Swimming Fed Re-Elects Maglione, Adds VP Position

(ATR) When Around the Rings met with FINA president Julio Maglione last Tuesday, he told ATR only two things stood in his way between re-election as FINA president: constitution changes ending age limits and the support of FINA.

On Thursday, the FINA Congress met in Kazan on the eve of the world championships and approved six changes to their constitution, among them suppressing age limits for all executive board members.

This allows the 80-year-old Maglione the possibility of serving in his third consecutive term as the FINA president, something he tells ATR he really would like to do although it was not his idea in the first place.

"My idea was to finish in Hungary at the next election. I agreed with the people who proposed to me the idea [of a third term] because they pushed me," Maglione says.

With the abolition of age limits, all that stands between Maglione and a third term is the support of FINA that will come in the form of a vote at the next FINA electoral congress in Hungary.

Maglione earned the support of the Americas federation for swimming at the UANA congress held in Toronto during the Pan Am Games. He tells ATR other continental swimming federations have also reached out to him in support.

If Maglione wins a third term, this would be the last he would be allowed to serve under the new statutes of FINA which prohibit more than three full terms in the same position.

The new statutes also include the creation of a first vice president of the federation on top of the existing four vice president positions. Husain Al Mussallam of Kuwait was elected as the inaugural first vice president of FINA after the congress concluded.

Al Mussallam, as secretary general of the Olympic Council of Asia, is seen as Sheikh Ahmad's right-hand man.

In addition to this, the FINA congress approved the statute saying the first vice president would take over the duties of president should the position be vacated for any reason. Upon filling the vacancy, the FINA Bureau would decide within three months the date for electing a new president.

The rights and duties of the president, first vice president, honorary secretary and executive director were also revised in the new statutes.

Lastly, the FINA congress approved the addition of one member to the FINA executive board until 2017 with the honorary secretary. From 2017 and on, the honorary secretary will be replaced by a nominee by the president of FINA.

FINA president Maglione said he was satisfied with the results of the congress.

"I am happy that we all share these values and, united like a family, we work together to achieve our objectives. The recent successes of FINA have always been made with your support throughout the years and successive Congresses. FINA firmly believes that Sport is the key for a better and peaceful world, highlighting the values of a healthier lifestyle, social inclusion and fair-play, in a spirit of friendship and respect," Maglione said.

The FINA congress will now turn their focus towards the world championships that begin Friday, July 24 in Kazan.

Written by Kevin Nutley

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