The Rules

There are two types of lucky dips: one for Götzis, and one for global championships.

The Rules are very similar, with just some slight differences between Götzis and the championship dip.

First, the competitions are about supporting up and coming decathletes and heptathletes, as well as the more established athletes and the superstars. Combined eventers are some of the most dedicated, talented, versatile and underappreciated athletes in the world, and they deserve much more credit and attention.

Second, you don’t need to do any homework to participate in Fantasy Götzis Lucky Dip, or any of the championship dips.  While prediction competitions can be lots of fun, they tend to favour those who have the time or inclination to pore over statistics and form.  So the “lucky dip” format gives the same chance to those who are new to combined events and athletics as to those who can tell you Juergen Hingsen’s inside leg measurement or JJK’s second longest ever jump. And so new fans are created!

Fantasy Götzis Lucky Dip Rules

RULE 1: Each entrant will have a team of four: two decathletes and two heptathletes. They will be drawn by me from a “lucky dip” of names. It is entirely random.

RULE 2: Each athlete on your team will score points according to where they finish in each discipline at Götzis. If they finish first in a discipline, they will score 10 points; 9 points for second place and so on down to 1 point for tenth.  Repeat this for all ten events of the decathlon, and all 7 events of the heptathlon.

RULE 3: If an athlete withdraws before the competition starts, a replacement will be drawn, as below. There are no replacements if your athlete retires during the competition or is disqualified – but not all athletes will score points in every event so there is no fatal blow if you lose an athlete (or two). 

RULE 4: A bonus point will be awarded for every “Decathlete of Europe” on your team”.  Why, you ask? Well, the hashtag #decathletesofeurope pre-dated Fantasy Götzis Lucky Dip, and became www.decathletesofeurope.co.uk, and so it seems right that the two go hand in hand.

RULE 5: In the event of a tiebreak, event points will be given greater priority over #decathletesofeurope points. If there continues to be a tiebreak, then Paul and Gabby will confer and come to a judgement. Which may simply mean that two people have the same points – just like in a decathlon or heptathlon.

RULE 6: This is a fun competition where we share our love of all things combined events, and a lot of people have given up their time to support and contribute over the years. So don’t be an arse, or you won’t be allowed to play.

RULE 7: Montages and memes are encouraged.. 

Fantasy Beijing/Rio/London/Doha/Tokyo Lucky Dip Rules

RULE 1: Each participant will have a team of five: a track (or road) man, a track woman, a field man, a field woman and a bonus country. The athletes will be drawn from a “Lucky Dip” of names, at random.

RULE 2: For each of your athletes, you will receive 8 points if they finish first in a final, 7 point for second, and so on down to 1 point for eighth. You don’t get points for positions in heats.

RULE 3: Every time your bonus country gets a medal, you get a bonus point.

EXAMPLE: your team might be Adam Gemili, Shaunae Miller, Philip Milanov, Holly Bradshaw and Bosnia Herzegovina. You’ll get up to 8 points for each athlete for their position in a final – maximum 32 unless one of them doubles up – and a bonus point every time Bosnia Herzegovina wins a medal.

RULE 4: Athletes will score points only in individual events (to avoid favouring those with sprinters) but your bonus country will count for the relays.

EXAMPLE: If you have Kevin Borlee, you get points according to where he finishes in the 400m final, but no points for his position in the relay. If you have Belgium, you get a point for Kevin if he wins a medal, and a point if Belgium win a 4x400m medal.

RULE 5: Your team will be drawn – by way of a lucky dip – from a pool of the top athletes competing in each event. The bonus country will be drawn from all competing nations, excluding USA, which would skew the results and make the whole thing very boring. Athletes who – in the opinion of the organisers – bring the sport into disrepute will not be included in the pool.

RULE 6: Athletes who withdraw before the Champs starts will be replaced. Your athlete will not be replaced if they do not start, do not finish, or are disqualified after the competition starts. Not all athletes will score points, so your team is not doomed if you lose an athlete (or two!)

RULE 7: A bonus point will be awarded for every “Decathlete of Europe” on your team.  Why, you ask? Well, the hashtag #decathletesofeurope led to Fantasy Götzis Lucky Dip, and became www.decathletesofeurope.co.uk.

RULE 8: In the event of a tiebreak, athlete points will be given greater priority over country points, and country points given greater priority over #decathletesofeurope points. If there continues to be a tiebreak, then Paul and Gabby will confer and come to a judgement. Which may simply mean that two people have the same points – just like in a decathlon or heptathlon.

RULE 9: This is a fun competition where we share our love of all things combined events and athletics, and a lot of people give up their time to support and contribute. So don’t be an arse.