Maglione receives support from Africa, Asia and Oceania for FINA Presidential bid – Insidethegames.biz (blog)

Delegates from Africa, Asia and Oceania have been urged to vote for Julio Maglione at this month's International Swimming Federation (FINA) Presidential election after letters were circulated throughout all three continents.

Letters written by the respective Presidents of all three continental bodies repeatedly criticise the Uruguayan incumbent's sole opponent for the top job in the sport, Italy's European Swimming Federation (LEN) head Paolo Barelli.

In what appears to be a coordinated strategy, Maglione himself has also sent a letter throughout the aquatics community in which he outlined achievements enjoyed under his watch before claiming that "nobody is able to damage" the solidarity of the FINA "family".

It comes as campaigning intensifies before an election scheduled for the FINA Congress in Budapest on July 22.

"We are a big family, we respect each other, we are strongly united and nobody is able to damage this solidarity," Maglione, who is standing for a third term in office, wrote in his letter seen byinsidethegames.

"We are quite well, in an excellent position.

"We have done a lot, but there is a lot more to be done, all together, for the progress of our aquatic disciplines.

"We must continue working tirelessly, united in our diversity, to be even better."

He pointed out how aquatics is now the largest sport on the Olympic programme, with 49 medal events, after proposals for a new mixed medley relay, a men's 800 metres freestyle and a women's 1,500m freestyle were approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) last month.

He also highlights increased development funding and supposed improvements to the FINA governance, as well as its website and communications, before claiming they remain "at the forefront" of the fight against doping.

Maglione, 81, was only able to stand for a third term after he successfully proposed a motion abolishing age limits and relaxing term restrictions for the FINA Presidency in 2015.

This is among many areas identified by Barelli in his criticisms of the current leadership.

Letters signed by African Swimming Federation (CANA) President Sam Ramsamy of South Africa, Oceania Swimming Association (OSA) head Dennis Miller of Fiji and Asian Swimming Federation (AASF) counterpart Sheikh Khalid Mohammed Al-Bader Al-Sabah of Kuwait all draw upon similar themes in responding to these comments.

Miller outlines how Barelli himself has served as Italian Swimming Federation head since 1987, so it is "hard to understand his criticism of President Maglione and the current FINA rules".

All three letters criticise Barelli's decision to refer FINA vice-presidents Husain Al-Musallam and Dale Neuburger to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and then consider appealing the CAS verdict against him to the Swiss Federal Tribunal.

"Mr Barelli has been FINA honorary secretary general since 2009, but has never bothered to contact any of us during the last eight years about his ideas and vision of the way ahead on how to work as a family and drive FINA forward," wrote Sheikh Khalid.

"Unfortunately, Mr Barelli has adopted a negative stance in which he has not only attacked his colleagues in the FINA Bureau but also criticised the entire FINA system, although he is an integral part and advocate of the same system.

"He also criticised our beautiful Asian Aquatic family, and to our astonishment, states that Asians were only interested in the politics and finances of FINA while denying at the same time the fact that Asia is a true partner of FINA and that AASF has always been one of the fundamental pillars of FINA through its significant contribution to the FINA and its events in all aspects."

Ramsamy, a member of the IOC, added: "Mr Paolo Barelli, the FINA honorary secretary, has been circulating several letters to FINA National Federations, seeking support for his candidature for the President of FINA.

"Apparently, he is now circulating messages promising financial contributions in his attempt to woo the Federations.

"Last year, FINA President, Dr Julio Maglione, honoured us with his presence at our CANA Congress held in Bloemfontein.

"We also invited Mr Paolo Barelli to our Congress in Bloemfontein, but he did not even have the courtesy to respond."

These concerns relate from an insidethegames report on a letter sent by Barelli claiming that FINA officials from Africa and Asia are more interested in political and economic power than promoting sport.

Miller also criticises "rumours and allegations" made by the Italian against the current FINA President as well as the "smoke and mirrors" surrounding his election campaign.

He also questions Barelli's promises regarding increasing FINA development funding as he "cannot recall him at any stage advocating any form of financial and logistical support for national and continental federations".

"This has only come up now in his election campaign," he adds.

Barelli had taken FINA to CAS over alleged interference at last year's elections for the European Swimming Federation (LEN) Presidency, where he beat Dutchman Erik van Heijningen by 50 votes to retain his position.

Barelli had alleged that Al-Musallam had tried to get voters to back van Heijningen.

He also claimed that Neuburger, a director of Lausanne-based TSE Consulting, who work for FINA, should not have been involved in van Heijningen's campaign as it was a conflict of interest.

African, Asian and Oceania delegates are all urged to vote for van Heijningen and Russian Swimming Federation President Vladimir Salnikov as European representatives on the FINA Bureau.

LEN and Barelli have instead proposed Royal Spanish Swimming Federation President Fernando Carpena and Christa Thiel, President of the German Swimming Federation President for 16 years until she stepped down in 2016, for the same two positions.

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Maglione receives support from Africa, Asia and Oceania for FINA Presidential bid - Insidethegames.biz (blog)