Konstantin Grigorishin, the founder and funder of the International Swimming League, has sent a message of assurance to the wold swimming community that all decisions about the 2020-2021 ISL season, due to start in September, “will be based on the health & safety of the athletes and the supporters who come to the stadiums to watch them”.
Grigorishin also pledges to adjust the ISL season if the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is postponed “out of respect for the athletes”.
Konstantin Grigorishin Photo Courtesy: ISL
His Statement In Full
What is happening in this world is both unprecedented and uncertain. We are following stories of athletes in quarantine, self-isolation and who are unable to train in what should be one of the most important years of their lives.
We acknowledge the struggles faced by both elite and aspiring swimmers all around the world, and admire and respect both the resilience and dedication to the sport you have shown even under such extreme conditions.
Please rest assured that we are working hard to ensure the ISL 2020/21 season goes ahead as planned, however, any decisions about staging events in the future will be based on the health & safety of the athletes and the supporters who come to the stadiums to watch them. We understand the schedules of athletes who have been training for the Olympic Games and out of respect for them we will make any necessary adjustments to the ISL season should a postponement of Tokyo 2020 take place.
In the future this pandemic will end and we will come together once again to showcase the talents of the world’s greatest swimmers through the ISL’s unique format. As we know, sport has the power to unite the world. We are in this together.
For now, look after your families and yourselves.
Konstantin Grigorishin,
ISL Founder