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International Racquetball Federation [IRF] Officially Sanctions Racket:Next

March 15, 2022

 For Immediate Release

 International Racquetball Federation [IRF] Officially Sanctions Racket:Next

 

Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA: In a decisive vote of the IRF Board of Directors, Virtual Reality racquet sport game Racket:Next [aka Racket: Nx] has become a fully sanctioned sports discipline of an IOC-Recognized global sports federation, effective April 1, 2022.

With this action, Racquet:Next becomes the first electronic game of any sort to become an official global sport.

 

IRF [Colorado Springs, USA]; Racket:Next developer One Hamsa [Tel Aviv, Israel]; and the Metaverse Sports Association [San Francisco, USA]; signed a Memorandum of Understanding in July 2021. At that time, the IRF endorsed Racket:Next and committed to progress toward full sanctioning of the game as a sport.

IRF Secretary General Luke St. Onge said at the time: “When we realized what this combination could mean not only for our federation but for all of racquet sport, we jumped all over it. This will be a game-changer both for us and for world sport. We look forward to sharing so much more as this exciting partnership unfolds.”

As St. Onge predicted, the partnership has unfolded and “the game” has changed. Dean Schear, IRF Chief Financial Officer and Chair of the IRF Virtual Sports Committee, added, “Bottom line, we have a great vision, a great team, and the sense of urgency and commitment to act now.”

The IRF has been asked to participate in the E-Gaming Pavilion at The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, in July. The IRF is also a candidate to participate in the Olympic Virtual Series later this year.

Metaverse Sports Association CEO Victor Bond, who drove and facilitated the agreement, commented, “This is a marriage made in future-sport heaven: a world-class developer and a unique, successful, and wonderful game with a fully global international IOC-recognized sports federation that has the vision and the grit to not just look around the corner but to go there.” Bond added, “This is one big step in our collaboration and one gigantic leap for the new technology of sport.”

One Hamsa CEO Assaf “Usul” Ronen added: “This first-ever sanctioning act supports Racket:Next’s core design principles as a fully athletic and visceral game, allowing players of all racquet sports – not only racquetball – to make every racket sport move, except for those that would not work in the average living room (like a racquetball dive or a clay court tennis slide), immersed inside a lighted, responsive, audio-filled dome, in a game that is purely skill based.”

Ronen continued, “Racket:Next has already surpassed 300,000 players worldwide, led by the fastest-growing VR headset, the Meta Quest 2, in which it’s been a top-rated title since its launch in 2019. Since 2021 we also witness a surge of players on emerging China-based platforms. Racquet sports, all together, is the largest sports category in the world, eclipsing even world football.

For more information:

web: www.racketnext.com  email: [email protected]

International Racquetball Federation: www.internationalracquetball.com

One Hamsa: www.onehamsa.com

Metaverse Sports Association: www.virtualsportsassociation.com

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International Racquetball Federation: The International Racquetball Federation is the governing body for all internationally sanctioned racquetball events. Racquetball is an extremely fast sport where balls can travel in excess of 150 mph in a 40 ft. long, 20 ft. wide, and 20 ft. high court.

One Hamsa: Born to the deserts of the middle east, One Hamsa is a game design studio formed to craft quality VR games. We care about unique content, unreasonable levels of polish, and providing our players with value.

Metaverse Sports Association: The Metaverse Sports Association is dedicated to the development of high-quality athletic virtual reality games into officially sanctioned global sports. Racket:Next is our and the world’s first success. There will be more

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IRF Rules Changes Announcement

Dear International Racquetball Family,

As many of you have probably already heard, we at the IRF have approved some significant changes to Racquetball competition on the international level. We would like to take this opportunity to describe these changes and the rationale behind them. Keep in mind that these changes will become effective 1 February 2022.

1. The first is the scoring system, often referred to as “rally scoring.” With rally scoring, a point is earned at the end of each rally, by the winner of the rally, regardless of whether the winner of the rally is the server or the receiver.

  • The best of five (5) games will be played.
  • The first four (4) games will be played to 15 points, win by one (1) point.
  • If a fifth (tiebreaker) game is necessary, it will be played to 11 points, win by two (2) points.
  • There will be one (1) timeout per game.
  • There will be a limit of two (2) appeals per game.
  • The time between games will be two (2) minutes.

The main reason for this move to rally scoring is that many times our matches are too long in duration. That negatively affects the feasibility of televising, in addition to negatively affecting Racquetball in Olympic Chain tournaments with the extensive number of days that are required to complete all of the matches. Additionally, we know the general public often does not understand Racquetball and becomes lost and confused trying to follow our scoring format as it has existed in the past.

In short, we want to make Racquetball a game that everyone, players and spectators alike, can enjoy equally, whether or not they know it and understand it well.

