World Swimming Association To Hold Constitutional Convention, Calls All Coaches To Gather

Founding Fathers of The Modern Olympics - Credit: Photo by Albert Meyer

The World Swimming Association will hold its Constitutional Convention on Friday, September 1, 2017 in Washington, DC, USA, at the Washington Hilton from 3:00-8:00 p.m., in conjunction with the 2017 ASCA World Clinic. Coach George Block, World Swimming Coaches Association (WSCA) President, will conduct the constitutional convention. The following email was sent out to swim coaches around the world calling for an assembly.

What is the World Swimming Association?
It is an alternative to FINA. It is based on the concept of being athlete centered, coach directed and professionally managed. It will be transparent in function, focused on true development of the sport worldwide, and provide a viable alternative to the corruption and self-serving management of FINA. The Professional Swimmers Association (PSA) will be a key piece of the WSA.

Why should I attend the Constitution Convention?
Because this is our opportunity as coaches to craft and construct an organization that serves the selfless purpose of bettering the sport that all of us had in mind when we became coaches. It is the embodiment of our dreams, in opposition to the continual disappointment and dismay with the decisions and corruption of FINA.

If we do not begin this now, then when? And if we do not do it, then who will?

What will we be doing?
It is a constitutional convention, so the focus is on the constitution. WSCA has worked with an international law firm to take the feedback that we got over 18 months of online discussion, and has crafted it into a draft document. We will consider it line by line and make changes/adjustments and pass a constitution at the end of the day.

Secondarily, once that task is complete, we will create and begin discussions of the proposed WSA working committees, and set initial tasks. More on that in upcoming

Who should attend?
Every coach from all nations who want to see good governance in our sport and transparent operation of a global body for the benefit of the athletes and not the suits who sit in fancy chairs at the swim meets. You will be setting the standards of the best alternative organization in the world… the real version of “Olympian Thought”.

Please attend!

John Leonard – WSCA Executive Director

This content was provided to Swimming World by the World Swimming Association. All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.

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Kathy gillett

6 years ago

I wish Bob Gillett was still alive! He would attend for sure

Ian

6 years ago

Considering ASCA is none of the things listed, least of all transparent I don’t see how this is fought to bgs a step in the right direction.

SwimcoachJ

6 years ago

Interesting that WSCA promises to be transparent, but is led by the ASCA which seems to have many of its own problems.

Seok- ki Park

6 years ago

Congratulations! This is the new focal point of swimming in the world.
South Korea swim coach park Seok ki