Swimming Presidential Candidate Seeks Closer IOC Ties

(ATR) Erik van Heijningen tells Around the Rings he wants to forge closer links with the IOC, FINA and other sports organizations if elected president of the European Swimming Federation on Sunday.

The Dutchman is standing against incumbent Paolo Barelli in the elections in London on the eve of the European Aquatics Championships. The bureau of the Ligue Européenne de Natation (LEN) will also be elected. Barelli, president of the Italian Swimming Federation since 2000 and FINA honorary secretary since 2009, was first elected head of LEN in September 2012.

The three pillars of Van Heijningen’s campaign are empowerment, partnership and progress.

"All of this we lack now," he told ATR. "We do not move forward fast. LEN is not where it could and should be."

"You should connect to FINA, the IOC and EU and other important organizations around. It looks like we are getting isolated in this respect."

He said the European swimmingbody needed a better strategy to develop the sport around the continent and promises to bring the Dutch swimming federation’s teamwork ethic to improve LEN’s governance.

Asked what is wrong with the current leadership of the European Swimming Federation, he said: "It seems to satisfy the people in the organization but outside people are longing for the things I have mentioned." On a tour of national federations around Europe "people have touched these buttons".

"Many people say ‘Erik I am glad you raise your voice’," said Van Heijningen, a member of the FINA Bureau since 2013.

Talking on his empowerment goals, Van Heijningen said LEN could do more for its members. "It’s an organization which should stimulate and support federations. LEN organizes competitions and that’s it. We need to empower the federations to move foward, smaller and large federations, disciplines that are not strong enough," he explained.

He wants Europe’s 52 member associations to contribute more to develop the sport, while bureau members and committees should be more involved in the discussion, development and implementation of new projects and initiatives. Van Heijningen is also committed to empowering coaches, referees and officials and to ensure they receive the support they need.

"Why is it that Europe will only host 13 FINA development programs this year while our friends in Asia are organizing 33 and in the Americas no less than 70? And of the 30 athletes participating in the 2015/2016 FINA athlete scholarship program, why is only one from Europe? I want to ensure that no more development opportunities are missed," he said in one campaign newsletter.

"You can see in each federation strong and weak parts," he added, saying an analysis of how to strengthen European swimming was crucial to prioritizing where development and investment in improving disciplines was required.

"We miss this. So many federations need support and are just waiting," he said. "We need to think how to innovate the sport, referees, officials and use of new technology," he said, citing the possibilities for using technology to deliver more exciting broadcast coverage of open water swimming events.

As for his hopes for Rio 2016, the man who has been at the helm of the Royal Dutch Swimming Federation for 15 years is confident of a good showing from European swimmers.

"I hope Europe will show it is a strong continent. It will be marvelous. The Brazilians are working very hard now and FINA is helping and advising. Expectations are good," he said.

On his plans to fight doping in swimming, Van Heijningen applauds the work of FINA in tackling the drug cheats, despite a spate of scandals in the past 18 months.

"FINA is in my opinion in the top group of IFs combating doping," he said. "It doesn’t mean it can’t happen. But what we are doing under the control of WADA deserves respect.

"At same time I say we should spent a lot of effort in combating. Still each one [positive drug test] is one too many."

Under the umbrella of FINA, Van Heijningen said LEN was taking the fight to the cheats.

If he is elected president of the European Swimming Federation, he vowed to pump more money into ramping up the battle against doping, including investing more in educational programs for national federations and athletes.

He thinks he has a good chance of ousting Barelli on Sunday.

"I feel change is in the air. When you look around at other [sports] organizations around the world, people [member federations] want them to be professionally organized, to be transparent and to serve their interests," he said.

"I think people are ready for change," he added, noting that during his campaigning he had been talking to people, listening and taking on board their feedback about their demands and requirements.

Speaking about next week’s championships, he insisted London offered one of the best settings. "It’s an Olympic venue with a wonderful image, people want to be there and participate. All ingredients for a fantastic event are there," he added.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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