On December 18, the FINA Extraordinary Congress approved a series of key reforms that will improve the Federation’s operational integrity and efficiency. According to FINA President Husain Al-Musallam, the changes consist of “essential reforms that would bring aquatic sports into the 21st Century.”
President Al-Musallam formed the FINA Reform Committee in June 2021, which was his first month in office. The committee’s purpose was to analyze problems within FINA and propose reforms. By October, the committee created a report that outlined “Six Pillars of Proposed Reform” based on these six areas:
- Governance
- Marketing
- Events
- Communication
- Digital transformation
- Safeguarding, medical and equity
In his inaugural address, President Al-Musallam emphasized those six areas as critical areas of reform. After the reforms were passed this weekend, he said “We have demonstrated that our athletes and their welfare are at the heart of everything we do and everything that we stand for.”
Chief among the reforms is the creation of an Aquatics Integrity Unit, a unit independent of FINA that would oversee matters related to anti-doping, event manipulation and corruptible offenses, and ethical violations. The election process would take place from January to May 2022, and its members would be confirmed during the General Congress of May 2022 in Fukuoka.
President Al-Musallam stated the Aquatics Integrity Unit sits at the heart of the reforms. “It is this Unit,” he said, “that will protect our aquatics community from ethical and discriminatory violations, match-fixing and all forms of harassment.”
The following is a brief description of each pillar and its proposed reforms. All of the recommendations will be implemented on June 1, 2022.
1. Good Governance
Historically, athletes have demonstrated little faith in FINA’s anti-doping system. However, because the Aquatics Integrity Unit is independent of the Federation, it will help ensure any violations are investigated thoroughly.
The committee also recommended revising the FINA Code of Ethics that would take effect by June 1, 2022. Changes to the Code of Ethics replaced the established Ethics Panel with an Adjudicatory Chamber, established under the Aquatics Integrity Unit.
The Extraordinary Congress also recommended a “review and overhauling” of the FINA Constitution, By-Laws, and General Rules, which would also need to take effect by June 1, 2022. These documents contain confusing and contradictory governing language.
2. Marketing
FINA’s “passive” marketing strategy has not represented the global aspect of the Federation well enough. In the short-term, the Federation should find solutions that maintain revenue streams and ensure “the widest exposure of events.” FINA currently has several sponsorship and broadcast agreements that end this year.
In the long-term, FINA should conduct a review of its current marketing structure and find areas that can be improved. Key in this strategic approach is the updating of media and sponsorship rights, with an emphasis on digital marketing opportunities.
3. Events
The reformation of events is meant to increase the quality of FINA events: the Federation has traditionally emphasized quantity over quality. Short-term goals meant to accomplish the long-term vision include:
- Increasing collaboration with event organizers, regardless of event size
- Reviewing the calendar of FINA events and their locations
- Grouping events and competitions together to optimize resources invested into the local organization and area
- Reviewing the current competition model and creating new model formats
- Taking athletes’ expectations into closer consideration and enhancing their overall experiences
- Increasing prize money and reducing expenditures
4. Communication
The report states that “FINA should do a better job of telling the stories of its Athletes.” To do so, the Federation should embrace a digital strategy that is appropriate for the 21st century.
In addition, FINA should be actively and critically mindful of the growing nature of aquatic sports: thus, the Federation should “listen to its broadcasters, media partners, fans, and Athletes” and “engage with more young people who are the future of Aquatics.”
5. Digital Transformation
An assessment of FINA’s current digital structure found it was greatly lacking reach and impact. The committee outlined a digital development plan for the next three years. Recommendations included live streaming and video-on-demand options, as well as increased engagement on social media.
6. Safeguarding, Medical and Equity
Lastly, the Reform Committee proposed enhanced anti-discrimination policies, greater diversity on boards and committees, and the implementation of mental health programs. Additionally, the FINA Rules on the Protection from Harassment and Abuse would be modified as well.
Dale Newburger yelled at Braden on Twitter for making a similar observation.
If this meet was their first chance to show off the “new FINA,” then I have very little confidence in any of this meaning anything lol.
Hard to take anything serious with that corrupt lobbyist Neuberger as Treasurer and the rest of the colluding clowns on the executive committee. There should really be a new FINA and new NCAA to protect the athletes, these old networks have corrupted to the core.
What’s worse: not realizing you’re still in the 20th century 21 years into the new century or making a major announcement showing how far behind the times you are?