Power Politics Played in London LEN Meetings

LONDON, England, October 2. BRITISH Swimming announced it hosted meetings of 300 swimming delegates from across Europe last week.

The Ligue Européenne de Natation (LEN) governing body's annual Congress involved 45 member federations outlining the future for aquatic sport in Europe. Important meetings were held throughout the weekend which culminated in the largest ever LEN Congress where its new bureau and committees across all sports were elected for the next four years.

And with London as the backdrop for the Congress, organizers from British Swimming are also confident hosting the LEN Congress helped to bolster London 2012's bid for the Olympic Games with dignitaries from FINA, the world's governing body, also in attendance.

In addition to the congress, FINA President Mustapha Larfaoui, FINA Honorary Secretary and LEN President Bartolo Consolo, and FINA Honorary Treasurer Dr Julio Maglione and the FINA Executive Director Cornel Marculescu attended the Hilton London Metropole Hotel where nations of the FINA World Water Polo League met to outline the schedule of future competitions.

During the congress itself Britain's Alan Clarkson OBE was elected to the LEN Bureau before other British representatives Simon Rothwell was appointed Chairman of the LEN Masters Committee, Sam Greetham was re-appointed Secretary of the LEN Open Water Committee, Jenny Gray was placed on the LEN Synchronised Swimming Committee, Kim White on the LEN Committee Diving and Dr Ian Gordon on the Medical Committee.

British Swimming Chief Executive David Sparkes viewed the weekend as an outstanding success for all concerned.

"The LEN Congress proved to be a huge success and we are sure, with London as the venue, the gathering has in its own small way improved the city's chances of securing the Olympic Games in 2012, " said Sparkes.

British Swimming presented LEN with the Bologna Trophy which was first presented to the winning British Women's 4x100m Freestyle relay team at the 1927 European Championships in the Italian city of its title.

In celebration of the fact the winning British team came from England, Scotland and Wales, it was competed for annually and biannually between the home nations up until 1972 when pressures of the international calendar took its toll on the event.

LEN are yet to decide how the trophy will be awarded in the future.

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