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.