FINA Dodges Hard Questions About The Putin Award

Commentary by Steven V. Selthoffer, Chief European Columnist

LAUSANNE – The ground swell of negative reactions and anger continues to grow and reverberate globally against FINA and Dr. Julio C. Maglione, URU, for the unpopular decision of awarding FINA’s highest honor, the FINA Order last week to President Vladimir Putin, RUS for agreeing to host the FINA World Championships and Masters Championships in Kazan next year.

It’s simple. The virulent reaction against Putin can be broken down into two groups. Those from countries who have been invaded by Putin and have had citizens that have been killed or those who have not.

How smart of a PR gesture was it by Maglione and FINA? The negative fallout has people calling for resignations or demanding individuals held responsible to be fired.

German newspaper Die Zeit, quoted deputies of the German Bundestag Sports Committee as saying awarding Putin the FINA Order was “an insensitive provocation and open mockery.”

Conducting an unofficial survey across the social media and Twitter universe of FINA’s 209 national federations, members, coaches and athletes, we found not one tweet of support in favor for the award to Putin. Zero. Not one.

Oops. Correction. The Russian media group TASS did.

Putin Depicted in Heroic Art Themes

To boost Putin’s image to counter growing global anger, the Moscow Art Museum has put on a new art exhibition. It depicts Vladimir Putin as Hercules, Atlas and other god-like “heroic” figures.

Christiane Amanpour, CNN, did a story on the art exhibition in Moscow. However, you have to consider, after spending millions and millions of Euros to host the FINA events, Putin may prefer something more in line with other corporate sport sponsorships and protocol to demonstrate FINA’s gratitude like… rebranding the events.

Perhaps calling them the “Putin Championships” held at the “Putin Pool.” It’s the least FINA could do besides awarding him another €55 plastic engraved plaque at the end of the championships. Right? Sure it is.

FINA Transparency? Accountability?

The awarding of the FINA Order to Putin has caused a growing demand to examine whose idea it was and the whole process of how the award was given. Some sources say it was an effort by Tamás Gyarfas, HUN, but that cannot be confirmed. We attempted to reach him for a statement, but, he did not respond.

Then, we telephoned FINA in Lausanne to find out who was responsible: Ring, ring, ring…

FINA staffer: “Hello, FINA.”
SW: “Hello. This is Steve Selthoffer from Swimming World.”
FINA staffer: (Pause) “What is that?”
SW: “Swimming World Magazine.”
FINA staffer: “Is it a magazine?”
SW: “Yes.”
FINA staffer: “Oh. One minute please…”

We were then instructed to send our questions by email to FINA asking who was responsible for the idea and how the award process was conducted.

Europe Reactions

Today, due to the growing crisis in Ukraine and the MH-17 air disaster killing 298 innocent civilians on board by a Russian BUK missile battery inside Ukraine, Bloomberg News reported Finnish Prime Minister Stubb firmly announcing that “the gloves must come off in Europe’s handling of Putin.”

Many feel the same holds true for the FINA leadership. They’re tired of it. Enraged again, animosities are running high.

Last week, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott threatened that he would “shirtfront” Mr. Putin in their upcoming G20 meeting. Shirtfronting is a tough rugby term meant to aggressively grab an opponent’s jersey to confront another person closely, face-to-face or chest-banging them in no uncertain terms. It’s an act of brute force.

And recently, Chancellor Angela Merkel, GER being raised in East Germany under Russia’s control, made her points thoroughly clear in her conversations with Putin.

Those are serious warnings to Putin coming from different heads of state.

And, after the Sochi Olympics with the invasion of Ukraine and the downing of MH-17, a digital scrubbing has been taking place across the Facebook world with athletes and sport executives quietly deleting their selfies with President Putin from their Olympic photo albums.

FINA Dodging Questions

FINA won’t name their mastermind for this award. Today, we received FINA’s response to our email asking for who was responsible for the idea of giving the award to Putin and how the process occurred.

The reply was, “FINA won’t make any comment on this matter.”

That must be tough for Pedro Adrega, Head of FINA Communications Department, to put out. He’s a good guy.

While Maglione and FINA are rewarding Putin, FIFA is weighing its options. If more evidence emerges, of Putin downing MH-17, then there should be no football World Cup in Russia in 2018.

FINA? Honor? Awards?

To give a perfect example of negative and polarizing effects of the current FINA leadership conduct in Lausanne… On Monday, October 20, the legendary coach Peter Daland of USC passed away at the age of 93.