We understand that change sometimes brings uneasiness and requires short-term adjustments, but we have learned from the experience of other sports that made the same scoring changes years ago (as with Volleyball, Badminton, and Squash). They feel it was very positive for them.

Another benefit of rally scoring is that we can also provide the return of the team competition to our tournaments. This is something that we have been wanting to do for a while, but it was just not possible due to match length. Instead, with the new rally scoring system, creating games of shorter duration gives us the time to again offer the team competition.

Rally scoring will take effect beginning 1 February 2022 at each IRF, PARC and ARF tournament going forward including the IRF World Junior Championships later in 2022.

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Two additional changes we consider very positive for inclusiveness and heightened opportunities in international competition are:

2. Adding a Mixed Doubles division to each tournament, something that has already been done successfully in several tournaments. Mixed Doubles is steadily gaining in popularity, and lead organizations across the globe are actively looking for ways to make sports even more inclusive and interesting for women to play.

3. Adding a Junior 21 & Under division to the IRF World Junior Championships. We believe this move is very important since it covers an age range between 18 and 21 years old when many players who do not yet have the experience and expertise to qualify for the adult teams. Those players have been known to leave Racquetball for other sports. Now, they will have the possibility to continue their international competitive development playing the sport of Racquetball.

World Cup age ranges will consist of 21 & Under; 18 & Under: and 16 & Under. Esprit Cup ranges will now be 14 & Under; 12 & Under; and 10 & Under. Bringing 14 & Under into the Esprit Cup category will give non-point-earning experience to additional players who did not qualify for their country’s national teams but are seriously preparing for future success in the older World Cup divisions.

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IRF Rule Change

At the World Congress at the IRF World Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala, on 28 November 2021, a rule change* was approved concerning appeals, effective 1 January 2022: The player must stop in the moment of a perceived wrong call and make an appeal immediately concerning the last play between the players. *This rule change will be reflected in the updated 2022-2024 IRF Rulebook to be released soon.

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Conclusion

Please be assured that these important changes underwent a long process of research and analysis involving many people and organizations who walked the path with us. Our gratitude goes to everyone for their invaluable collaboration.

We are confident that these decisions will benefit Racquetball and create further strength and momentum for success on the World stage and in the Olympic Chain of Events.

We wish everyone a smooth transition to these announced international competition changes, and we hope that the pandemic will allow us all to return to full normal activity as soon as possible!

Sincerely,

The IRF Board of Directors

Osvaldo Maggi (President/Argentina), Marcelo Gómez Pacheco (Vice President/Costa Rica), Luke St. Onge (General Secretary/USA), Cheryl Kirk (Secretary/USA), Carlos Ruiz (Treasurer/Venezuela), María Renée Rodríguez (Athlete Representative /Guatemala), Dr. Estuardo Wer (Guatemala), Miguel Perea (Mexico), Dr. Cho Wangki (Korea), Yunhui Cobb (USA), Aisling Hickey (Ireland).

IRF CHANGES ANNOUNCEMENT

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IRF ANNOUNCES CHANGE IN 2021 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS PLANS

August 28, 2021 – In an effort to be able offer both an IRF World Championships (Adult) and an IRF World Junior Championships, as well as to be mindful of and concerned for the pandemic-related health and safety of country delegations as well as the host countries themselves, the IRF today announces changes in plans for both events.

The IRF World Championships (Adult) will now take place at the same time as the IRF World Junior Championships in late November/early December in Guatemala City, Guatemala. This reflects a change in dates but not location since Guatemala City was the originally announced host country.

The IRF World Junior Championships dates reflect only a small change (see below), but the host country is now Guatemala and not Costa Rica as previously planned. We hope to return to Costa Rica in 2022, and we are so grateful for Costa Rica’s dedicated ongoing partnership with the IRF in serving the worldwide racquetball family. Official invitations are being developed for both events and will reach national federations as soon as possible. We strongly suggest that everyone wait to receive these before booking airfare. Even then, we suggest researching refundable flights and/or travel insurance possibilities since we all know the pandemic often compels changes as new information comes available.

The general plan, subject to modifications, is:

  • Adult event arrivals and practice the last weekend of November
  • Juniors arrive the first part of the week of 29 November
  • Adults and Juniors compete simultaneously for several days
  • Adults conclude the first half of the week of 6 December
  • Juniors continue competition through the end of that week, likely traveling home on the originally planned date of 12 December

While we certainly recognize that this schedule will present various challenges for the delegations and for the IRF, we are excited at the prospect of Junior players being able to meet the world’s best racquetball athletes and hopefully observe them compete in a World Championships event (pandemic measures permitting).

