Who has the authority to pause a lift or authorize a gear replacement due to equipment failure?

• A. The Head Referee
• B. The Chief Referee
• C. The Announcer
• D. The Meet Manager

Answer: (B)

The person in charge of safety and rule enforcement for the entire meet has the authority to pause a lift or authorize gear replacement when equipment fails. This Chief Referee is responsible for coordinating responses to safety issues and ensuring that any gear used meets the rules. If a bar, collars, or other essential gear is malfunctioning, the Chief Referee can stop the session, have the gear inspected or swapped, and decide whether the lift should be attempted again or postponed. The Head Referee is the on-platform official for judging lifts, but the authority to pause the competition or authorize gear changes due to equipment failure rests with the Chief Referee. The Announcer and Meet Manager handle announcements and logistics, not safety decisions.