How to Practice National Flag Etiquette

The date 2009 IJSBA Parade of Nations is coming upon us quickly. Here is some information that may help you understand the flag ettiquette of your country and others.

Have you ever wondered how national flags are displayed correctly? This article provides a general overview of flag etiquette. It is important to note that the policies, traditions, customs, rules and laws of your country or those of other countries pertaining to flag etiquette may differ from those provided in this article.


Fly the flag from sunrise to sunset on a clear day. National flags should not be flown in bad weather (e.g. during thunderstorms or hailstorms)unless it is an all-weather flag. If a national flag is flown at night it should be brightly illuminated

Hoist (raise) the flag in a brisk fashion and lower it in a dignified, ceremonious way.

Flags flown at half-mast should be hoisted to full mast then lowered slowly and ceremoniously to half-mast.

Never let a national flag touch the ground, water or the floor.


Display a national flag in a position superior to all other flags (such as state or provincial flags) except when flags of other countries are displayed (such as at the United Nations or during the Olympic Games).


Flags of the World When flags of multiple countries are flown in the same place, they must all be displayed as equals. They should each be flown on individual flagpoles each of the same size. All of the flags must be the same size and no flag can be bigger or smaller than another flag. National flags of multiple countries should be arranged in alphabetical order.

When two flags are displayed (in a line); the national flag should appear on the left side when viewed by an observer.

When three flags are displayed in a line the national flag should be in the middle (i.e. the second flag).

When four flags are displayed in a line, the national flag should be the first flag on the left when viewed by an observer.

When five or more flags are displayed in a line, two national flags should appear at both ends of the line (e.g. in a line of five flags, the national flag should appear as the first flag and the fifth flag).

When a flag is no longer in good condition (e.g. if it is torn, ripped or badly soiled) it should not be raised or displayed. It should be disposed of in a dignified way (such as a private burning. See this article for an example of the correct procedure).


Always respect the customs and traditions of different countries regarding their national flags. For example, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have all clearly prohibited their national flags from being displayed vertically (e.g. when hung from a wire or mounted to a wall). Never display the national flags of those countries in a vertical position.

This is a general guide only. Policies, rules, laws, traditions and customs of your country or other countries may differ from the information contained in this article. If in doubt, always consult your government or another official authority about the appropriate display of your country's national flag.

IJSBA World Finals Early Registration Package

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08/14/2009 - IJSBA World Finals Early Registration Package

Download Form and Mail or Fax by September 1, 2009 and receive an additional 10% discount off of all entry fees.

The form must include a complete payment to receive the discount. Fax to: +1-(714)-751-8609
The entry form below will no longer be valid on September 1, 2009 at 9:00 AM, PST.

Please See Class List and Competitor Guide for important information. The event schedule is tentative and is subject to change.

Entry Form
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Quakysense and IJSBA sign three year World Finals Title Sponsor Agreement

The IJSBA is extremely pleased to announce that we have reached and signed a three year contract with quakysense which secures them as the title sponsor for the IJSBA World Finals in years 2009, 2010, and 2011. This arrangement will have quakysense at the top of the marquee through the IJSBA’s 30th anniversary in 2011. quakysense has been the title sponsor of the World Finals since 2006 and has quickly become the world’s most popular PWC wetsuit.

This agreement follows two years of increased growth for the IJSBA. IJSBA participation throughout the world has increased significantly since 2007 and 2009 has set new records in some areas. The World Finals has seen a steady rise in spectator attendance and this contract allows the IJSBA to spend more time focusing on event development in a way that promotes the sport, quakysense, and the rest of the PWC industry. The following are the dates set by the IJSBA/quakysense contract:

28th Annual World Finals: October 10 - October 18, 2009
29th Annual World Finals: October 3 – October 11, 2010 30th Annual World Finals: October 2 – October 10, 2011

While the dates set for the 2010 and 2011 events are tentative, they follow the IJSBA’s now stated policy of the World Finals ending the Sunday before Columbus Day (a US Federal Holiday) to assist the travel plans of attendees who want to stay through the Pro Sunday and attend the awards ceremony. Columbus day is the second Monday of October and the event will generally occur prior to this date except in cases where this policy would cause the event to begin in September.

The IJSBA is grateful to quakysense, The City of Lake Havasu, Crazyhorse Campgrounds, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Sea-Doo, Honda, Hydrospace for their continued support in making the World Finals the biggest and best personal watercraft related event on the planet. With hundreds of competitors hailing from more than 30 countries, the World Finals is one of the world’s largest single venue multinational events.

The IJSBA will begin circulating information about the event and will open registration on August 14, 2009. For immediate questions regarding the quakysense World Finals, please contact the IJSBA by emailing info@ijsba.com or by calling +1-(714)-751-8695 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, PST.