To address that point, we are working to develop protocols and approaches to put as many safety measures into place as necessary and indicated to reduce risk. Our first priority is the well-being of everyone involved. We appreciate the collaboration and relationship with the IRT and LPRT as we worked together to find the best way to be able to host these IRF international competitions with as little impact as possible on their event schedules. There is much more information to come! We are grateful for the understanding and flexibility on everyone’s part as we all continue to navigate the pandemic as best we can in our lives and in our sport.

In conclusion, we’d like to mention two very uplifting points:

We are excited for Guatemala as they host their first international event on their long-awaited brand new courts. Congratulations, Guatemala!

The IRF World Championships (Adult) is the sole qualifier for the 16 men’s singles positions and 16 women’s singles positions that will be competed in The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, next summer. Players qualify for themselves, not as country representatives. We wish everyone good luck!

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PARC Announces Suspension of XXXIII Pan American Racquetball Championships

For Immediate Release

20 August 2021

 

Pan American Racquetball Confederation Announces

Suspension of XXXIII Pan American Racquetball Championships

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – The Pan American Racquetball Confederation (PARC) and the Bolivian Racquetball Federation (FEBORA) announce the suspension of the XXXIII Pan American Racquetball Championships. The event was scheduled for 3-11 September in the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.

This decision was taken due to the measures against COVID-19 in some countries that would normally participate as well as the current COVID restrictions in the host country.

The rescheduled date for this competition is 9-17 April 2022, and more information will be shared as it becomes available.

PARC President Marcelo Gómez Pacheco commented, “We look forward to the improvement of the world situation, and we wish everyone good health and safety until we can all be together once again.”

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INTERNATIONAL RACQUETBALL FEDERATION SIGNS PARTNERSHIP WITH ONE HAMSA AND VIRTUAL SPORTS ASSOCIATION FOR VR-BASED OLYMPIC SPORT

The IOC-recognized International Racquetball Federation (IRF), based in Colorado Springs, USA, has followed the IOC’s announcement of their Virtual Sports Series with a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate in developing Tel Aviv-based One Hamsa’s immersive virtual reality (VR) game Racket:Nx as a potential full Olympic Virtual Sport and an eventual candidate for the Olympic Games.

The IOC’s Virtual Sports Series includes five games which simulate cycling, rowing, baseball, sailing, and auto racing, but only two are physical games [for cycling and rowing] and presently none are immersive virtual reality.

IRF President Osvaldo Maggi said: “When we realized what this combination could mean not only for our federation, but for all of racquet sport, we jumped all over it. This will be a game-changer, for us and for world sport. We look forward to sharing so much more as this exciting partnership unfolds.”

Virtual Sports Association CEO Victor Bond, who brokered the deal, says: “This is a marriage made in future-sport heaven: a world-class developer and a unique, successful, and wonderful game, with a fully global international IOC-recognized sports federation, that has the vision and the grit to not just see around the corner but to go there.”

One Hamsa CEO Assaf “Usul” Ronen, added: “Racket:Nx is fully immersive and fully athletic, allowing players of all racquet sports – not only racquetball – to play full out inside a lighted, player-responsive, sound and music-filled dome, in a game that is blow-your-mind unique and engaging. The moves of all racquet sports are supported, except for those that would not work in the average living room or family room, like a racquetball dive or a clay court tennis slide.”

Ronen continued, “Racket:Nx has over 150,000 players on most VR platforms, including the fastest-growing VR headset, the Oculus Quest 2. That means that this game is more likely to achieve the mass acceptance that the IOC seeks. Racquet sports, it turns out, all together, maybe the largest sports category in the world, eclipsing even world football.”

With virtual reality hitting the mainstream with the Quest 2, and with the IOC ushering in the era of Olympic Virtual Sport, this trailblazing partnership is betting on the roles that immersive virtual sport will play in the mass adoption of VR and in the extension of the Olympic Games.

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For media enquiries, please contact:

Victor Bond, Virtual Sports Association, [email protected].

Notes to editors:

– For more information on the IOC’s Virtual Sports Series:

https://olympics.com/ioc/news/international-olympic-committee-makes-landmark-move-into-virtual-sports-by-announcing-first-ever-olympic-virtual-series

– For more information on Racket:Nx:

www.racketnx.com

– For more information on the International Racquetball Federation:

www.internationalracquetball.com

– For more information on One Hamsa:

www.onehamsa.com

– For more information on the Virtual Sports Association:

www.virtualsportsassociation.com

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The International Racquetball Federation, through its participation in ARISF, is pleased to announce that the International Testing Agency (ITA) is making available to International Federations a number of resources including anti-doping experts, educational tools, controls, and monitoring programs to support compliance with WADA-requested standards in the fight against doping in sport.

More information here or on our Anti-doping page.

