The FINA COVID-19 Taskforce, that was established on March 10, reviewed the current situation about the coronavirus pandemic and its impacts on the competitions in aquatic sports, FINA announced today.
The taskforce postponed or canceled numerous of the upcoming competitions, but FINA still hasn’t determined new dates.
The 19th FINA World Championships, which was supposed to be held in Fukuoka from July 16 – August 1, 2021, will get new dates, since the Tokyo Olympic Games will be staged in the period July 22 – August 8. Besides, the 19th FINA World Masters Championships (planned for August 3 – 12, 2021, also in Fukuoka) will also be rescheduled.
“Following the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games to the summer of 2021, FINA is currently reviewing the dates of its 2021 FINA World Championships and FINA World Masters Championships in Fukuoka (JPN)”, FINA announced today and added that the calendar would be updated as soon as a final decision has been taken.
The Water Polo Olympic Qualification Tournaments are postponed until further notice.
The tournaments were originally scheduled for March 8 – 15 in Trieste (women), and March 22 – 29 in Rotterdam (men). In the last few weeks, FINA has rescheduled the tournament in Rotterdam for May 31 – June 7, and postponed the Qualifications in Trieste to May 17 – 24.
In today’s statement, FINA says only that the competitions are postponed. “New dates to be confirmed”, is written on the tournaments’ pages on FINA’s website.
Three weeks ago, FINA postponed the competition in the Men’s and Women’s World League for September/October 2020. That decision is still valid.
“In addition to the outbreak itself, government restrictions and guidance on events and travel as well as recommendations of the World Health Organisation and the International Olympic Committee have been considered carefully by FINA’s COVID-2019 Taskforce. FINA has also been in discussion with the host federations and committees involved, to which FINA remains deeply grateful for their efforts to further Aquatics, FINA said
