In June 24, only two weeks into his new mandate, FINA President Captain Husain Al Musallam signed an agreement with the Bhutan Aquatics Federation (BAF) to build the first ever swimming pool in Bhutan, located on edge of the Himalayas mountain range.
As part as the Pools for All
Programme, an initiative launched in 2019 and intended to ensure that all FINA
National Member Federations have access to the best possible aquatic facilities
to promote aquatic sports, FINA will finance and supervise the construction of
the pool in the country’s capital, Thimphu. The pool will be located at 8200ft
/2400m, making it one of the highest in the world and the first in the country.
With this project, Bhutan becomes the first Federation benefiting from this
Development Activity programme, an area of strong focus driven by President Al
Musallam.
After thanking FINA for the support,
the Bhutan Aquatics Federation said: “We are confident that under the
leadership of Captain Husain Al-Musallam the development of aquatic sports will
be taken to even greater heights. The BAF looks forward to working closely with
FINA for the development of aquatic sports in Bhutan.”
The second agreement signed today
covered the creation of a new FINA Development Centre in Franschhoek, South
Africa.
FINA teamed up with Swimming South
Africa to form a hub for the development and growth of Aquatics in Africa that
will welcome FINA Scholarship Programmes, as well as Coaches and Officials
Education and Certification Programmes.
Swimming South Africa President Alan
Fritz said: “We are very grateful to FINA and FINA President for the support
and for delivering this significant project. Aquatic sports in Africa, and in
our region in particular, will truly benefit from this new Development Centre
and we intend on boosting the performance of the African athletes.”
These two latest initiatives
underline Al Musallam’s vision to strengthen all Development Activities and
provide assistance to all FINA National Member Federations in need, without
discrimination. FINA Executive Director Brent Nowicki also took part in the
signing ceremony this morning at the FINA HQ in Lausanne.
As the continent is speeding up with
Olympic preparation, South Africa recently qualified two athletes (Michelle
Weber and Michael McGlynn) for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Marathon Swimming event.
Namibia also clinched a historic qualification for the Games with Philip
Seidler securing the Africa slot at the stake at the recent FINA Olympic
Marathon Swim Qualifier in Setubal (POR).
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