Asia, Americas, Oceania join forces for FINA Congress
In Singapore, a gathering of aquatic sports officials threw its weight behind Julio Maglione for the FINA presidency and a new era in the governance of swimming. Maglione has been Treasurer and a member of the executive during the presidency of Mustapha Larfaoui, which has been tainted in the past 18 months by the suits crisis and his lack of leadership on an issue that has divided the swimming world and caused widespread damage and loss of integrity.
SwimNews understands that the Maglione team intends to set right what has gone so wrong - and intends to do so swiftly rather than allow the slow-drip of science to extend the pain of a transition period that considers only suit makers and not athletes and the sport as a whole.
Here is the news from Singapore:
Three of the five continental federations belonging to world swimming's governing body FINA met in Singapore on Thursday on the sidelines of the Asian Youth Games.
After a meeting of the Asian Swimming Federation, Asia, Americas and Oceania issued a press release to thank FINA President Mustapha Larfaoui (Algeria) for his hard work and his efforts to develop FINA and aquatics worldwide since 1988.
At the forthcoming FINA General Congress in Rome on July 24, Asia, Americas and Oceania will support Dr. Julio Maglione (Uruguay), the FINA Treasurer and IOC member since 1996, in his candidature for the new president of FINA. They have full confidence in him to carry out his duties.
Dr. Maglione has served FINA and the Olympic movement in general with distinction for many years, and receives the full support of Asia, Americas and Oceania.
The three continental bodies will also work together to support their members for nomination to the FINA Bureau at the Congress on July 24.
Among the dignitaries at the meeting were Dr. Maglione, FINA Vice-President Hironoshin Furuhashi, FINA Vice President Dale Neuburger and Oceania Swimming Association President Dennis Miller.
The FINA Bureau consists of 22 members elected by the General Congress. Seven members are elected from the world at large, and 15 on the basis of geographical representation: Africa 3, Americas 4, Asia 3, Europe 4, Oceania 1.
Asia, Americas and Oceania reiterated their stance on the Congress elections and will vote for the following "at large" candidates:
- Americas: Coaracy Nunes Filho (Brazil), Eugenio Martinez (Cuba).
- Europe: Paulo Frischknecht (Portugal), Gennady Aleshin (Russia).
- Asia: Zhang Qiuping (China).
- Oceania: Neil Martin (Papua New Guinea).
- Additionally, the Asian Swimming Federation indicated its support for the following continental candidates:
- Asia: Hironoshin Furuhashi (Japan--Vice President), Pipat Paniangvait (Thailand--Treasurer), Husain Al-Musallam (Kuwait).
