricing and the events and qualification information for the IJRU World Championship (WC) and Junior World Championship (JWC).

IOT age categories

The IOT will have the following age categories for both individual and team events:

• 12-14

• 15-17

• 18+

• 30+

Unlike in the IJRU World Championship and Junior World Championship, athletes are able to compete up an age category with a few exceptions:

• You must be at least 12 years of age by December 31, 2020 to compete in the IOT

• You must be at least 30 years of age by August 31, 2020 to compete in the 30+ age category at the IOT

• Individuals who are over the age of 30, can choose to compete in the 18+ age category (no other age categories are allowed to compete down an age category)

• Teams will be registered based on the age of the oldest athlete in each event 

Please note

If a National Governing Body (NGB) is unable to fill all of the 15-17 or 18+ slots, they are allowed to have teams/individuals jump up an age category to fill the spots. In these instances, the NGB will need to indicate the team is competing up an age category with their registration. This doesn’t apply for the 12-14 or 30+ age categories.

Events and number of entries

Each NGB will receive 3 spots per event per age and gender category at the International Open Tournament. 

The following individual events will be competed in all age and gender categories (female and male) at the IOT:

• Single Rope Speed Sprint (1x30)

• Single Rope Individual Freestyle

The following team events will be competed in all age and gender categories (female, male and mixed) at the IOT:

• Single Rope Speed Relay (4x30)

• Single Rope Double Under Relay (2x30)

• Double Dutch Speed Relay (4x30)

• Double Dutch Speed Sprint (1x60)

• Single Rope Pairs Freestyle

• Single Rope Team Freestyle

• Double Dutch Singles Freestyle

• Double Dutch Pairs Freestyle

• Wheel Pairs Freestyle

The overall and all around categories will not be awarded at the IOT in individual or team events. We will also not offer DDC or Team Show events at the IOT. 

Competition rules

The International Open Tournament will use the IJRU Judging Manual. Due to the anticipated number of participants, we will only use music for the Single Rope Team Freestyle event. All other freestyle events at the IOT will not use music.

WC, JWC and IOT additional spots

We want to encourage participation at the World Championships, Junior World Championships and International Open Tournament. Early registration for the IJRU 2020 World Championships will begin in February. We will review and analyze the early registration data in order to make more spots available. We encourage NGBs to register as soon as possible. IJRU will only release additional spots if they can be applied to all eligible NGBs equally. Please continue to follow IJRU and read our communications for more information. 

How do I participate?

You must register for the IOT through your NGB. It is up to each NGB to decide how they will fill the spots for the IOT. View a full list of IJRU member countries and contact your NGB today.

What is the IOT?

The International Open Tournament gives athletes an opportunity to compete in an international event with athletes from all over the world. As a result, we want to encourage participation by allowing more age categories and athletes. This is very much a tournament to help develop the next generation of World Championship athletes. 

In the future, we may even test new events through the IOT before introducing them to the World Championships and Junior World Championships.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the International Open Tournament, please send an email to tcom@ijru.sport.