FINA

The 1st FINA World Aquatics Convention has the following main goals:

1. Establish necessary action to better develop and administrate the activities of FINA’s 202 National Member Federations worldwide;

2.Present the main direction of FINA in the 21st century, together with a view for our commercial partners, namely Sponsors and TV networks;

3.Achieve unity of the Aquatic Movement through the reinforcement of the strength of our National Federations.

In concrete, many initiatives will be carried out in order to materialize those two objectives.

On point 1, well-known and respected international lecturers will deliver presentations on how to improve the management and governance of the national federations, and on how to organise and promote the aquatic events. A “National Federation Book 2010-2013” will be presented with content of guidelines to the FINA Member Federations in achieving their goals. Moreover, our national bodies will be briefed on essential components of their development, such as implementing new ways of maintaining the sport clean, motivating volunteers, generating additional revenue or attracting new sponsors. Exchange of ideas with representatives of the International Olympic Committee and United Nations is also on the programme.

Point 2 will result in a unique opportunity of networking with all those that are part of the FINA Family – Sponsors, TV networks, commercial partners, organisers and bidders of events, other companies that offer specific services to the aquatic community. For that, an exhibition area will be put in place during the three days of the Convention and delegates will have the occasion to visit the promotional booths, where the companies will display their products and services, and exchange their contacts with those that can support the development. National Federations are invited to bring along their own present and potential partners in order to show to them the strength and the spectacular dimension of the FINA events.

Finally, on point 3, delegates from our National Federations will be able to exchange ideas, develop strong relationship and improve the knowledge on Aquatic sports with our partners.

When going home after the 1st FINA World Aquatics Convention, all the participants will have the best possible guidelines and information for achieving success in their respective country. By witnessing the way FINA is building up Aquatic Festivals and the repercussion they have for the enhancement of our five aquatic disciplines and for the promotion of our Stars, with a privileged position to convince those who can actively support them.

It is my great pleasure and honour to welcome all the participants to the 1st FINA World Aquatics Convention, organised from September 27-29, 2010 in Punta del Este, Uruguay.

During three days, the entire Aquatic community will be gathered to discuss the ways of enhancing the development of our Sports in the five continents. Delegates from National Federations, representatives from prestigious organisations such as the International Olympic Committee and the United Nations, from sport business companies such as Sponsors, TV networks and commercial partners, but also Organisers and future Bidders of FINA events will be invited to attend this Convention.

The main goal of this Convention is to provide our 202 National Member Federations with programmes for further progress in the areas of management, promotion and organisation of events. Moreover, it will be a privileged opportunity for all protagonists of the FINA Family to network together.

I consider that the development of FINA’s National Federations is the main tool on creating a solid basis for the progress for our sports. Our Members must feel part of a strong organisation, FINA, with the aim of organising great FINA events as Aquatic Festivals, where the world will enjoy the great stars in our five disciplines.

We are aware that the world is presently experiencing a challenging financial environment and that we cannot change the economical situation in many countries where the lack of budget and infrastructures limits the evolution of our National Federations. But in this Convention, we present the guidelines to be implemented within each National Federation context and circumstances. We want to present new ideas, to be innovative and to share our knowledge to the entire FINA Family.

For that, we will have in this Convention many respected and well-known lecturers, who will provide their insight on how our 202 National Federations must further proceed in improving their activities. Moreover, we will show to Organisers and potential bidders of our events that FINA is among one of the most successful International Federations in the world sport industry and constitutes a pillar of the Olympic Movement. We will also present to existing and future commercial partners the benefits and positive impact associated to FINA’s main product, its World Championships.

That is why I invite all our partners, those with the main goal of improving the Aquatic Sports, to be present in Punta del Este, Uruguay. Your contribution is essential for the success of this Convention! And be sure, you will also learn a lot from this exchange of information, so that we can enhance the progress and development of National Federations and Aquatics in general. Water is our world and the time has come to swim together, faster and farther.

See you soon and best regards,

Dr. Julio C. Maglione

FINA President

The programme of the convention is structured on the four-year FINA Development Programme that is addressed to National Federations for consistent growth by taking and overcome challenges:

- administration;

- promotion;

- media attention;

- organisation of events;

- generation of revenue;

- economical impact;

- relations with National Olympic Committees and other sport federations.

The programme includes presentations from respected international lecturers from several areas – Olympic movement, FINA Family, sponsorship, organisers of events, coaches and athletes, media partners – and will be accompanied by specific workshops.

Workshop National Federations’ development will be devoted to the FINA Member federations and will comprise the following points:

- Strategic Planning;

- Governance;

- Finances, budgeting, optimizing revenues and income;

- The way to support Coaches and Athletes;

- Collaboration with Olympic Solidarity and FINA.

Workshop New trends in Media will present:

- Future Trends in Broadcasting;

- Creating and Sustaining Media Interest;

- Educating the Mainstream Media on the best coverage of Aquatic sports;

- Television Properties and Rights Fees.

Workshop How to attract and retain Sponsors will be focused on:

- Relations between National Federation sponsors and athletes sponsors;

- Sponsorship and Financial Support;

- Sponsor Activation and Event Promotion;

- Bidding strategies.

