By Sports Reporter/Doha
The third FINA World Aquatics Convention concluded here yesterday, with world body president Dr Julio C Maglione launching ‘Swimming for All – Swimming for Life’ programme.
FINA’s ambitious project aims to teach children how to swim and to promote physical activity through swimming and will offer standard criteria to teach swimming across the globe. In the third and final day of the convention, FINA and some of its partners presented the delegates with the strategy for the years to come. The convention, which was held on the eve of the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) which will begin from tomorrow at the Hamad Aquatic Centre.
Maglione, who was the moderator and main speaker, said he was worried by 372,000 annual deaths by drowning for the last 10 years and wants to see swimming lessons for school children become compulsory everywhere. Maglione, an International Olympic Committee member who has led world swimming since 2009, expressed “great concern” over a “dramatic problem”.
The statistics come from a new report by the World Health Organization which found 372,000 people have drowned each year for the past 10 years. That computes to 40 people every hour.
“The challenge of swimming is dramatic because most people can run or play football or basketball even in the street but for swimming you need swimming pools or similar conditions in still water and you need someone to teach you. Through this initiative, FINA’s aim is to provide easy access to pools. We also want to encourage the involvement of youth,” he said.
Maglione said the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organisation (WHO) and other bodies have already come on-board.
Maglione said the low-income populations of poorer countries were the most affected. He added: “It’s a major public health problem: swimming as a sport offers people a healthier and happier lifestyle; swimming and other aquatic activities improve people’s quality of life.”
FINA’s goal was to introduce swimming lessons in every school around the world. Maglione added: “The main objective is to offer this possibility to individuals from all different capacities and backgrounds.”
Wilfried Lemke, sports adviser to the secretary-general of the United Nations, pointed out that the danger was even greater for women than for men. “Around 70 per cent of the victims are female. We have to fight for the rights of girls and women. We will do everything to teach our children how to swim. This message must come into the heads of all the head of states and sport ministers.”
In the afternoon session called ‘Beyond the Pool Deck’, participants gained insights from prominent athletes in all disciplines across Aquatics. Drawing on their unique experiences, this athletes gave their view on how aquatics can continue to stay at the top of the Olympic sporting programme.
The highlight of the session was the presence of Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu, the three-time World Champion. Hosszu, known as ‘Iron Lady’ for her ability to take part in maximum events and also come on top, is the star attraction at the World Swimming Championships.
Among others who spoke at the convention were: Brenda Villa four-time Olympic medallist and world champion in water polo, Petar Stoychev, world champion in open water swimming, Orlando Duque world Champion in high diving and Britta Kamrau, the European and world swimming champion and member of the FINA Athletes Commission/Athletes Committee.
The convention concluded with a session focused on strategies for prolonging success in aquatics. Named ‘A Strategy for Continued Success’, the panel comprising: President of the International Sport Press Association Gianni Merlo, Shane Tusup, Hosszu’s coach and founder of Toos Sports Agency and Michael Scott, performance director of Australian Swimming Federation shared their wisdom on the subject.
Now from today, the focus will shift to the Hamad Aquatic Centre, where the world’s fastest swimmers are gathering for a five-day, top-level showdown in 25-metre pool.
This year, about 900 swimmers coming from all continents will compete in the 12th World Swimming Championships (25m). The swimmers will battle it out in a total of 46 events (34 individual and 12 relays), for 138 medals.
On the sidelines of the championship, FINA, in cooperation with the Qatar Olympic Committee and Doha 2014 Organising Committee will also organise the first-ever Youth Programme. More than 230 athletes and 120 coaches from 130 countries will attend the programme
Internationally renowned swimming coach Todd Schmitz from USA will run the programme. Schmitz will share his passion and also inspire young hopefuls to shape the future of swimming. The programme will include education topics, pool training and attendance of all evening’s finals.
FINA President Dr Julio C Maglione (left) and Khaleel al-Jabir, Qatar Swimming Association President and Executive Director of Doha 2014 (right), at t
