Swimming Australia, World Aquatics and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) have this afternoon announced an agreement that will stave off Australia being expelled from the sport's international governing body.
The parties are set to sign a heads of agreement that will outline measures to be approved in an updated Swimming Australia Constitution.
The move avoids the threat of Swimming Australia being expelled from aquatic sport’s international federation and champion swimmers having to compete at future international events as ‘neutrals’ over delays in implementing constitutional changes agreed in October last year.
As exclusively revealed by Australasian Leisure Management last month, World Aquatics’ concern over the delays in Swimming Australia implementing the changes had led to the crisis meeting.
It had seen senior World Aquatics officials - including Executive Director Brent Nowicki, Treasurer Dale Neuburger and legal counsel - travelling to Australia to meet with Swimming Australia’s board members and stakeholders today.
The changes to be included in an updated Swimming Australia Constitution will see an expanded voting structure will apply from the 2025 AGM with current member organisations, including the seven state and territory member organisations, the Swim Coaches and Teachers Association and the Australian Swimmers Association retaining 40% of the voting rights.
The expansion will now include 5% for a World Aquatics bureau member from Australia and 5% for Swimming Australia’s affiliate members, including Masters Swimming Australia, Water Polo Australia, Diving Australia and Artistic Swimming Australia.
The additional 50% of voting rights will be split between the clubs and athletes, with clubs gaining 30% of the voting rights and 20% for the athletes.
The Swimming Australia Board has committed to the addition of an observer appointed by the ASC to the nominations, people and culture committee and the Board for a period of up to three years. They have also agreed to utilise the services of the ASC to undertake a Board evaluation process, open to all Australian sports.
Crucially, the Swimming Australia Board has committed to having a full Board in the coming months.
As a result, Swimming Australia maintains its membership status with World Aquatics and confirms athletes will continue to compete under the Australian flag.
Welcoming the agreement, Hayden Collins, Co-Chair of the Swimming Australia Board, advised “we are delighted to have been able to reach this outcome today and thank the member organisations for their support in bringing this to a resolution.”
“We look forward to finalising this prior to Christmas and moving forward in a positive manner.”
World Aquatics’ Nowicki noted “we are pleased with the outcome from today’s conversations and believe that the new constitution sets the sport up in Australia for future success.
“We are also pleased that 50% of the voting rights now sit with the community the sport is there to serve, the athletes and clubs. This model will become one which we consider best practice across the world.”
ASC Chief Executive, Kieren Perkins added “the ASC continues to work with our national sports around good Governance principles and are pleased with the positive outcome of today’s conversations.
“We look forward to seeing the adoption of these constitutional changes.”
A statement from Swimming Australia made no mention of the gender split in the expanded voting structure, which in the light of the Federal Government announcing last month that Australian sporting organisations will need to have an equal split of men and women on their boards from 2027 or risk having their funding withheld.
Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.
With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.
Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.
In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.
He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).
Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.
His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.
His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well as caring for Stella the pug.
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