3.1 Participation

Only NOCs recognized by PASO whose National Athletics Federation is affiliated to IAAF/PAC may enter competitors in the XV Pan American Games Rio 2007.

The NOCs may only send to the XV Pan American Games Rio 2007, competitors who have qualified through the system established by IAAF/PAC.

3.2 Age of competitors

Male athletes competing in the Marathon and in the 50km Race Walking must be at least 18 years old on December 31, 2007 (born in 1989).

Female athletes competing in the Marathon must be at least 18 years old on December 31, 2007 (born in 1989).

For other events, competitors must be at least 16 years old on December 31, 2007 (born in 1991).

3.3 Maximum number of competitors

According to the quota established by PASO, there will be a maximum of 562 male and female competitors in athletics.

3.4 Qualification System

Each NOC can register one competitor per individual event even if he/she has not achieved the minimum standard performance.  To register a second competitor, both athletes must have achieved the minimum standard performance.

This minimum standard performance shall be achieved at an official competition recognized by the respective National Federation, from January 1st, 2006 until, Monday midnight (Brazil local time), July 9th, 2007. 

Each NOC can only register a maximum of two competitors to participate in each relay event.  The other four competitors of each relay team consisting of a maximum number of six male / female competitors (4x100m and 4x400m), must have been entered in the corresponding individual event.

The Entry by Name of these competitors seeking to achieve the minimum standard performance, shall be sent to CO-RIO until Friday midnight (Brazil local time), June 22nd, 2007.

As host country, Brazil is automatically qualified for all events of the athletics competition at the XV Pan American Games Rio 2007.

3.5 Qualification System Approval

The qualification system was revised and approved by the IAAF on July 5, 2006.

3.6 Olympic Qualification

The athletics competition of the XV Pan American Games Rio 2007 will serve as an opportunity for athletes to reach the IAAF qualifying standards for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.