Athletes Gain Power at FINA Congress

(ATR) Tighter scrutiny for national federations is one of the outcomes of governance changes approved at the FINA Congress in Gwangju, South Korea.

The congress took place on the sidelines of the 2019 Aquatics World Championships which run till July 28. The meeting drew 167 voting delegates out of the 209 member federations.

Among the changes adopted to the FINA Constitution, the international federation is now requiring national and continental federations to hold general assemblies every two years and elections every four years.

FINA also now has the power to suspend federations which are subject to government interference.

Athletes will have a stronger voice in decision-making at the Congress. The constitution now calls for the addition of seven voting athlete members to the Congress.

A new seat is added to the FINA Executive for the immediate past president of the federation.

With elections for new officers scheduled for 2021, FINA will establish an independent electoral commission to administer the process.

Julio Cesar Maglione, who has served as president since 2009, will be stepping down.

Inremarks at the open of the Congress, Maglione boasted about the importance for aquatics in international sport.

"FINA is presently a brand of success worldwide, with its aquatic disciplines being considered a pillar of the Olympic Games’ program and its World Championships being one of the most popular sport events in the planet.

"In Tokyo 2020, for the first time in our history, FINA will be the international federation with the highest number of medals – 49 – in the Olympic program. This definitively proves the reach of our disciplines, which obtain the best rates of TV audience and digital exposure during the Olympic celebration," said Maglione.

Still ahead for FINA in Gwangju is selection of the host cities for the 2025 and 2027 world championships. The FINA Bureau will decide on July 21.

The list of bid cities includes Budapest, Hungary; Belgrade, Serbia; Kazan, Russia; Kiev, Ukraine; a city to be named in China.

"Establishing a long-term calendar is important to guarantee that FINA is in a stable situation and generates the necessary funds in a time of challenges and very competitive international sports environment," observed Maglione.

The 2021 world champs are in Fukuoka, Japan. Doha will host 2023.

Reported by Ed Hula.