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By Steven V. Selthoffer, Swimming World European correspondent
ROME, Italy, July 29. THE fourth day of the FINA World Championships featured plenty of back story plotlines.
FINA Issues Surface
Earlier this morning, Bob Bowman's, USA Men's Coach, made the statement echoing many among the federations, "I'm done with this… The sport is in shambles right now and they better do something or they're going to lose their guy who fills these seats… The mess needs to be stopped right now, " regarding FINA, the swim suit controversy, and other issues. There is a growing wave of resentment by swimmers, coaches, and parents against FINA, the IOC and NOCs about how the sport is governed, and how parents feel they are exploited, not only with swim suit problems, but, how they believe that nothing is being done regarding "parental rights" concerning being able to see their children swim. This is not just confined to one country or just swimming, but, across international borders and the spectrum of aquatic sports here in Rome.
Sport Governing Body Exploitation Emerges
Now a steady stream of stories are emerging from parents during luncheons and dinners, not of the normal congratulations of how their sons and daughters have swum, but, trading stories of how various NOCs (National Olympic Committees) have charged for tickets to see swimming in the Beijing Olympics and other major international events. The mood and tone of the parents has changed. One story has emerged that while some USA parents were paying $120 USD for tickets to Beijing, other parents were forced to pay more than $600 USD per ticket because they came from a different country and their NOC charged the higher prices to allegedly support itself. Another story revealed similar concerns with excessively high prices.
The mounting anger is being directed at FINA and many feel there is no avenue or process to alleviate the problems. The athletes, have stated repeatedly, that "something has to be done." Milorad Cavic, SER, expressed the other day after the 50m fly what the clear, overwhelming, majority of swimmers and coaches feel, that "They (FINA) don't listen to us (athletes and coaches)."
In talks with other media representatives in the MPC is that certain coaches have been discussing the possibility, (among other things), of forming a new governing body for the sport. Whether there is enough genuine critical mass for such a move remains to be seen. However, the anger and frustration is real, near boiling point, and in fact, unaided by the blistering Rome heat.
This follows on the heels of the morning finals controversy where Pieter van den Hogenband, NED, and more than 50 other international swimmers drafted and tendered a letter to FINA regarding the switch to morning finals in Beijing. The athletes felt then, as they continue to do now, that their voice does not matter and that they have received only lip service from the executive level of the sport.
Now, new ideas are emerging in discussions that the Athletes Commission should have veto power over all sponsoring issues, regarding bibs, caps, suits, etc. Many have expressed that they are at an emotional tipping point where they will not tolerate anything more being pushed upon them.
In The Stands
Walking among the stands and speaking to Italian spectators, Bianca Jannetti, a local Rome resident and swimmer commented, "Once you are here, it is very nice. However, the general administration (of the meet) is really not good. The transportation here and parking is very bad. You can only get here really by scooter."
More Tech Suit Problems
While the heat is not difficult for some spectators , it has been unbearable for the majority of athletes in the black, full body suits. Off the radar screen, there is another unforeseen consequence to the whole tech suit issue.
Booths were set up in the athletes' area near the indoor warm-up pool by the manufacturers… adidas, Mizuno, Jaked, etc. offering their services at the posted times. However, the athletes feel that this is not working. One athlete complained of blisters to his fingers using the special gloves to put on the suit of one manufacturer. Due to the adhesion to the body and skin, bruises had developed where the suit was "pinched" to adjust it to better position it. That is clearly, not what the manufacturers have had in mind.
Medical Operations
Were you injured at the World Championships? One recent case of a bruised and inflamed left elbow (forearm) had the person go to the nearest medical facility, which was poolside that confirmed the nature of the injury. Then, they were instructed to go inside, with an escort, to the indoor warm-up pool (which we were told, was World War II dictator, Benito Mussolini's personal favorite), to PT, a 12 minute walk, through three security check points. The medical team was professional, friendly and caring. They also confirmed the injury, gave two powered packages of painkillers, then instructed the injured person to go to the clinic at the other end of the park, to the left of the water polo area. That's right, a distance of nearly 250 meters plus, in intense heat, where another doctor examined the injury again, confirming the first two observations, blood pressure was taken, forms filled out, and then the person was released 20 minutes later. Quite a laborious trip, to three different medical stations, examination by three different teams of a minimum of seven different people, through numerous checkpoints for one small injury.
Future WCs
While it is 38 degrees C in Rome, it was reported that it was 34 degrees C in Tunis and 35 degrees C in Algiers. Dubai had temperatures of 36 degrees C for a couple days, then it rose to 39 degrees C. The next FINA World Championships will be in Dubai in 2013. Indoors. And hopefully, by then, they will not be dressed ankle to neck in black neoprene.
Tomorrow we will come up with the Top Ten Best/Worst List of Things at the FINA WCs and comments from the stands, behind the scenes, and from the athletes.
It's Swimming World… Live from Rome…