Strong Words From World Swim Coaches To FINA

March 18, 2015

AN OPEN LETTER TO FINA and ITS STAFF, OFFICERS AND BUREAU.

Dear Cornel (Executive Director For FINA),

When you ignore coaches in the sport and a great proposal such as sent to you and the world by Bill Sweetenham, asking for a quite ordinary and regular “independent review”, you come perilously close to the line of hubris and grandiosity as you represent your organization.

The Best Companies in the world undergo regular review and updating, what makes you think FINA is something different and immune to and from that?

I speak to you now representing the 10,100 members of the ASCA and the 17,600 coach members of the World Swimming Coaches Association. I ask you to please respond to Coach Sweetenham’s offer, by the end of the month of March, or we must assume that FINA finds itself above the rest of the world and in its supreme arrogance, declines the idea that an independent review could help it provide better governance for our sport.

And we will proceed accordingly with the IOC and all Federations. If you think we are small in number, you will learn quickly that you are incorrect,. This storm will not go away and we will enter into public discussions in a wide-spread way for the evolution or replacement of FINA with an independent governing body for swimming. Cornel, let me repeat, once we go down this confrontational path, returning to a view that FINA can be “reformed” will be very challenging. Any reasonable organization would embrace the idea of a review. USA Swimming has done it 3 times in the past 20 years and will do it again very soon. That’s good governance.

When we get done, you will think that the media uproar about doping in Perth, the suits in Rome and related issues, were small items. Do you recall no journalists wanting to talk about swimming when larger issues surfaced? That can easily happen again and even stronger. When an international federation secures 45 Millions dollars from the IOC, it must bear responsibility for the sport and the expenditure of those funds. FINA does not, at this moment, meet that standard with your personal lack of communication with those of us who would see FINA do better. You’ll be held to that.

Respectfully,

John Leonard

Executive Director

American Swimming Coaches Association. (10,100 members)

World Swimming Coaches Association. (17,600 members.)

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Mike Sherrill

9 years ago

Without accountability any organization will likely devolve into mediocrity and corruption.

Pete crippen

9 years ago

Fina has no accountability, it is time to end Fina.

Diego Ceres

9 years ago

q bien..

Andrew Sellers

9 years ago

Look at FIFA as case in point for why we need to have an independent review.

Chuck Kroll

9 years ago

Thank you for your continued and necessary time & efforts Mr. Leonard!

Pete Crippen

9 years ago

A comment to all coaches and athletes- What do you really know about FINA? How do they determine the event venues? Where does the money go? How is FINA structured? Why are they based in Switzerland? There is no oversight! They are not subject to normal corporate regulations and review.The coaches and athletes need to take charge and question these people. Keep up the pressure. They need to be held responsible on many fronts for their decisions.