Fina, the global governing body for aquatic sports, has revealed that five bidders have come forward for the hosting rights to its World Swimming Championships (25m) in 2022 and 2024, including the Russian city of Kazan.
The five potential bidders gathered yesterday (Tuesday) in Lausanne, Switzerland for an information meeting on the bidding procedure for the competitions. Fina said the national federations/cities of Chinese Taipei, Germany, Hungary (Budapest), Russia (Kazan) and Switzerland were briefed on the benefit, economic impact and legacy generated with the staging of the championships.
The five will now have to confirm their formal intention to bid, and then make a final presentation to the Fina Bureau in July 2017, which will take place during the World Championships in Budapest. Fina is set to decide on the award of the hosting rights during this meeting.
Russia’s interest in hosting rights to the two events comes amid the country’s uncertain status in international sport due to the fallout from the doping scandal affecting its sporting administration. Summer International Federations (IFs) have received no specific guidance from the International Olympic Committee on allowing Russia to host major events, but following the release of the damning McLaren Report in July the IOC’s Executive Board said it would not organise or give patronage to any sports event or meeting in Russia.
Commenting on the bidding process for the World Swimming Championships (25m), Fina executive director Cornel Marculescu said: “The Fina World Swimming Championships (25m) is not only a spectacular sport event, it is also a unique occasion to gather the Fina family and provide them with a significant business opportunity, exchange of knowledge and tribute to our stars through the Fina World Aquatics Convention and the Fina Gala ‘Soirée des Etoiles’.
“For about 10 days, the city hosting these championships will vibrate with a superb Aquatic Festival and its important legacy will remain an important added-value for the local community, the entire region and will even be felt country-wide.”
Following the 2016 event in Windsor, Canada, the two subsequent editions of the World Swimming Championships (25m) will take place in 2018 in Hangzhou (China) and in 2020 in Abu Dhabi (UAE).
