Following the recent announcement of the Refugee Olympic Team for Tokyo 2020, FINA has welcomed the selection of two swimmers for the Team and offered its full support. FINA has also welcomed the overall development of the Refugee Olympic Team programme, following its successful debut at Rio 2016.
Yusra Mardini, a Syrian refugee
living and training in Germany, was part of the pioneering Refugee Olympic Team
at Rio 2016, where she won her heat in the 100m butterfly. She will be joined
at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre by Alaa Maso, a freestyle sprint specialist also
from Syria. The two athletes, who knew of each other before beginning their
Olympic journey, left home amid conflict to undertake a long voyage through
Europe to Germany.
“FINA applauds Yusra and Alaa for
their selection to the Refugee Olympic Team. Tokyo 2020 will see more
opportunities for aquatics athletes than ever before, across a record number of
events. We are delighted that these opportunities will also extend to refugees
thanks to the vision and professionalism of the IOC under the leadership of
President Thomas Bach. This initiative has FINA’s full support,” said
newly-elected FINA President Husain Al-Musallam.
“I am determined to ensure FINA
supports all aquatics athletes, without discrimination. Like water itself, the
chance to practice aquatics disciplines should be universal,” continued
President Al-Musallam. “The IOC has clearly shown the way in providing
opportunities for refugees and it is a lead that we will wholeheartedly
follow.”
Fédération Internationale de Natation
(FINA)
The Fédération Internationale de
Natation, founded in 1908, is the governing body for aquatics worldwide. FINA's
five discipline Swimming, Open Water Swimming, Diving, Water Polo and Artistic
Swimming - are all included in the Olympic programme. High Diving made its
first appearance in FINA events at the 2013 FINA World Championships. FINA
counts 209 affiliated National Federations on the five continents and has its
headquarters in Lausanne (SUI).
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