The first meeting of the FINA Bureau in 2014 took place in Cancun, MEX March 1-2

The first meeting of the FINA Bureau in 2014 took place in Cancun, MEX March 1-2
 
FINA Bureau Meeting, Cancun (MEX) - March 1-2, 2014
PRESS RELEASE  --  The first meeting of the FINA Bureau in 2014 took place in Cancun (MEX) on March 1-2, immediately after the organisation of the successful FINA World Water Polo Conference.
 
The main decisions taken by the FINA Bureau include:
•    Appointment of the two new members of the Executive, in accordance with FINA Rules C 3.8 and C 17.9: Sam Ramsamy (Africa) and Dennis Miller (Oceania);
 
•    Jihong Zhou (CHN) was appointed Chairman of the FINA Athletes Committee, while Minxia Wu (CHN) will integrate the FINA High Diving Commission;
 
•    Approval of a new subtle redesign of the FINA logo, so that it can be more identifiable on FINA’s events. The idea is to create a consistent message throughout all competitions, so that FINA’s identity is more recognisable;
 
•    Approval of the membership of the FINA’s 204th FINA National Federation: Haiti;
 
•    Establishment of FINA Swimming World Junior Records, within the following age limits: Boys – 15-18 years old; Girls – 14-17 years old. Target times shall be the Championships records after the 4th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships 2013 in Dubai (UAE);
 
•    A new FINA General Management System (GMS) was approved that will facilitate the management of preparations and event operations for FINA events. The system will provide an essential tool for organising committees, National Federations and FINA in the co-ordination of key data related to event administration and operational processes;
 
•    Following the FINA policy initiated in Barcelona 2013, raise of the prize money for the best athletes at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m): starting from Doha 2014, the first six athletes in each event will be rewarded, bringing the total of prize money at US$ 897,000 (plus US$ 15,000 for each World Record).
 
•    Award of the following 2015 and 2016 FINA events:
- FINA Men’s Water Polo World League Super Final 2015: Bergamo or Roma (ITA)
- FINA World Women’s Junior Water Polo Championships (20 & U) 2015: Guadalajara (MEX)
- FINA World Men’s Youth Water Polo Championships (18 & U) 2016: Budva (MNE)
- FINA World Women’s Youth Water Polo Championships (18 & U) 2016: Auckland (NZL)
- OG Men’s Water Polo Qualification Tournament 2016: Florence (ITA)
- OG Women’s Water Polo Qualification Tournament 2016: Netherlands (city to confirm)
- FINA World Junior Diving Championships 2016: Guadalajara (MEX)
- FINA World Junior Synchronised Swimming Championships 2016: Guadalajara (MEX)
- FINA World Junior Open Water Swimming Championships 2016: Guadalajara (MEX)
 
 
Puerto Vallarta will host the Open Water and High Diving competitions at the 2017 Worlds
 
GUADALAJARA, MEXICO--Following a site visit earlier this week by FINA, the organizers of the 2017 World Championships in Guadalajara have announced that the coastal city of Puerto Vallarta will host the Open Water and High Diving competitions at the 2017 Worlds. This is similar to what happened during the 2011 Pan American Games, also in Guadalajara with its Open Water races in Puerto Vallarta.
http://www.fmn.org.mx/official/index.php/component/content/article/47-internacionales/1950-puerto-vallarta-digna-sede-para-los-campeonatos-mundiales-de-natacion-fina-guadalajara-2017.html
 
 
CONSANAT launches Open Water series
 
BOGATA, COLOMBIA--The South American Swimming Confederation, Confederación Sudamericana de Natación (CONSANAT), today has posted information on the first CONSANAT Open Water series. The series consists of five 10K races held this year beginning in March and ending in October.
 
