Lausanne, Switzerland, July 24, 2020: FINA announced on July 21 a global COVID-19 support plan in excess of USD 6 million to assist athletes who will compete in the Tokyo Olympic Games next summer.
The funding will come through three distinctive programmes:
*USD 4 million in grants for a minimum of 160 National Federations to provide support to athlete training, competition and living expenses.
*USD 460,000 in grants to the five Continental Organisations to enable supplemental resources to athletes.
*USD2 million to athletes selected to participate in the FINA Scholarship Programme, either at FINA Training Centres or at National Federation training facilities.
FINA President Dr. Julio C. Maglione, with the full support of the FINA Bureau, outlined a comprehensive programme to support elite athletes with medal prospects as well as Universality athletes from developing countries.
“The primary objective of this programme is to provide direct assistance to athletes preparing to compete in Tokyo,” he said.
“FINA recognises the importance of support to all athletes, including elite athletes with medal prospects as well as less experienced athletes from developing countries trying to attain Olympic qualifying standards.”
Additionally, the FINA Scholarship Programme will include 100 athletes from National Federations that do not currently have athletes with Olympic qualifying standards – 80 swimmers and 20 divers – and enable intensive training at FINA Training Centres in Senegal, Thailand, Russia and the United States.
Each athlete is eligible for up to USD2,000 monthly for living and training expenses, with world-class coaches in outstanding facilities.
Source: www.fina.org