This article is from the Table Tennis (Ping Pong) FAQ, by ttennis@bu.edu with numerous contributions by others.
4.1.1 Types of Competition
4.1.1.1 An "international competition" is a competition which may include the
players of more than one Association.
4.1.1.2 An "international match" is a match between teams representing
Associations.
4.1.1.3 An "open tournament" is a tournament which is open for entry to the
players of all Associations.
4.1.1.4 A "restricted tournament" is a tournament which is restricted for entry
to specified groups of players, other than age groups.
4.1.1.5 An "invitation tournament" is a tournament which is restricted for entry
to specified players, individually invited.
4.1.2 Applicability
4.1.2.1 The Laws (Chapter Three) shall apply to World, Continental and Olympic
title competitions, open tournaments and, unless otherwise agreed by
the participating Associations, to international matches.
4.1.2.2 The Laws are recommended for all other international competitions and
Associations are recommended to adopt the Laws for their domestic
competitions.
4.1.2.3 The Regulations for International Competitions shall apply, subject to
any limitation specified in a particular Regulation, to:
4.1.2.3.1 World and Olympic title competitions, unless otherwise authorised by
the Council and notified in advance to the participating Associations;
4.1.2.3.2 Continental title competitions, unless otherwise authorised by the
appropriate Continental Federation and notified in advance to the
participating Associations;
4.1.2.3.3 Open International Championships (4.6.1.2), unless otherwise
authorised by the ITTF and agreed by the participants in accordance
with 4.1.2.4;
4.1.2.4 Where an open tournament does not comply with any of these regulations
the nature and extent of the variation shall be specified in the entry
form; completion and submission of an entry form shall be regarded as
signifying agreement by the entrant to the conditions of the
competition, including such variations.
4.1.2.5 These regulations are recommended for all other international
competitions but, provided that the Constitution and Disciplinary
Regulations are observed :
4.1.2.5.1 regional competitions other than Continental Championships may be
held under rules laid down from time to time by the appropriate
regional authority;
4.1.2.5.2 international restricted and invitation tournaments and recognised
international competitions organised by unaffiliated bodies may be
held under rules laid down by the organising authority or jointly
agreed;
4.1.2.5.3 competitions restricted to the players of one Association may be
held under rules laid down by that Association.
4.1.2.6 In general, the Laws and the Regulations for International Competitions
shall be presumed to apply unless variations have been agreed in advance
or are made clear in the published rules of the competition.
4.1.2.7 Detailed explanations of regulations, including equipment
specifications, shall be published in the form of Technical Leaflets
authorised by the Council and in the Handbook for Match Officials.
 
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