Race dates and locations are:
  -March 29: Piura, Peru
  -July 15: Isla Margarita, Venezuela
  -September 6: Tarija, Bolivia
  -September 27: Cartagena, Colombia
  -October 25: in Argentina
 
 
Note: The European Swimming League, Ligue Européenne de Natation (LEN), has a similar circuit already (the LEN Open Water Cup). Dates for its 6 races this year can be found on the LEN website here:
http://www.len.eu/Calendar/len-events/2014.aspx
 
 
2014 FINA 3rd World Aquatics Convention scheduled for November 29-December 1
 
QATAR--A report indicates that last week the Qatar Swimming Association signed a contact with the Sheraton Doha hotel, apparently connected to the 2014 FINA World Aquatics Convention. The 3rd convention is scheduled for November 29-December 1 in Doha; just prior to the 2014 Short Course
Worlds.
http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/sports/swimming/272439/doha-resort-convention-hotel-and-qsa-sign-contract
 
Qualifying system for the Swimming portion of the 2015 World Championships
 
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND--On February 18, FINA sent the national federations the qualifying system for the Swimming portion of the 2015 World Championships. The system will again include A and B time
standards, as well as a year-and-a-half qualifying window in which to achieve a time at a designated meet. FINA's posting of the system, including instructions on how a meet can become a qualifying meet, can
be found online here:
http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4366&Itemid=1616
 
Worlds time standard comparison by the World Swimming Coaches Association: 2015 versus 2013

FORT LAUDERDALE, USA--Following yesterday's inclusion of the time standards for the 2015 World Championships, below is the difference between those 2015 standards and the standards from the 2013 Worlds.  Also listed are the number of swimmers in 2013 who met the 2013 standards.
 
2014 YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES  --  So far in the FINA database there is at least one qualifier from 85 meets hosted by 38 different federations for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games.
 
Canadian Masters swimmer Jaring Timmerman,105 sets 2 new World Records
 
WADA NEWSLETTER - PLAY TRUE MAGAZINE.....four great articles posted at UANA website
 
World Swimming Coaches Association Analysis of the Top 25 Times of 2013
 

EVENTS THIS WEEKEND: 
 
FINA World Water Polo Conference in Cancun, Mexico
 
FINA World Water Polo Conference: Tracking a new future for the oldest Olympic team sport
PRESS RELEASE  --  Cancun (MEX), March 1, 2014 – The FINA World Water Polo Conference gathered experts from the oldest Olympic team sport in Cancun (MEX) on February 27-28, 2014 to discuss and exchange ideas on the future evolution of water polo, and the improvement of its place and importance on the sport international market.
 
Including panels with representatives from other professional leagues and newly popular team sports, sponsors, media/TV, players and leaders of water polo, this two-day initiative reaffirmed the need for a more understandable sport, capable to attract new fans on a global scale.
 
“Our main goal is to modernise our product - water polo - within the new developments on the sports industry. FINA is at the top of International Federations concerning the rate of innovation of our disciplines. Therefore, we must not be afraid to move forward”, considered Cornel Marculescu at the conclusion of the Conference.
 
Taking example on highly successful leagues (NBA, NFL, or NHL), the water polo family was briefed about the secrets behind the high-level exposure of these sports on TV, social media, and their importance on a world level but also next to the respective local communities.
 
“Combined with the exchange of ideas and the innovative concepts that we have heard about, I know that together we can make our sport even more popular and more recognised internationally”, declared the FINA President Dr. Julio C. Maglione in the closing speech. 
 
Throughout the Conference, one main message emerged to the delegates present in Mexico: to target high, water polo should be much more than a game; it should represent a unique experience for fans, and create a memorable opportunity to attract new spectators and supporters. Many ideas were presented on this matter, but one conclusion was evident: fans’ satisfaction is the number one priority.
 
Promotion, entertainment, global show, heroes, social media, drama and emotion were some of the key concepts that were retained.
 
“The rules of the game are perhaps the easiest part of the equation. We have to create synergies at all levels. We have a great game, with fantastic players, so let’s think high and don’t be afraid of the change”, appealed FINA’s Executive Director Cornel Marculescu to the delegates present in Cancun.
  
Gregory D. Eggert, Media Officer
UNION AMERICANA DE NATACION 
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