Championships

Lifesaving World Championships

Every two years the International Life Saving Federation organises the Lifesaving World Championships (LWC).

The Lifesaving World Championships include:

• The World Championships for National Teams – Open Category.
• The World Championships for National Teams – Youth Category.
• The World Championships for National Teams – Inflatable Rescue Boats (IRB).
• The World Championships for Interclub – Open Category.
• The World Championships for Interclub – Youth Category.
• The World Championships for Interclub – Masters.
• The World Championships for Interclub – Surfboats.
• The World Championships for Interclub – Inflatable Rescue Boats (IRB).
• The World Championships for Extra Events such as March Past, Long distance Races,etc.

The World Championships typically involve between 4,000 and 5,000 competitors and officials and last some 12-14 days.

Commonwealth Championships

The Commonwealth Championships are Championships where only Commonwealth nations can participate. The Championships are ILS sanctioned events.

The World Games

The International World Games Association (IWGA) organises the World Games every four years, one year after the Summer Olympic Games.

The World Games are often called the “Olympic” Games for the non-Olympic Sports and were first held in Santa Clara (USA) in 1981. The Games are a Multi-Sport Event where over 30 Sports are organised during a period of 14 Days. Lifesaving Sports (both pool and beach-surf) are on the programme since its second edition in London in 1985. The lifesaving competition lasts three days: two days in the pool and one day on the beach-surf. The ten best lifesaving teams in the World can participate in these top Games and the selection is made at the World Championships one year before holding the Games.

European Championships

The ILS European Region organise the Lifesaving European Championships every two years. These Championships comprise both pool and surf/ocean events. The Championship is organised in the odd years between the Lifesaving World Championships.

The competition rules of the European Region in ILS are very similar to the ILS Competition rules except for the elements that are typically linked to Regional conditions.

Junior European Championships

The Lifesaving European Championships for Juniors (max. 18 years of age) are organised under the aegis of ILS-Europe and are held every year and comprise both pool and surf-beach events.

Multi-Sports Events

Lifesaving sport is included in several international multi-sport events such as:

Military World Games and Military World Championships

The International Military Sports Council (CISM) organises the Military Lifesaving World Championships and the Military World Games.

World Masters Games

The World Masters Games is an international multi-sport tournament for athletes of ages beyond young adulthood. The games are held every four years, and are sponsored by the International Masters Games Association (IMGA)..

National Championships

Most member nations of ILS organise National Lifesaving Championships with both pool and beach/ocean events. Records can be set if the organisers comply with the ILS sanctioning rules.

All National Federations & Members often closely OR fully adhere to the ILS Lifesaving Sports competition guidelines at their local lifesaving sports events BUT alterations are made sometimes to suit the local demographic conditions and participating athletes to closely confirm with the actual events, however efforts are made to comply with the latest rule book.

ILS follows the IOC guidelines for determining the age of competitors its events such as the Life Saving World Championships. A competitor’s age and eligibility age group (s) is determined by how old he or she is as at 31st December of the year in which they are participating in the competition.

Examples are:

Open Competition

Eligible:		Competitors who turn 16 years of age on or before 31st December in the
		year of competition. There is no maximum age.
Not eligible:		Competitors who are younger than 15 or turn 15 in the year of competition
Youth Competition
Eligible:		Competitors who turn 15,16,17 and 18 years of age on or before
		31st December in the year of competition.
Not eligible:		Competitors who are younger than 14 or who turn 19 in the year of
		competition
Masters Competition
Eligible:		Competitors who turn 30 years of age on or before 31st December in the
		year of the competition. There is no maximum age.
Not eligible:		Competitors who turn 29 in the year of the competition.
23 Years Surf Boats
Eligible:		Competitors who turn 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 or 23 years of age on or
		before 31st December in the year of the competition.
Not eligible:		Competitors who turn 15 or 24 in the year of the competition.

Inflatable Rescue Boats

IRB Crew and Patients:

Eligible:	Competitors who turn 16 years of age on or before 31st December in the
	year of competition. There is no maximum age.
Not eligible:	Competitors who are younger than 15 in the year of competition.
IRB Drivers:
Eligible:	Competitors who turn 18 years of age on or before 31st December in the
	year of competition. There is no maximum age.
Not eligible:	Competitors who are younger than 17 in the year of competition and those
	who are not certified by their Federation to operate craft and those who are
	unlicensed drivers.
Note:	In most countries drivers are required to be licensed under statutory
	arrangements to operate a maritime vessel. The Organising Committee
	should advise local requirements as part of entry requirements.