Daland was revered as a global icon and held up as “one to model your life after.” Without question, Daland was a great and admired figure in international sports for more than 40 years. He was a U.S. Olympic coach twice in 1964 and 1972, he led USC to nine NCAA titles, 17 National AAU Championships, helped co-found Swimming World and Junior Swimmer Magazine and Suburban Swim Club. He filled numerous positions on a number of boards of various organizations.

Daland’s contribution to aquatics and the sport globally is beyond “remarkable.” Daland’s life is known around the world as being marked by one of excellence, superior achievement and integrity. Those attributes are undeniable. His life’s work of nurturing athletes and helping them to become all that they could be in the pool and out, has left a lasting legacy of distinction and honor.

And, FINA? What did they do? In FINA’s News Reports and Press Releases this week, there is not one mention of condolences or even a byline marking the passing of Peter Daland.

Going through every FINA Order, FINA Prize Eminence, or FINA Prize, there are no individuals who have accomplished anything in the sport even remotely on the same level as Peter Daland has.

Nothing could be clearer: The storm clouds over the Putin World Championships and the global clash of values in sport governance are continuing to build.

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Maria

9 years ago

Not trying to sound rude but I have a question to SW publishers. Why do you let this guy post his hateful, biased, amateurish articles again and again on such a respectful and interesting website? You don’t like the fact they gave it to politician. That’s up to you. Why on earth do you let this so called “expert” speculate on things he has no idea about? I mean, MH17 and Ukraine first and foremost. do you realize the guy must be sued for accusing in crime with no prove? Why to spread further hate, further Russophobic speculations, further wave of political battle that lead to “boycott Kazan” idea and have nothing to do with sports nor with reality neither with tolerance, respect, objectivity? This guy seems obsessed, unprofessional and should never ever use sports website for demonstrating his political views, period.

SWfan

9 years ago

Reply to Maria

Maria, did you read the article? Your ignorance on this subject is obvious. Thank you SW for keeping us posted on this. Yes you should use a sports website exactly for articles like this. Bravo SW!

Paul

9 years ago

Yes. Mr. Putin is giving peace in the world 🙂 specially in Ukraine. What do you know about situation there? From RT? SO YOU KNOW NOTHING! Another question is this is a sport organization or political? Give this award for people that gave heart for swimming not money.

Duncan

9 years ago

Maria,
Selthoffer’s comments, which you so strongly disrespect, are actually a very real and well documented description of the ugly things that can happen in beautiful sports when, “leaders” supremely unqualified in the sport but who have managed to achieve control of the sporting organization kowtow to political powers (who have made zero contributions to the sport, but deep pocket contributions to FINA) and money rather than serving the sport and its participants. Maria — are you Russian? Even if so, there is no excuse for your blind and biased comments.

It tells you all you need to know about FINA leadership that Putin, with no contribution to the sport aside from money for the Kazan meet, is shamefully given this supposedly high level award, whereas Peter Daland’s passing goes unnoted after about 80 years of service to the sport. And this is not just a USA-centric position. Daland coached Olympic medalist from certainly over 10 countries and served on numerous international sporting organizations such as FISU (world university games). It would not be surprising if his passing was consciously unnoted, specifically because he was an honest and honorable man who responded to problems in the international sport by trying to remedy hard issues such as PEDs and pushing for greater coach involvement in administration of the sport as opposed to the corrupt system where $, and not swimming or related expertise or achievement, was the basis for moving into positions of power. Peter was for appreciation of the sport, not for corruption. He is deserving of the highest respect from all swimming organizations. Putin is not.

Sam

9 years ago

Reply to Duncan

Well said Sir.

Maria

9 years ago

Reply to Duncan

Duncan
LOL, are you calling me “blind” and “biased” for questioning the tone of this author and for doubting that political subjects and accusing of serious crimes with no prove should be welcomed in a sports website? Selthoffer is not neutral, disrespectful, highlights only one side of the issue and makes serious accusations based on his own viewpoint and not facts and I’m gonna point it out.

oleg

9 years ago

Reply to Maria

Maria, you are not questioning article. You are judging author. Clearly you are blinded by Russian propaganda machine . Sadly you are not alone. Russian people used to be part of the world effort to eliminate fascism. Now they are perpetrators dividing foreign territory. You defending crazy maniac, who started meaningless war in sovereign state, by annexing Crimea. Shame on you Maria.

Duncan

9 years ago

Reply to Maria

You are clearly a lost cause to recognizing the injustice in this award.

