What equipment must be provided by the competition organizer?

The correct response highlights that a comprehensive set of equipment must be made available by the competition organizer to ensure the competition runs smoothly and safely. In powerlifting competitions, athletes compete in three main lifts: the squat, bench press, and deadlift. To facilitate these events, the necessary equipment includes the barbell, plates, a bench for the bench press, and a squat rack for the squat.

Each piece of equipment serves a critical function:

• The barbell is essential for all three lifts.
• The plates add the necessary load to the barbell, allowing lifters to compete at various weight categories.
• The bench is needed specifically for the bench press, where lifters perform their lift while lying flat on their backs.
• The squat rack is crucial for the squat lift, providing a safe and stable location for athletes to unrack and rerack the barbell.

Providing only some of this equipment would hinder the ability to conduct all events of the competition effectively. Hence, the inclusion of all four components—barbell, plates, bench, and squat rack—ensures a well-structured powerlifting event where competitors can perform each lift according to the standards set by the International Powerlifting Federation.