ACODEPA Meeting

The Association of Pan American Sports Confederations (ACODEPA) Board met for the first time separate from the PASO GENERAL ASSEMBLY in Miami to discuss the future of the sport in the Americas.
Luke St. Onge, Secretary General of Pan American Racquetball Confederation is a member of the ACODEPA Board of Directors. Topics included: Future Pan Am Games, Pan Am Youth Games, and Pan Am Beach Games. PASO has changed its name from PASO to Pan American Sports as part of the major restructuring of sport in the Americas.
The 2019 edition of the Pan Am Games will take place in Lima Peru with opening ceremonies on
July 26 Racquetball will be a full medal sport as part of the program. They are building three new courts
in addition to the existing, racquetball will have 5 Racquetball courts one of which is a four-wall glass exhibition court.
Country qualifying will take place at the Pan American Racquetball Championships slated for April
15 to 21 in Barranquilla, Colombia.

 

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FROM THE AZTEC TO THE INCA – THE PAN AMERICAN FLAME BEGINS HISTORIC JOURNEY TO PERU

www.panamsports.org

The Pan American Flame is ignited in the Plaza of the Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacan, Mexico in a beautiful and traditional ceremony celebrating the ancient Aztec culture.

The Pan American Flame has left the ruins of one ancient civilization for another, flying directly to Cusco, Peru and the birthplace of the Incan empire to begin the Torch Relay of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. 

MEXICO CITY (July 2, 2019) — A continent’s passion for sport burns brightly yet again as the Pan American Flame is set ablaze in the Plaza of the Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacan, Mexico.

The traditional ceremony marking the return of the Pan American Games after four long years of waiting is steeped in tradition. From the flag ceremony representing each of the 41 nations that compete in the Games to the traditional ritual performances, the history of the region and the spirit of the Games could truly be felt throughout the ceremony.

Lighting the Pan American Flame from one of the most iconic temples of the ancient Aztec culture not only celebrated the unique history of Mexico, but also marked the beginning of the Flame’s unprecedented voyage from one ancient civilization to another.

The Pan American Games were founded on the principles of diversity, using the power of sport to unite 41 distinct nations and unique cultures. The Lima 2019 Pan American Games fully embrace this foundation, inviting all cultures of the Americas to celebrate together in the continent’s greatest sports festival, beginning with two of the oldest in the region – the Aztec and Inca.

The Pan Am Flame is now flying to Cusco, Peru to officially begin the Lima 2019 Torch Relay. Known as the foundation of the Incan empire, Cusco is the ideal choice to be the very first Peruvian city to ever welcome the Pan Am Flame.

Ancient and modern history will become one when the Lima 2019 Torch Relay arrives to the mesmerizing ruins of Machu Picchu. The ancient wonder of the world will soon have a new chapter in its history as the site where excitement for Peru’s first Pan American Games began to reach a fever pitch.

This excitement will only continue to grow as the Lima 2019 Torch Relay travels throughout the most iconic cities and locations in Peru, from the Nazca Lines to the Plaza de Armas. The Lima 2019 Torch Relay will journey through 26 cities over the course of 22 days before finally arriving to Peru’s National Stadium on July 26. Here, the final torchbearer will light the cauldron to begin the Pan Am Games.

The lighting ceremony in Teotihuacan not only signifies the return of the Pan American Games, but also that the years of planning and preparation by the Host City — as well as by the best athletes of the Americas — are finally over, and it’s time for action.

“We have already entered the final stretch of what has been years of hard work, and with this beautiful ceremony in this magical place of Teotihuacán, here in Mexico, we have launched the incredible journey of the Pan American Flame. Two civilizations that have lasted millennia and a whole continent is now united by sport once more. The Flame is a light that brings hope and demonstrates the passion and the true spirit of Olympism. Peru and all its people are waiting for us with open arms, because as of today, the most important sports festival in the history of the country begins,” said Panam Sports President, Neven Ilic.

“The lighting of this Pan American Flame symbolizes the final stretch of a very important relay for our country. Everything started on October 11, 2013, when Lima was chosen as the Host City of the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, the most important event in our nation’s entire history. This relay and the Games are already transforming Peru inspired by the Olympic values ​​of Excellence, Friendship and Respect. Lima 2019 has created the perfect setting for the greatest athletes in the Americas,” said Lima 2019 President, Carlos Neuhaus.

For the first time in history, Panam Sports will offer a rare glimpse of the action, available only on the new Panam Sports Channel on July 3. The Panam Sports Channel will soon be home to the best content from Lima 2019, including athlete interviews, behind the scenes action and highlights from the Games.

Less than a month now remains until the Lima 2019 Pan Am Games finally begin. A month full of excitement, inspiration and anticipation as the Torch Relay lights up Peru.