FINA Chief Honored to Join IAAF in Top IOC Revenue-sharing Group

7/26/2013

(ATR) Re-elected FINA president Julio Maglione tells Around the Rings swimming’s elevation into the top group in the IOC’s new revenue-sharing formula for the Rio Olympics is “very important for us."
 

FINA president Julio Maglione

The IOC Executive Board, meeting in May, promoted FINA and the gymnastics federation into Group A alongside the IAAF to receive the biggest handouts in revenues from Rio 2016. The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations will refine system of revenue distribution for its 28 members in the coming months.

Maglione, who was re-elected by acclamation Friday at the FINA Congress in Barcelona, told ATR that swimming’s promotion meant more revenues and an enhanced global reputation for the federation.

“For us it is an honor to be in Group A for the first time. Not only for the money, for the respect, for the audience, for that feeling that all the world knows about our sport,” the IOC member from Uruguay said.

“Now we are in position A in the Olympic Games we must maintain it,” he added, mentioning FINA’s developments in doping controls and a “healthy financial situation”.

He said the work of the FINA Bureau and technical congresses showed the importance of democracy and integrity. “What’s important is that we are a very united family in the diversity of political culture, education and race,” he said.
 

Madrid 2020 leader Alejandro Blanco

Representatives of FINA’s 203 national federations were in attendance at the congress. Officials from the three 2020 bid cities, Istanbul, Madrid and Tokyo, were also present. In total, around 500 delegates packed the auditoriuim at the Fira Palace Hotel.

Key items on the agenda were amendments to the federation’s constitution, all of which were approved, and the election of a new Bureau, FINA’s decision-making body for the period 2013-2017.

Among the constitutional changes rubberstamped are changes relating to the maximum number of terms (two) for the president, honorary secretary and honorary treasurer and the maximum age of 80-years-old for its members. Maglione also noted satisfaction with the athlete representation on the FINA Bureau for the first time.

The congress started at 9.30am with all agenda items completed by 10.50am, allowing delegates to enjoy a long lunch before attending events at the world swimming championships.

In his opening remarks to the congress, Maglione said FINA and the swimming world at large was “stronger and better considered in a very competitive [sporting] environment”.
He emphasized the growing interest in staging the world championships, saying last week’s appointment of Gwangju, Korea to host 18th world championships in 2019 and Budapest, Hungary to stage the 2021 edition would help preparations.

“Having this long-term planning allows us and our partners to build the best possible world championships,” he said.
As for Kazan 2015, Maglione hailed the success of this summer’s universiade in the Russian city as “extraordinary”.

“They are working now, if we want to do the world championship now in Kazan we can do,” he told ATR.
Remarking on awarding of the 2019 and 2021 hosting rights, he said: “We are happy and proud because it gives the stability not only in my last period but in the next years.”

“We must move forward in progress, development. Our aim is always to have a better future,” he told delegates.
FINA’s executive director Cornel Marculescu took charge of the elections of new members for the bureau.

He said candidates had been nominated by member federations and continental associations three months before today’s elections.

The congress approved the election of 23 new members to the FINA Bureau. Five FINA vice-presidents were approved by delegates.

“We will do all we can for the development of aquatics for the world. In the universality, unity and democracy in all that we do thank you very much,” he wrapped up the congress. 

Reported by Mark Bisson 

For general comments or questions, click here.

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics isAroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.