Homologation facts for kids

Homologation (say "ho-mol-oh-GAY-shun") is when an official group gives its approval for something. The word comes from the Greek word homologeo, which means "to agree".

This official group could be a court, a government office, or even a school or a group of experts. They usually follow a set of rules or standards to decide if something should get their approval. You can think of homologation as being similar to accreditation or certification. It means something has been checked and meets certain requirements.

For example, many products sold today need to be homologated by a public agency. This makes sure they meet important rules for things like safety or how they affect the environment. Sometimes, a court action also needs to be homologated by a judge before it can move forward.

What is Homologation?

Homologation is basically an official "thumbs up" or approval. It means that something, like a product, a place, or even a vehicle, has been tested and meets specific rules or standards. These rules are often set by a government or a special organization.

Why is it Important?

Homologation helps make sure things are safe and fair. When a product is homologated, it means it has passed tests to show it's safe for people to use and won't harm the environment. This protects consumers and makes sure everyone follows the same rules. It also helps keep things fair in sports, making sure all competitors meet the same equipment or venue standards.

Homologation in Sports

In the world of sports, homologation is very important. It makes sure that equipment, vehicles, or even sports venues meet specific rules. This helps keep competitions fair and safe for everyone.

Motorsports and "Homologation Specials"

In motorsports, like World Superbike or touring car racing, a vehicle must be officially approved to race. This approval is called type approval. It means the car or motorcycle meets all the rules for that specific racing league.

Sometimes, racing rules say that the vehicles must be based on cars or bikes that are sold to the public. To meet these rules, manufacturers might make a small number of special versions of their vehicles for sale. These are often called "homologation specials." They are made just so the manufacturer can legally race them.

Olympics and Venue Approval

Homologation also applies to big events like the Olympic Games. Before the games begin, the sports venues (the places where the events happen) must be officially approved. This makes sure they are safe and ready for competition.

For example, at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, there was a problem with the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track at Cesana Pariol. It took extra time, from January to October 2005, to make sure the track was safe for luge races. Only then could it be homologated.

Other Sports

Homologation is used in other sports too. In towed water sports, like waterskiing, tournaments must follow homologation rules set by the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation. This allows the results to count for official rankings.

In speed climbing, for a world or national record to be officially recognized, climbers must use a special "homologated wall." Also, each event needs to be approved by a special visit to make sure everything meets the rules.

See also

• Type approval

In Spanish: Homologación para niños