European Aquatics Federation Newsletter includes updates on technical officials, coaching clinics, and preparations for this summer’s events

 

THE MAIN STORY

President Antonio Silva and Treasurer Andida Bouma travel to Nyon to meet new staff team and align on progress of the European Aquatics Action Plan for 2024.

Governance, Organisation and European Aquatics Office Topics

This section provides updates on our recruitment of new staff members, information around the recent meeting of our taskforces, and details surrounding the progress of our media objectives.

Staff News

Executive Director Patrice Coste is currently on extended leave. Until further notice, Deputy Executive Director Gianni Minervini will be acting as interim while matters related to broadcasting and marketing will be carried out by the Sport and Media teams

•    European Aquatics is pleased to welcome two new staff members: Daniel Marinho, who is the new lead for the European Aquatics Academy (EAA) and Silvia Costa who will manage the Aquatics Social Responsibility (ASR) project, with other announcements expected soon. President Antonio Silva and Treasurer Andida Bouma travelled to Nyon on May 28-29 to meet staff and new EAA Committee Members (by video) with discussions focused on ongoing activation of the Strategic Plan and 2024 Action Plan.

•    Lead candidates have been identified for vacant positions to support the office in Accounting and Marketing and the recruitment process is ongoing after a bidding process of 17 candidates for ASR and 9 for EAA.

Media and Digital Innovations

•    European Aquatics will trial a new OTT TV platform managed by a company called SPRINTTY at the Junior Swimming Championships in Vilnius this summer. The concept uses geo-blocking to give NFs the priority to purchase rights to content being distributed on this platform in their own territory. Production of the TV signal continues to be managed by the LOC.

•    The European Aquatics’ Media team Objectives for 2024, aligned with Strategic Plan and covering media operations, PR and media relations, and Digital, has now been approved.

•    The new European Aquatics TikTok channel has now launched, after a period of testing, which gives European Aquatics another possibility to connect and engage with younger audiences.

•    European Aquatics has signed an agreement with the company InterTicket to launch a new application as a test for the EAC in Belgrade. This app will provide speedy access to live event information but also offer new features to encourage fan engagement. Full details will be announced soon.

European Aquatics Taskforces

•    A first meeting of the Aquatics Social Responsibility (ASR) and European Aquatics Academy (EAA) task forces, led by President Antonio Silva, took place on 15 and 16 May 2024. This confirmed the priorities, in alignment with the EA Strategic Plan as: Learning to Swim; Wellbeing and Health Lifestyle; and Water Waste and Clean Environment.

•    On 16 May 2024, the first meeting of the European Aquatics Academy took place:

Discussions took place to prepare for the conference "Diversity and Inclusion in Sport," defining the main topics and agenda for this meeting, in connection with Aquatics Social Responsibility.

The team received a link containing all the information about the 68th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68).

European Aquatics invites contributions and suggestions from national federations for themes and names of potential participants, not only from the perspective of women in sport but in a broader context as well.

•    More updates on the confirmed priorities, meetings of the task forces and their new composition can be found in the “Further Updates” section at the bottom of this newsletter.

Missions of European Aquatic Leadership

European Aquatics President Antonio Silva held meetings with Serbia President Aleksandar Vucic and Minister of Sport Zoran Gajic, accompanied by European Aquatics Vice President Vanja Udovicic. They discussed Serbia’s commitment to aquatic sport, and the legacy that the European Aquatics Championships 2024 can create.

European Aquatics’ First Vice President, Josip Varvodic, visited Georgia to discuss the promotion of aquatic sports, learn to swim programmes, and improving water polo standards in the country.

Antonio Silva visited the capital of Spain Madrid, together with AQUA President, Husain Al Musallam, and Executive Director Brent Nowicki for meetings with high-level sports and government representatives regarding the place of aquatics in the sporting world.