FINA Anthem (Opening Version/musical):

FINA, the Fédération Internationale de Natation, is the world governing body for the five Aquatic Disciplines of SWIMMING, DIVING, WATER POLO, SYNCHRONISED SWIMMING and OPEN WATER SWIMMING.

FINA has five main objectives:

- to promote and encourage the development of swimming in all possible manifestations throughout the world
- to promote and encourage the development of international relations
- to adopt necessary uniform rules and regulations to hold competitions in swimming, open water swimming, diving, water polo, synchronised swimming and masters
- to organise World Championships and FINA events
- to increase the number of facilities for swimming throughout the world

To fulfill these goals and organise its 202 National Federations membership, FINA has put in place a structure comprising of six main entities: the General Congress, the Technical Congress, the Bureau, the Executive Committee, the Standing Committees and the Commissions.

The GENERAL CONGRESS is FINA’s highest authority; it decides upon any matters arising within the international federation. The TECHNICAL CONGRESS rules on technical issues pertaining to FINA’s five aquatic disciplines. Each Congress has two duly appointed delegates from each Member federation – each having one vote – plus the 22 members of the Bureau, the Honorary Life President and all Honorary Members, but without vote. Included as well within the Technical Congress are all members from the respective Technical Committees, without vote. The Congresses convene every four years, usually on the occasion of the FINA World Championships. All Congress meetings are chaired by FINA President, Dr. Julio C. Maglione.

FINA Bureau at FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) 2012, in Istanbul (TUR)

FINA COMMITTEES, PANELS AND COMMISSIONS

Over the years, the Federation has created a number of committees and commissions to assist the FINA Bureau with expertise, knowledge and invaluable support. Six Technical Committees, one for each discipline – swimming, diving, water polo, synchronised swimming, open water swimming – and one for the Masters movement were created. The Committees actively help develop their respective discipline by making proposals to the Bureau, helping organise the FINA competitions, setting up technical seminars for FINA’s Officials, etc. Each Committee has 12 members, all from different nationalities.

Each Committee has a Chairman, Vice Chairman and Honorary Secretary. The Bureau also appoints ex officio a Bureau member – Bureau Liaison – so to ensure communication between the Bureau and the Committee.

In 2000, with the growing concern of protecting the athletes’ health, well-being and safety, a six-member Sports Medicine Committee was created to deal with medical and doping issues.

Doping becoming a growing issue in the swimming world, a Doping Panel was established in 1996 – and a Doping Control Review Board in 1999 – to consider cases and impose sanctions when athletes or FINA Member Federations break the rules. Similarly, the Disciplinary Panel was created in 2005 to deal with any violation of the FINA Rules and Regulations not relating to anti-doping.

The number of Commissions also increased in parallel with the development of each discipline and the Masters movement. The Athletes Commission was created in 1992 to enhance the athlete’s visibility and voice within FINA. In 1999, the Coaches Commission was born to improve the development of FINA’s disciplines and, as a result, create education programmes for coaches all over the world. The Coaches Commission made a great step forward when its first FINA World Swimming Coaches Conference was held in Singapore (SIN) on January 15-17 2009. Since 1994, Press Commission members officiate as press delegates at FINA’s major competitions and provide articles for the FINA website and publications.

Following the development of FINA activities, additional commissions and committees have been created to respond to specific needs: the Swimwear Approval Commission, a Protocol Commission, an Awards Commission, a Development Commission, a National Federations Relations Commission, a Legal Commission, a Facilities Committee and a High Diving Commission.