FINA marks 110th anniv. at new Lausanne headquarters

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The International Swimming Federation (Federation Internationale de Natation or FINA) on Thursday celebrated its 110th anniversary at its newly launched headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, which has a privileged and central location in the city to accommodate FINA's 38 members.

"It is the first time that FINA owns its own headquarters, said FINA President Julio C. Maglione. Previously, the FINA administration staff mostly worked in conjunction with relevant offices in countries where meetings or competitions were held.

In his addressing speech, Maglione stressed FINA is "a leading international federation in a very competitive sport environment."

"FINA was founded by eight national members in 1908. 110 years later, our international federation has 209 partners in the five continents. We have a solid past behind us, brilliantly conducted by many generations of great leaders."

IOC President Thomas Bach said in the speech that "it is definitively a great day for Aquatics, but also for the entire Olympic Movement."

"You have a 110-year-history of success. You had great and outstanding athletes, strengthening the role of Sport in society. This house is simultaneously a symbol of tradition and a commitment to the future," added Bach, who later presented Maglione a special trophy for his achievements.

The federation was born on July 19, 1908, in London and later chose Lausanne as its home base since its first permanent office was established in 1986.

From 1989 to 1992, FINA had a short move of its headquarters to Barcelona, Spain and then returned to Lausanne after the 1992 Spain Olympics.

(Cover photo: Players compete in the women's 3m Synchro Springboard final on FINA Diving World Cup 2018 at the Wuhan Sports Center on June 10, 2018, in Wuhan, China. /VCG Photo)