FINA released the following statement about the Energy For Swim meet that was originally scheduled to take place in Turin with several of the world’s big names in swimming, but was later cancelled:
FINA would like to underline that respect for its rules—concerning the establishment of a coherent international calendar, the protection of athletes’ rights, and the development of the sport’s structure and organisation—are of paramount importance for the promotion and popularity of our six disciplines on a global scale.
As the world governing body for aquatic sports, FINA takes great pride in its proven ability to deliver events of the highest quality for swimmers from all over the world. Coordinating events in order to ensure a coherent competition calendar adds an extra level of complexity and this is a key criterion for FINA’s sanctioning of international competitions.
The project of the Italian Swimming Federation to organise a swimming competition in Turin at short notice did not meet all the necessary FINA rulebook requirements. These requirements are in place to ensure that international competitions provide the best possible conditions to all participating athletes while maintaining a healthy calendar.
The FINA competition calendar has evolved over many years through the active participation and collaboration of the National Federations. Changes to the calendar, received on short notice, are not consistent with FINA’s long-standing agreements and precedents, and undermine existing high-level competitions.
Aquatics athletes are at the core of FINA’s activities. They fully deserve all our respect for their effort and their devotion to the sport we all love. In recent years, FINA has been actively increasing recognition for athletes’ efforts at FINA events, by raising the prize money for those competitions, and by providing their respective National Federations additional tools for progress under our Development Programme.
On prize money, FINA can recall the 2017 edition of its World Championships in Budapest (HUN), where US$ 5.8 million were distributed to the best athletes, and the upcoming FINA World Swimming Championships (25m), where US$ 2.1 million will award the top swimmers in the competition. Concerning FINA’s Development Programme, the budget allocated for the different projects in the four-year cycle 2018-2021 will ascend to US$ 38 million.
FINA will continue developing appropriate business platforms to provide an attractive calendar of events, with the participation of the best athletes. Moreover, we continue welcoming any positive approach by a partner or sponsor to improve the value of the Aquatic disciplines.
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with FINA. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.
What kind of reasoning is that? Swimmers should be free to partecipate to the Competition they want ….
Brutal. Ffs.
All politics! Ugly & disgusting FINA! They all think are their own benefits , not for the swimmers .
The first believer in short notices is FINA itself. Short notice last year when they changed the rules and parameters of their World Cup, leading to a revolt of Katinka Hosszu and other swimmers. Short notice when they announce a change in the prizes for this short course world championships. Short notice when, knowing since months the existence of this Turin meeting, they wait the end of October to “rule”, playing with the words, that this national meeting in Italy is “international”. Shame on FINA, who prevented the best athletes to have a good business opportunity.
They give themselves the good role of defender of the higher institution that they serve for the benefit of the athletes.
“We will defend you against yourself who may be tempted by the demons lurking around you.”
They act as if the athletes were unable to participate in the development of their sport and owed their salvation only to the protection of FINA. No possibility of any cooperation or equitable sharing of resources or decisions.
It’s deeply disrespectful.