An ambitious European Aquatics Action Plan for 2025, as well as the budget, was reviewed and approved at the Bureau meeting in Antalya, Turkiye which concluded today.
Following the previous day’s strategic plan presentations by individual sports, General Secretary Noam Zwi guided attendees through a busy agenda. EA President Antonio Silva updated his colleagues on the widespread progress already made within the overall Strategic Plan, which was approved by the Bureau at the same venue last March.
“Section by section, our ambitious transformation is taking shape,” President Silva commented.
Proposed actions for 2025 include increased activity on the EA Academy’s Digital Education Platform, joining the UN Climate Change, innovating events, seeking to create a live Athlete of the Year event during the EA Congress, setting up an Athlete Ambassador team, further developing links with World Para Swimming and encouraging at least 50 per cent of federations to sign up to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Commission’s Statement.
Meanwhile the DEI presentation, given by Sarah Keane, CEO of Swim Ireland and Chair of the European Aquatics DEI Committee, revealed that 20 federations had already signed the Statement since the landmark first DEI Conference in Belfast last September.
It also reported significant progress in gender balance across EA Technical Committees.
Among the DEI actions planned for 2025 are increasing gender diversity in coaching representation by 10% in EA events and hosting a DEI Recognition event during this year’s EA Congress with a goal of 50% federation support.
Technical Committee reports from each of the aquatic sports were also received with the Bureau approving the proposed 2025 activities.
Medical Committee chair Naama Constantini of Israel presented research findings on the impact of warm and cold temperatures on open water swimmers. In 2025 the Committee will be provided with the findings of an Injury and Illness Surveillance project being undertaken by researchers at Loughborough University.
Meanwhile safety monitoring will be taking place at every high diving competition, and attendees were given access to details of a research paper detailing the rate of Water Safety Team interventions in this sport between 2009 and 2021.
Approval was given for continuing support to develop ice swimming in Europe through ongoing co-operation with the International Ice Swimming Association (IISA).
Finally, the Treasurer Andida Bouma presented a detailed financial report, including a detailed review of the 2024 EA Budget and the 2025 Budget, which was approved by the Bureau.
The meeting also confirmed that this year’s EA Congress would be held in Tbilisi, Georgia from September 26 to 27.
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