Name anything from Selthoffer’s comments you know to be untrue. You talk about Selthoffer taking only one side of the issue. Just what is “the other side.” There is note. Putin did invade Crimea; his troops did cross Ukraine borders.

Name one thing — ANYTHING– aside from MONEY for the Kazan meets, Putin has ever done to benefit swimming.

Also, you mean “without proof,” not “without prove.” I’m sure I wouldn’t do as well as you if I were trying to write in your native tongue but just thought it might help you.

Just what “tone” do you sense. He list numerous facts and lets them speak for themselves. You apparently just don’t like what those facts communicate.

This reminds me most of a time another international sporting organization primarily run by corrupt money (IOC), rather than by those actually involved daily in the sports, awarded another major event to a notorious political bad boy.

Berlin Olympics — Adolph Hitler. Wouldn’t be surprised if there was a bit of money exchanged over that assignment either.

For shame.

Duncan

9 years ago

In last line of 2nd paragraph, I meant to say, “There is none.” Not there is “note.”

Maria

9 years ago

Reply to Duncan

Duncan

Looks like fact checking is not your forte. Not gonna blame you for that, you get what mainstream news and politicians tell you every day, the whole year. It’s not your fault though.

You quote:
“Name anything from Selthoffer’s comments you know to be untrue. You talk about Selthoffer taking only one side of the issue. Just what is “the other side.” There is note. Putin did invade Crimea; his troops did cross Ukraine borders. ”
Selhoffer’s quote:
“…Those from countries who have been invaded by Putin and have had citizens that have been killed or those who have not.”

1. Author said about “countries invaded by Putin”. Name a few. And do you even know what invasion is? Oh wait, you both belong to the country that has been invaded and destroyed tens in last 10-15 years . Anyway, both of you don’t seem to have any idea that Russian troops and naval bases have been officially quartered in Crimea due to agreements of 1997 (Partition Tritie) and 2010 (Kharkiv Pact) signed with Ukraine. So, they didn’t “invade” Crimea.
The second. It’s just amuses me how both of you keep ignoring the fact that people of Crimea who didn’t recognize the results of coup , demanded the referndum. There were lot of threats from ultra-right forces to take Republic of Crimea so Crimeans (most of them are Russians) asked Russia to protect them. Unlike Obama who bombs Syria with no permission of UN neither of his own Congress, Putin officially asked Federal Assambley to use peacekeepers quartered in Crimea due to official request by Crimean government while locals were running their referendum. Oh wait, your news didn’t say about it? Oh wait, they said that Maidan coup is legal, beautiful and democratic and referendum is barbaric, illegal and criminal? You asked about the other side. Keep silence on these facts is an accurate reporting in your opinion Duncan?

2. Author keeps blaming Russia for downing of MH17. He did it in the first article and continues:
“Today, due to the growing crisis in Ukraine and the MH-17 air disaster killing 298 innocent civilians on board by a Russian BUK missile battery inside Ukraine, Bloomberg News reported Finnish Prime Minister Stubb firmly announcing that “the gloves must come off in Europe’s handling of Putin.”
Is Sethoffer aware that official investigation is not finished and the results aren’t published yet? Who told him it was Russia, Putin, Russian BUK? Where are any data, evidence, whatever? What does he base his accusations on ? Talking about it, why doesn’t he use words like “allegedly, probably, yet to investigate, no evidence published yet” etc? Why doesn’t he assume it might be Ukraine Army who also owns missile and kept them in the area the jet crushed? Is that accurate and unbiased reporting in your opinion Duncan?

3. Author quotes statements from politicians with a strong anti-Putin message. Not gonna comment on Abbots “shirt-fronting” commentary because it was a populistic rant refered to MH17 and has nothing to do with FINA award. Why to quote something that has nothing to do with the issue of the article though? Just to make your post more dramatic and impressive? Ok, if Sethoffer wants to quote politicians – why doesn’t he quote Sahra Wagenknecht, Marine Le Pen, other politicians with a different points of view on Putin’s role, on Ukraine crysis and who is really responsible for the tragedy? There are many of them so WHY Selthoffer ignore them? Not fit his agenda? Is that accurate reporting Duncan? Is that what you call “there’s no other side”?

Your quote:
“Just what “tone” do you sense. He list numerous facts and lets them speak for themselves. You apparently just don’t like what those facts communicate.”
You mix up “facts” with “speculations” . Yeah I don’t like speculations on human tragedy especially when it used for someone’s political agenda and published on a great sports website I love to read because of reports on swimming. One would think that demonstration someone’s political views and spreading false is not what sports resources are designed for.

