It is in the FINA site, (public release #2) :
Lausanne (SUI) January 16, 2010 – Under the presidency of Dr. Julio C. Maglione, the first 2010 FINA Bureau Meeting took place on January 14-15 in Bangkok (THA) and approved the following main decisions:
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14. Swimwear:
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- Masters: the same swimwear regulations as per pool swimming will be applied from January 1, 2010.
Also in the release we find that:
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4. Allocation of upcoming FINA events:
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- FINA World Masters Championships 2012 – Italy (Riccione)
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That's it people, now let's move ahead.
While this is interesting it really makes very little sense unless all OW swimming is to be completed prior to June 1, 2010 and no jellyfish or sunburns will ever occur thereafter.
I think you misunderstand the FINA statement. Even after June 1, 2010, suits from neck to ankle will be OK for FINA-sanctioned OW events. It's just that until May 31, 2010, 2009-approved models will be OK, and on and after June 1 they will have to use whatever has passed the "FINA Criteria for Materials and Approval" for 2010. Also, the FINA statement doesn't mention fasteners, so I assume that it means they will continue to allow zip-up suits (which would make sense if part of the reason is to permit greater fabric coverage for sun protection).
At any rate, this new FINA rule may end up having nothing to do with USMS. Presently, the USMS "Long Distance" rules say that acceptable swimwear for USMS-sanctioned OW swims is the same as for pool swims (see rule 303.6.1). Now that FINA has caused its OW rule on swimwear to diverge from its rules on swimwear for "swimming" and "masters," I guess our USMS Long Distance committee will have to decide which rule set to go with for USMS-sanctioned OW races.
While this is interesting it really makes very little sense unless all OW swimming is to be completed prior to June 1, 2010 and no jellyfish or sunburns will ever occur thereafter.
I think you misunderstand the FINA statement. Even after June 1, 2010, suits from neck to ankle will be OK for FINA-sanctioned OW events. It's just that until May 31, 2010, 2009-approved models will be OK, and on and after June 1 they will have to use whatever has passed the "FINA Criteria for Materials and Approval" for 2010. Also, the FINA statement doesn't mention fasteners, so I assume that it means they will continue to allow zip-up suits (which would make sense if part of the reason is to permit greater fabric coverage for sun protection).
At any rate, this new FINA rule may end up having nothing to do with USMS. Presently, the USMS "Long Distance" rules say that acceptable swimwear for USMS-sanctioned OW swims is the same as for pool swims (see rule 303.6.1). Now that FINA has caused its OW rule on swimwear to diverge from its rules on swimwear for "swimming" and "masters," I guess our USMS Long Distance committee will have to decide which rule set to go with for USMS-sanctioned OW races.
