"Everyone expresses their opinion": FINA President on Murphy's words to Rylov, swimming reforms and the 2025 World Cup in Kazan

- What did you discuss upon your arrival in Kazan for the Russia - Country of Sports Forum?

- We discussed the preparation for the World Aquatics Championships in Kazan in 2025.

I think this event will be even better than in 2015.

Then it was the starting point, and now I can be sure that in 2025 we will hold one of the best championships, better than ten years ago.

- What proposals does the International Swimming Federation (FINA) have on events before the World Championships to involve the residents of Kazan, to attract sponsors and attention to water sports?

- One of such projects is holding various championships, World Cups.

Now we do not officially declare this, but there are plans to hold events that will take place, figuratively speaking, from east to west, from dawn to dusk.

They will cover about three or four cities.

This is a competition involving professional athletes with the involvement of the general public.

FINA is currently undergoing certain changes, and this is part of our idea.

So far, this is only a plan, not a final decision.

FINA hosts various competitions throughout the year.

Now the reform committee is working to bring professionals together with the people of the country at the same level of involvement.

- In the past, water sports competitions had to be postponed.

Is the tournament calendar now protected from this?

- Only jumping into the water was transferred.

The Reform Committee is preparing a calendar for the next year.

They have a lot of plans and ideas, but the official calendar will be published in December.

While they are working on it.

- How to make the future world championship in Kazan better than the previous one?

- Absolutely everything will change: from a technical point of view, and in the rules, and in the presentation.

- Kazan and Budapest will host the World Aquatics Championships ten years after they have already hosted these competitions.

Does this indicate their quality as organizers or lack of competition?

- Both cities have excellent facilities and infrastructure that can be called their legacy and the key to their success.

- At the Olympic Games in Tokyo, swimming finals took place in the morning, which many athletes complained about.

Will this practice be repeated in the future?

- To make a decision, we must hold a meeting on this issue with everyone: with athletes, with coaches, with judges.

Six world records were broken in Tokyo, and they were set in the morning.

- During these competitions, Russian swimmer Yevgeny Rylov from American Ryan Murphy sounded hints that their swim was not clean in terms of doping.

What do you think about this case, how to avoid such situations?

- Anyone can express their opinion, we live in a democratic world.

But for my part, on the part of FINA, I can say that all the athletes arrived in Tokyo clean, all were tested for doping.

Everyone can remain unconvinced.

FINA must ensure that swimmers are clean and that everyone is treated equally.

This is exactly how it was at these Games.

- The same Rylov was not allowed to go to the awards ceremony wearing a mask with a cat.

Isn't such a prohibition superfluous?

- The Olympic Games are held according to transparent rules and regulations.

They also apply to equipment.

If the organizers say that for some reason this does not comply with the rules, then this is so.

I saw Eugene in this mask, he wore it during the warm-up, was in it outside the pool.

But if the mask is prohibited at official events, then the rules must be respected, I also follow them.

- Will Rylov be able to walk in his mask at the World Championships?

- It will depend on what the rules are.

I repeat once again that in December we will be discussing very big changes.

The rules will be discussed at the congress, which will be available to everyone, you can check it yourself.

- You said earlier that the procedure for forming the FINA Athletes Commission will change.

How will it look like and will a Russian athlete be able to get into it?

- In Fukuoka, elections will be held for committee members.

Athletes will choose themselves, not be appointed.

Russian athletes can also nominate themselves and get votes.