Your quote:
“Name one thing — ANYTHING– aside from MONEY for the Kazan meets, Putin has ever done to benefit swimming.”
Weird question. Russia hosts international meets desmeets and never refused to do it, unlike many European cities. Russia found the new sponsor for World Cup when Arena didn’t re-sign with FINA. Russia keeps the annual swim meet with a bunch of big names in Europe and you should be thankful that World Cup is not Asian Cup or Arabian Cup. Nothing against that parts of the world but Europe needs its annual international swim meet. And you know Duncan. It’s not YOUR money spent on swim meets, it’s Russian taxpayers money and you have no right to complain about it. Otherwise, you should be thankful that someone still pay to maintain international status of the sport of swimming during economical crysis while some “experts” call it a sport only once in four years.
About doping. The record is really upsetting but if you look at Anti-doping agency database you’ll be surprised. USA has the worst doping record in sports. Check their website for a data. Frankly, giving award to politician or head of state is quite odd to me as such but I guess FINA summed up all the efforts the country has made for the sports of swimming in recent years, including work done by RUSADA in revealing doping cases and lest satisfied.

Here’s some reading for you Duncan.
http://en.ria.ru/interview/20141014/194062719/German-MP-Germany-Has-No-Evidence-of-Who-Shot-Down-MH17.html
http://www.thenation.com/article/180466/silence-american-hawks-about-kievs-atrocities#

Maria

9 years ago

oleg

shame on you for labelling all Russian people. it’s called racism fyi.

Duncan

9 years ago

Let’s keep it simple. While there may be international political disputes over the legality and reasonableness of Putin’s Crimean and Ukrainian adventures, they are not the primary point of any of writing here. A corrupt international sporting organization gave this at least arguably corrupt national leader their highest award for no other discernable reason than that he greased their palms more than anyone else. He did nothing for swimming; he bought his way into the good graces of FINA, and this is payback.

You seem to operate on the premise that the World Cup meets (FINA World Cup) are necessary to swimming. They are not. For example, though the US has been the dominant swimming power throughout the period since the World Cup meets were initiated, largely because of the upfront costs to the host through FINA there has not been a World Cup event in the US for over a decade. During this period USA Swimming has served its athletes, and a generous splash of international athletes, with its Grand Prix series. Australia and others have developed similar events, all without having to pay FINA through the nose for a label. The meets have become necessary to FINA’s budget and whatever it does with its money. Countries/cities have backed out of hosting World Cup events because of the extortion of fees required by FINA to be able to use the “FINA World Cup” label.

Europe has a long list of useful meets, some which have chosen to pay for the label as a World Cup meet but many others that are independent and simply develop a tradition over time to support the needs of the sport. In Europe just off the top of my head I think of the Mare Nostrum series, the Paris Open, the 7 Hills meet in Rome, among many others that provide equivalent, if not better, competition for the athletes.

Don’t misunderstand. I have greatly enjoyed the World Cup series since it was begun and would enjoy more international events with head to head competitions among some of the best athletes. It just saddens me when the concept is essentially drowned out by FINA greed, with so many hosts dropping by the wayside, leaving mostly (not all) sites where strong government input is then required to get a meet and, in Putin’s case, to get an award.

Without the greed impacting FINA event assignments, competition would certainly jack up the number of potential hosts vying for the opportunity to run a World Cup to serve the sport and its athletes and not to predominantly serve FINA.

The bottom line is … Putin does not deserve a swimming award and those in FINA that went along with this have badly shamed themselves and our sport.

oleg

9 years ago

Maria,
I see you are trying to defend Putin, and clearly feeling that he and Russian taxpayers are sponsoring World Championship fro the love of sport.
You also calling free choice annexation of Crimea free choice, because Russia actually had Navy Base in Crimea for years.
And Ukrainian government is a coup, but Crimean people made a choice to join Russia during referendum.
Though you are intelligent person, and certainly patriot of Russia, you making statement which is influenced by Russian propaganda and not a common sense.
Russian swimmers has very poor showing in last 10 years at any level of competition ( unless they swim in US colleges). Russian swimming infrastracture lagging behind , besides few spots , like Kazan . Remember Tzar Villages? That what Kazan and World Cup swimming competition is in Russia for. Its still rural country with mega ambitions. . BACK IN USSR.
Russia is still same grey, unhappy place . Changes were coming ( Gorby and perestroika), but they did not arrive …