Swimmers’ Alliance Says Race Calendar “Unsustainable”, Calls For Urgent Talks With FINA & ISL After Both Failed To Engage In “Meaningful” Dialogue
The International Swimmers’ Alliance has slammed a lack of “meaningful” consultation with athletes and described a chaotic and over-cooked international swimming competition calendar as “unsustainable”.
In a strong statement issued within the last hour, Katinka Hosszu, Ranomi Kromowidjojo, Brent Hayden and Tom Shields, all ISA elected Board members, have called for urgent talks with FINA, the global regulator, and the International Swimming League (ISL) to discuss athlete concerns just days after FINA announced its plan to improve athlete representation in its governance structures.
The athletes note that “recent announcements by ISL and FINA have unnecessarily created urgent stress and reorganization for swimmers across the world”.
FINA is on course to stage four World Championships in the coming four years, just 20 years after the global showcase was staged once every four years, while the League has extended its season to a full six months, from June to December, creating unavoidable clashes with a bloated international competition, including World and European Championships and Commonwealth Games this year alone.
In a key-point list of their concerns, the ISA athlete representatives welcome the greater opportunities to compete afforded by FINA and the ISL, organisations locked in legal battle, with the League now also losing favour with some of those who have supported it and worked on the project. However, their ISA statement adds:
The Alliance believes the current scheduling is unsustainable ... as it forces swimmers into many different problematic situations. In many instances, the schedule recently announced creates tension between the swimmer and their governing federation. At least one federation has already moved to ban swimmers from some of the available competitions. That dynamic can create tensions between coach and federation or coach and swimmer as well. Additionally, the current scheduling creates tension between federations (e.g., Euros) , and between federations and FINA. To fully realize the opportunities presented and to put forth the best competitions available, swimmers, coaches and governing federation must not be pitted against one another. Our sport cannot succeed in the long term under such circumstances.
ISA – image, the Board
Further, the swimmers lament that “no meaningful athlete participation has occurred thus far” despite “athlete views [being] one of the most critical considerations”.
The ISA Board members, with a nod to the chaotic competition calendar, added: “At minimum, athlete concerns generally must be heard. And as stated below, we specifically request meetings with FINA and ISL to discuss the calendar of events.”
The Swimmers’ Alliance Statement In Full:
23-February, 2022: On behalf of the International Swimmers’ Alliance, the undersigned elected board members write to express our collective views on recent high-profile competitions announced recently, and specifically express our disappointment in having not been consulted or given any advance notice of these recent changes that now materially impact our livelihoods. The Alliance exists to, among other things, facilitate meaningful discussions between event organizers and the elite swimmers who are essential to the success of those events.
The competition schedule is of critical importance to all swimmers. Recent announcements by ISL and FINA have unnecessarily created urgent stress and reorganization for swimmers across the world. The Alliance is actively working with its members to create a concrete proposal for future championships. While consensus among our diverse membership will take some additional time, the following principles have risen to the top as minimum standards important to all athletes:
- In general, the addition of competition opportunities is favoured by the Alliance. Swimmers compete. More opportunities to compete, if they are properly scheduled, helps all swimmers. The Alliance specifically commends ISL and FINA for working to create additional opportunities.
- The Alliance believes the current scheduling is unsustainable. While more opportunities are favored, the current schedule is unsustainable as it forces swimmers into many different problematic situations. In many instances, the schedule recently announced creates tension between the swimmer and their governing federation. At least one federation has already moved to ban swimmers from some of the available competitions. That dynamic can create tensions between coach and federation or coach and swimmer as well. Additionally, the current scheduling creates tension between federations (e.g., Euros) , and between federations and FINA. To fully realize the opportunities presented and to put forth the best competitions available, swimmers, coaches and governing federation must not be pitted against one another. Our sport cannot succeed in the long term under such circumstances.
- Athlete representation in scheduling decisions is essential. No meaningful athlete participation has occurred thus far. The Alliance members understand that there are multiple considerations that must go into scheduling decisions. However, we are quite certain that athlete views are one of the most critical considerations. To our knowledge, no meaningful athlete participation or representation has been considered in creating the current international calendar. At minimum, athlete concerns generally must be heard. And as stated below, we specifically request meetings with FINA and ISL to discuss the calendar of events.
- Going forward, the competition calendar must be more predictable. The Alliance understands and appreciates the effort by FINA, ISL and all organizers, federations, and administrators to create competition opportunities over the last two years. The Alliance understands and appreciates the need for flexibility during those uncertain times. Going forward, however, as competition opportunities expand and as we hopefully emerge from the shadow of the pandemic, we believe our sport will be most successful when competition schedules are predictable. The Alliance looks forward to participating in discussions to create such a schedule.
We are the first to admit that issues facing the swimming world today are nuanced. Our own Alliance is similarly nuanced, as the Alliance includes over 130 professional swimmers across the world. We are in the process of talking to our members and soliciting feedback on more specific recommendations, the four points above continually rise to the top. The Alliance respectfully requests an audience with the ISL and with FINA to discuss current scheduling challenges and to establish more meaningful athlete participation in future scheduling. We believe the mutual goals of making our sport better and more sustainable require at least this minimum measure.
Approved and issued by: Katinka Hosszu, Ranomi Kromowidjojo, Brent Hayden, Tom Shields – ISA elected Board Members