Even with the World Swimming Coaches Association vocally disagreeing with the move, FINA is looking to move forward with eliminating age limits for FINA Bureau members to allow FINA President Julio Maglione to continue past a second term as first reported by SwimVortex and later confirmed by Inside the Games.
Currently, the FINA constitution requires that the maximum age to elect a FINA Bureau member is 80 in the year that the election takes place. Maglione’s current term ends in 2017, when he will be 81. FINA is looking to eliminate the age limit.
Additionally, FINA is looking to create a new First Vice President position during the Extraordinary Congress in Kazan this summer (if the World Championships still remain in Russia, which is tenuous with Russia nearly getting a Federation-wide doping ban).
The First Vice President would be next in line behind the President with the authority to act in the absence of the President. This person would be elected at the Extraordinary Congress from those that are already one of the current five vice-presidents. As of now, South Africa’s Sam Ramsamy, Kuwait’s Husain Al Mussalam, Hungary’s Tamas Gyarfas, Fiji’s Dennis Miller and USA’s Dale Neuburger would be in play for the new position.
The proposal for the new position would limit the democratic process as the five vice presidents would first nominate one of themselves for the position to then be confirmed by the Congress. There would be no full campaigning to the position.
John Leonard, the Executive Director of the American and World Swimming Coaches Association, blasted the initial proposal to end the maximum age limit with this letter to WSCA:
“I can’t believe that!” said Alice.
“Can’t you?” the queen said in a pitying tone. “Try again, draw a long breath, and shut your eyes.”
Alice laughed. “There’s no use trying,” she said. “One can’t believe impossible things.”
“I dare say you haven’t had much practice,” said the queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”
Well, like Alice, I am having a hard time imagining this, but SOMEONE is TACKLING the President of FINA HEAD-ON!
In the most recent FINA Circular to all Federations 81.1 (2015.1) There is the most EXTRAORDINARY CHALLENGE TO OUR PRESIDENT!
It’s found in items 7 and 8 in the proposals for Amendments to the FINA Constitution (Summary)
#7 says – “FINA Rule C 17.2 related to the AGE of the FINA Bureau Members shall be Deleted.”
And #8 says – “The President, the First Vice-President and the Honorary Treasurer may be elected for a maximum of THREE FULL TERMS in the same post. (C 17.11)
This is SO REMARKABLE! The Courage to Take on the President of FINA in legislative combat!
Back in 2009, the PRESIDENT (JULIO MAGLIONE) stood boldly up for TERM LIMITATIONS of 2 terms maximum in C 17.11. President Maglione staked his reputation, honor and principles on the idea that FINA Leadership should be limited in nature. Especially since the previous occupant of the office held such office since approximately the Middle Ages. The Congress dutifully agreed with its President and a limit of Two Terms went into place in 2009. What remarkable liberalism.
Similarly, in the same year (2009)- C 17.2, AGAIN AT THE URGING OF THE PRESIDENT, said that: “The maximum age of the elected Bureau Members referred to in the FINA Rules C 17.1.1-C 17.1.5 must be no more than 80 years in the year of election to the Bureau.”
What vision! Our youthful sport should not be governed by individuals in their 9th decade on earth. Applause all around!
NOW, SOMEONE IS CHALLENGING THE PRESIDENT! With these new rule proposals. Like Alice, it is so difficult to IMAGINE someone challenging our President.
NOW, it’s one thing to have healthy debate about the merits of term limits and extending them, and certainly we all know capable 80 plus year olds, BUT, TO CHALLENGE the STRONGLY HELD OPINIONS AND LEADERSHIP OF THE PRESIDENT OF FINA???
Practically UNTHINKABLE.
Like Alice, we are truly in a world of IMAGINATION.
Russia’s drug testing status is interesting in relation to the Kazan event, but a possibly even more concerning basis for the location of the meet is simple old geopolitics from a military stand point, not just aquatics. The current FINA bureaucracy certainly appears to desire charging ahead to Kazan, but hope is certainly appropriate that they have a secondary plan in place, just in case Putin decides to prioritize his other international ambitions over “earning” another (repeat champion?) amateur sport organization “highest honor” award.
Ah, swimming getting like FIFA in soccer. it will have it’s own Sepp Blatter, tons of cronyism, wonderful step forward. NOT