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| Fina defends decision to award its highest honour to Vladimir Putin | Fina defends decision to award its highest honour to Vladimir Putin |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Swimming’s world governing body has defended a decision to award its highest honour to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, saying it had nothing to do with politics. | |
| Fina has been criticised over the timing of the decision with relations between Russia and the Nato alliance under strain, but the body’s executive director, Cornel Marculescu, said that the award was related only to sport. “Our constitution is very clear,” Marculescu said. “[There is] no discrimination for the political region or anything like that. Our award was only related to the sport, not with the rest.“ | Fina has been criticised over the timing of the decision with relations between Russia and the Nato alliance under strain, but the body’s executive director, Cornel Marculescu, said that the award was related only to sport. “Our constitution is very clear,” Marculescu said. “[There is] no discrimination for the political region or anything like that. Our award was only related to the sport, not with the rest.“ |
| The Fina president, Julio Maglione, announced earlier this month that Putin had been awarded the Fina Order – swimming’s top accolade – for his role in bringing international swimming events to Russia. | The Fina president, Julio Maglione, announced earlier this month that Putin had been awarded the Fina Order – swimming’s top accolade – for his role in bringing international swimming events to Russia. |
| Russia has been a regular stopover on swimming’s annual World Cup circuit for the past decade and also hosted World Cup diving meets. Next year, Russia will host Fina’s world championships in Kazan, swimming’s last major international event before the 2016 Olympics in Rio di Janeiro. | Russia has been a regular stopover on swimming’s annual World Cup circuit for the past decade and also hosted World Cup diving meets. Next year, Russia will host Fina’s world championships in Kazan, swimming’s last major international event before the 2016 Olympics in Rio di Janeiro. |
| Fina released a statement explaining its decision at the time of the award: “In the case of President Vladimir Putin, Fina recognised his important support in the organisation of major Fina events in Russian soil, thus bringing additional development to the Fina disciplines and providing increased value to Aquatics within the Russian society and worldwide.” | Fina released a statement explaining its decision at the time of the award: “In the case of President Vladimir Putin, Fina recognised his important support in the organisation of major Fina events in Russian soil, thus bringing additional development to the Fina disciplines and providing increased value to Aquatics within the Russian society and worldwide.” |
| Fina’s decision, however, has attracted some criticism. Frank Steffel, a German MP, told Die Zeit that Fina’s decision was “insensitive” while the swimming website SwimVortex published a letter of complaint from the American Swimming Coaches Association. | Fina’s decision, however, has attracted some criticism. Frank Steffel, a German MP, told Die Zeit that Fina’s decision was “insensitive” while the swimming website SwimVortex published a letter of complaint from the American Swimming Coaches Association. |
| According to the letter, the ASCA were angry that the award had been given at a time when Russia is facing the risk of being suspended from international competition after a series of positive drug tests. | According to the letter, the ASCA were angry that the award had been given at a time when Russia is facing the risk of being suspended from international competition after a series of positive drug tests. |
| Marculescu, in Singapore for this weekend’s final round of the World Cup series, said he was surprised by the criticism. | Marculescu, in Singapore for this weekend’s final round of the World Cup series, said he was surprised by the criticism. |
| “It’s not the first time we have given this kind of award to people in the highest position, the president of countries, or the mayors of cities,” he said. | “It’s not the first time we have given this kind of award to people in the highest position, the president of countries, or the mayors of cities,” he said. |
| “In general, every place where we have a big championship, we give this award. It’s nothing special, it’s nothing that’s not to going happen anymore, it’s part of our policy to thank you for everything you have done for us.” | “In general, every place where we have a big championship, we give this award. It’s nothing special, it’s nothing that’s not to going happen anymore, it’s part of our policy to thank you for everything you have done for us.” |