The application process to the 2019 FINA Olympic Aquatics Support programme opened on November 1 and will run until November 30.
The purpose of this programme, launched in January 2018, is to provide financial support to all FINA National Member Federations to develop and promote aquatic sports at grassroots, intermediate and elite levels within their countries.
The objective of this programme is to enable the National Federations to further develop, strengthen and improve their activities in all aquatic disciplines.
This includes, but is not limited to, their governance, management and administration which will enhance the organisation's structure and professionalism of their operations to consequently become more efficient, transparent and independent.
National Federations have to fulfil a series of requirements, which are carefully monitored, reviewed and approved by FINA, to be considered for the programme.
Only the National Federations with athletes that have taken part in at least one of the last two FINA World Championships and/or FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) are eligible to apply.
The projects can be undertaken in 8 categories: facilities construction or renovation; purchase of sports material; technology resources; technical support; preparation and training of athletes, coaches and officials; staging and preparation at national and continental competitions; talent-identification; administration and management of the NF.
A total of 162 National Federations (for a total of 367 projects) benefited from this programme in 2018 with still some ongoing projects as the 2018 programme officially finishes on January 15, 2019. Around USD 4M will have been shared among all the participating Federations in 2018.
Funds have been distributed across the five continents and FINA's six disciplines without discrimination.
FINA allocates up to 70% (up to a maximum of USD 25'000 per NF) of the IOC TV rights share received in relation to the previous Olympic Games to the Olympic Aquatic Support Programme.
The total contribution to be granted is confirmed by the FINA Bureau at the end of each Olympic cycle for the next four years.
So far, projects presented in 2018 were spread across the below categories: