FINA Bureau In Favor Of Morning Finals At 2020 Tokyo Olympics

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The FINA Bureau met for the first time in 2018 ahead of the organization’s 110th anniversary, covering a wide range of topics related to FINA sponsored events in the upcoming years. Most notable, the Bureau “agreed with conducting the Swimming finals in the morning” at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. This would be similar to the schedule at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, where finals were also held in the morning.

As reported yesterday by Swimming World, the Tokyo Organizing Committee is still working on a competition schedule for upcoming Games for the sports of swimming, diving, and artistic swimming events. IOC Chairman John Coates has been selected to work with FINA and the organizing committee to come to an agreement regarding the aquatics schedule.

You can see the full notes from the FINA Bureau meeting below:

On the eve of the official celebration of FINA’s 110th anniversary and the inauguration of the FINA Headquarters in Lausanne (SUI), the FINA Bureau held its first 2018 meeting on July 18.

Addressing the members of the Bureau at the start of the meeting, FINA President Dr Julio C. Maglione declared:

“We arrived at this stage in a very healthy and positive situation, both in terms of the importance of Aquatics in the international sports movement and regarding FINA’s economical sustainability. In a time of celebration, it is important to recall that FINA exists to primarily serve its 209 National bodies around the world. We are a big aquatic family and together we are making the necessary steps and hard work to make our Sport more recognised and more popular on a global scale.”

The highlights of the meeting included:

Approval of the FINA Financial Statements for 2017, validated by the external auditor (PricewaterhouseCoopers) and the FINA Audit Committee;
Nomination of the company Ernst and Young as a Chief Internal Audit Officer, as per FINA Constitution Rule C 25.4 and C 25.5;
Adoption of the FINA Strategic Plan for the period 2018-2021;
Nominations: Mr Zouheir El Moufti, as the new Bureau Liaison for the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee; Mr Siarhei Khazempa (BLR) as new FINA Technical Swimming Committee Member (replacement);
Mr Don Cameron (AUS), as new FINA Technical Water Polo Committee Member (replacement);
Update on BL Rules concerning Water Polo (Draw for the Olympic Games Qualification Tournament);
Approval of financial support for all teams participating at the FINA Water Polo World Leagues 2019;
Approval of prize money distribution for the FINA Water Polo World Leagues 2019;
Information on the study conducted by the Indiana University (USA) concerning the lower water temperature limit for Open Water Swimming events;
The Bureau approved the calendar for the 2019 Diving World Series and Diving Grand Prix;
Approval of a “FINA Gala Water Show” to conclude the programme of Artistic Swimming at the FINA World Championships;
Validation of the schedule for the 2019 FINA World Masters Championships in Gwangju (KOR). The competition will be held from August 5-18, with the Opening Ceremony scheduled for August 11;
Update on the latest projects included in the FINA Development Programme, namely the “Olympic Aquatic Support Programme” and the E-Learning Platform;
Confirmation of the bid for the FINA Artistic Swimming Age Group Championships 2019 to the city of Samorin (SVK);
Updates on the upcoming major competitions, including the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Hangzhou (CHN) in December 2018; the FINA World Championships in Gwangju (KOR) in July 2019; the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games; and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Aspects related with the venues, transportation plan, accommodation and competition schedule were mentioned in these presentations. On Tokyo 2020, FINA agreed with conducting the Swimming finals in the morning;
Adoption of a FINA policy regarding good governance and protocol.

FINA contributed to this report.

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Tammy Lee

5 years ago

They did that at Bejiing too, so finals could be broadcast live during primetime. I remember they asked Michael Phelps’ input, too. He said something like if you can’t swim finals in the morning, you shouldn’t be there.

James Hooper

5 years ago

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? : ?‍♂️?‍♀️