I was reading the Sao Paulo Declaration at
http://www.wamo.info
and the FINA response also linked to on that site.
What exactly is the justification for FINA GR 4, which prohibits participation by individuals and/or organizations in non-FINA-affliated organizations or events? The rule seems unreasonably broad in not limiting in any way what organizations one can not be affiliated with!
On the idealistic side, I find it somewhat offensive to have my rights of association so limited by a body like FINA. On the pragmatic side, FINA seems to have stacked the cards so much in its favor that it is hard to imagine fighting it.
I think I'll send Fina the entry lists of all the people who competed in unsanctioned open water swims last year.
Between the New York City swims, chesapeake bay swim, one or the other of the alcatraz swims, the Jersey shore beach swims, and innumerable swims in Autralia; they'll be taking throusands of us off of the membership rolls of our respective Masters swim organizations.
Ridiculous you say? Yes it's ridiculous. The rule exists only for those situations in which someone get a burr up their ass and wants to screw with people.
I think I'll send Fina the entry lists of all the people who competed in unsanctioned open water swims last year.
Between the New York City swims, chesapeake bay swim, one or the other of the alcatraz swims, the Jersey shore beach swims, and innumerable swims in Autralia; they'll be taking throusands of us off of the membership rolls of our respective Masters swim organizations.
Ridiculous you say? Yes it's ridiculous. The rule exists only for those situations in which someone get a burr up their ass and wants to screw with people.
