Industry News: FINA World Swimming Coaches Conference in Singapore Begins Today

SINGAPORE, January 15. THE 1st FINA World Swimming Coaches Conference – the first major swimming event of 2009 – is set to be held from Jan. 15-17, 2009 in Singapore, welcoming approximately 230 coaches and representatives from 90 nations. By providing an educational and interactive forum for the world's coaches, the event hopes to maintain the momentum of popularity the sport has experienced following the resounding success of swimming at the Beijing Olympic Games, and leading to the 13th FINA World Championships this summer in Rome (ITA).

Participants of the Conference have the opportunity to attend presentations from renowned swimming coaches such as: Norimasa Hirai, the coach of Kosuke Kitajima; Michael Bohl, the coach of Stephanie Rice; Rohan Taylor, the coach of Leisel Jones; Pierre Lafontaine, the National Coach of Canada; and Bill Sweetenham, former National head coach of Australia and Great Britain. There will also be an open interview with Mark Schubert (Head Coach USA) and Alan Thompson (Head Coach Australia), and specific presentations on subjects ranging from building the base of a strong team, elite training and competition preparation, updated doping control rules, and broadcast and Olympic-related topics.

The Program has been designed so the Conference will assist in the future success of every coach in attendance, regardless of the size and standing of their team. FINA leaders are also using this opportunity to impart advance information on the World Swimming Calendar 2009-2013, the 13th FINA World Swimming Championships of Rome 2009, the FINA Strategic Plan 2009-2013.

Overall, the Conference offers a unique international networking platform where the world's best coaches can share their expertise with counterparts from many FINA National Federations, and therefore make a positive impact on the global development of competitive swimming.

Special thanks to FINA for contributing this report.

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