Media information

All Media representatives are welcome to attend the 1st FINA World Aquatics Convention.

As a privileged moment to gather all the protagonists of the FINA Family – Bureau members, National Federations delegates, Sponsors, Partners and TV networks, Organisers and Bidders of our events -, as well as representatives of the International Olympic Committee and United Nations, this Convention will allow journalists to have direct access to those who make the news in the five aquatic disciplines.

Away from the stress and challenges of a major competition, delegates and media will be able to interact and to better feel the expectations of both sides: media will better know the reality of the FINA environment, and, on the other hand, participants will better understand how they can develop their activities on a media-friendly basis.

Besides that, the attractiveness of Punta del Este and the possibility of visiting the exhibition area that will be organised for this occasion (where products and services related to Aquatics will be displayed), certainly are two more benefits for the media’s presence in the 1st FINA World Aquatics Convention.

Media accreditation can be requested by no later than September 15, 2010 to Pedro Adrega, Head of FINA’s Communication Department at the following e-mail: press@fina.org

First colonised by the Spanish (beginning of the 16th century) and then by the Portuguese (two centuries later), Punta del Este is located 140km from the capital city of Uruguay, Montevideo. Essentially a summer resort (with magnificent beaches), Punta del Este has officially around 50,000 householders, a population that grows exponentially in the high season.

From a touristic point of view, “Casapueblo” can be considered the main attraction in Punta del Este: made by Uruguayan artist Carlos Páez Vilaró from 1958 to 1994, it is seen as a “living sculpture”, with its many rooms facing the sea. This construction is located in Punta Ballena, one of the most visited places in the city. If you prefer nature, just take a boat ride to Isla de Lobos to discover one of the world’s largest sea-lion colonies.

In Punta del Este, there are two types of coast: Brava (beginning of the Atlantic Ocean) and Mansa (end of the Rio de la Plata). In its many resorts, nautical sports and fishing are popular activities among those who visit Punta del Este. Moreover, offers on golf, tennis, horseback riding and cycling are also available. Mixing colonial architecture with modern buildings, the city has its commercial centre in Gorlero Avenue, the main street of Punta del Este. Nearby, Artigas square is known for its popular handicraft market.

Punta del Este can be reached by plane (domestic and international flights) thanks to the international airport located on the outskirts of the city.

Located in the heart of the city, and only 20 minutes away from the airport, the Conrad Resort of Punta del Este will host the participants and the FINA World Aquatics Convention.

Two major milestones before Punta del Este 2010

2001

FINA WORLD SEMINAR ON SPORTS MANAGEMENT, MEDIA & MARKETING

Barcelona (ESP) – March 29-31

For the first time in its history, FINA gathered all its working forces outside the pressure motivated by the ordinary meetings scheduled in our Constitution, to analyse and study without constraint new procedures to improve FINA’s action in several domains. The main goal of this initiative was to help all the FINA Family to better prepare the future and to provide guidelines for their desire of innovation and progress.

More than 250 delegates from 99 National Federations participated in the seminar. It was a unique opportunity to analyse the evolution of FINA activities, taking into account the changes and technological developments in these three areas.

Amongst the items on the programme, the following can be highlighted:

- Communication and image strategy in aquatic sports;

- New approach to sport management;

- Management of change;

- How to present, promote and sell aquatic products;

- Sport on Internet: present and future;

- How to be a winning sports manager;

- The secrets of success;

- Human resources – management in business and in sport;

- Motivating staff and volunteers;

- Public relations: getting the basic right;

- Television concepts;

- What the press expects from an International Federation.

2006

FINA WORLD CONFERENCE

Madrid (ESP) – September 21-23

The FINA family got together in Madrid (ESP) for the 1st FINA World Conference, held on September 21-23, 2006 and after intense days of discussion, the feeling amongst the 280 participants and representatives of 103 FINA National Federations was that this occasion represented a unique moment of unity and exchange of ideas.

FINA partners and sponsors, organisers and bidders of FINA competitions, and delegates from the FINA National Federations analysed in the Spanish capital all the factors that make the FINA image and competitions prestigious and successful worldwide. The motto of the conference could be found in the three main actions specified in the “2005-2009 FINA Strategic Plan” concerning the FINA brand: reinforce, communicate and expand.

The delegates had a chance to better understand what is presently being done in terms of FINA marketing, namely in partnership with its agent in this area, the Japanese company Dentsu. Moreover, the continuous commitment and support of strong FINA allies was explored at the conference, with the four main FINA partners exposing their successful relationship with the aquatics family. In this group, AstralPool (swimming pools & pool equipment), Omega (timing system, pieces & services), Speedo (swimwear equipment & sports apparel) and Yakult (non-alcoholic beverages & dairy products) explained to participants at the conference how a consolidated alliance between FINA and its partners can bring significant benefit for the FINA National Federations and their respective athletes.

The TV production of FINA events was one of the areas that most attracted the attention of the conference participants. The extensive and progressive FINA fight against doping was another of the topics in discussion. Finally, a wrap-up of the upcoming highlights in the five FINA aquatic disciplines was presented to all attendees.