Consideration of setting criteria for external record accrediation
Comments about this discussion:
Started
Started by Roger Davies
Should we be considering setting boundaries and criteria for external records to the IUF. For example "longest unicycle chain", "most stairs climbed on unicycle" "skipping on a unicycle" etc. These are generally accredited by Guinness and we all know they are often done very poorly due to their poor understanding of unicycling.
My understanding of Guinness and the World Record Association is that they are both looking for accrediting bodies. Are going to be working towards gaining their accreditation status and hence gaining some sanity to their records?
Comment
By skipping, do you mean rope skipping? This one is actually in the WRG, section 7.2.1.
This is in the Chapter MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS, where those other examples could also fit, if we adopt them.
I see the point of governing such records if it gives them more credibility than if they are governed by Guinness only.
But where to draw the boundary indeed? I would not like the idea that Guinness determine which records we as IUF take on board.
Comment
Yes, I was thinking that rope skipping when I said skipping.
From what I understand with accrediting body status, we get to stipulate what is and what will not be accepted as a record. I also think it may help give more kudos to our records as both organisations would look to us.
Skipping is a good example: there are 3 male records out there and all different. IUF = 220, Guinness = 237, WRA = 207
Comment
There are a lot of crazy (or a bit less crazy) unicycle records out there. See for examples https://sites.google.com/site/unicycleguru/world-records. Most of these have little or no relevance to the sport of unicycling. I tend to think that the IUF should stay away of this.
Comment
From several discussions including #19 "New IUF World Record Categories", it seems that we want to restrict the IUF to governing only World Records in the realms of track racing and track non-racing (such as slow races), road racing, time trials (fixed distance and fixed time), and high & long jumps.
This means that we don't want to set criteria for other records, and would leave this to whichever body (such as Guinness) that wants to maintain them.
Are you OK with that Roger?
Comment
From the lack of responses in this discussion, and the comments in discussion #19, I conclude that there is not enough support to go in this direction.
If Roger (or anyone else) thinks otherwise, I leave it to them to create a proposal so that we can vote about it.