In the case of inclement weather, any game which has reached this point may be stopped and shortened as needed, with the result being final, and all records and statistics counted.
If the visiting team is leading, or the game is tied, the end of the fifth inning marks this point.
Games that are stopped due to power outages are treated as suspended and cannot be declared official.
In nearly all cases, the "official game" status is used to determine whether a rain check will be honored for fans holding tickets.
A race is considered "official" if it has completed half the scheduled distance plus one additional lap.
In limited overs cricket, a game can only be considered complete if both teams have faced a certain number of legal deliveries (pitches); otherwise there is no result.
In boxing, a fight can be declared official for purposes of scoring in case of accidental head butts.