Dear friends,
after publishing a ban of suits that were on the updated FINA list from 22nd of June, LEN now apologized for the confusion and reassured that all suits that are on the updated list are approved to be used in all LEN covered events, including the European Junior Swimming Championships in Prague.
Here is the full letter explaining this:
Dear Friends,
On June 24th an erroneous communication was sent out from LEN Office concerning swimsuit use at the European Junior Swimming Championships to be held in Prague (CZE) from 8 to 12 July.
Unfortunately this correspondence ignored the LEN Bureau decision taken in Chania (GRE) on May 16th which was made public through a LEN Press Release dated May 29th stating:
• LEN follows FINA Rules and Regulations (LEN General Event Rule E 1.2) and will therefore prohibit the use of new generation swimsuits that are not on FINA’s regularly updated list of approved models at LEN Events.
Therefore, the latest published list (FINA PR46, June 22nd) of approved swimsuits will be respected at all LEN Events (including Open Water Swimming events) until further notice from FINA.
We apologise for the confusion incurred. Sincerely,
Nory Krutchen, LEN President.
We are happy that now finally the nero swim suits can be used in all swim races again and wish good luck to all athletes competing in the upcoming events.
Δευτέρα 29 Ιουνίου 2009
Παρασκευή 26 Ιουνίου 2009
Επιτέλους είδαμε μία αντίδραση....
Μπροστά στο συμφέρον οι επίσημες αρχές συναινούν απροκάλυπτα θυσιάζοντας αρχές και αξιοπρέπεια προκειμένου να στηρίξουν τους χορηγούς τους με αποτέλεσμα φυσικά να απαξιώνουν άκομψα τον θεσμικό τους ρόλο.
Σημείο των καιρών που ζούμε είναι η αδιαφορία της εξουσίας ανά τον κόσμο, η συναλλαγή της με τα συμφέροντα προς ίδιον όφελος και η ολοκληρωτική αδιαφορία για τις επιπτώσεις των ενεργειών της προς τα κατώτερα στρώματα.
Κι' ενώ όλα αυτά τα τραγελαφικά συμβαίνουν στην παγκόσμια κολυμβητική κοινότητα, εδώ στην μικρή Ελλάδα δεν βρέθηκε κανείς να σηκώσει τη φωνή του, να εκφράσει την αντίδραση του για όλα αυτά που στην ουσία θίγουν το οικονομικό του συμφέρον.
Ούτε οι γονείς, ούτε οι αθλητές (οι μεγαλύτεροι σε ηλικία), κανείς μα κανείς δεν αντέδρασε όλο το προηγούμενο διάστημα.
Κι' επιτέλους ήρθε η πρώτη αντίδραση από το Swimming.gr και τον Γιάννη Μηλιδάκη.
Λίγα λόγια, απλά,ξεκάθαρα είναι υπεραρκετά για να βάλουν τα πράγματα στην σωστή τους διάσταση.
Δεν αρκεί όμως μόνο αυτό. Χρειάζονται και άλλες φωνές πέραν του Swimming.gr,
του Swimming Planet.com, χρειάζονται οι φωνές όλων όσων πληρώνουν καθημερινά και με πολύ κόπο χρήματα για την αγορά αγωνιστικών μαγιό για τα παιδιά τους.
Όσο λοιπόν δεν υπάρχουν αντιδράσεις οργανωμένες και αρκούμαστε σε πηγαδάκια συζητήσεων θα εισπράττουμε αυτό που μας αναλογεί.
Κλείνοντας θέλω να πω πως είναι πολύ τιμητικό ο Έλληνας πρόεδρος της ΚΟΕ, να είναι και αντιπρόεδρος της LEN. Δεν τον γνωρίζω προσωπικά αλλά τον έχω ακούσει να μιλάει σε εκδηλώσεις που έτυχε να είμαι προσκεκλημένος και μου άφησε την αίσθηση ενός μαχητή που πάνω απ' όλα βάζει το συμφέρον των αθλητών.
Μήπως είναι καιρός να εκμεταλλευτείτε την υπερέχουσα θέση σας κύριε Πρόεδρε;
Σάκης Φωτόπουλος
Γενικός Διευθυντής
Swimming Planet.com
Σημείο των καιρών που ζούμε είναι η αδιαφορία της εξουσίας ανά τον κόσμο, η συναλλαγή της με τα συμφέροντα προς ίδιον όφελος και η ολοκληρωτική αδιαφορία για τις επιπτώσεις των ενεργειών της προς τα κατώτερα στρώματα.
Κι' ενώ όλα αυτά τα τραγελαφικά συμβαίνουν στην παγκόσμια κολυμβητική κοινότητα, εδώ στην μικρή Ελλάδα δεν βρέθηκε κανείς να σηκώσει τη φωνή του, να εκφράσει την αντίδραση του για όλα αυτά που στην ουσία θίγουν το οικονομικό του συμφέρον.
Ούτε οι γονείς, ούτε οι αθλητές (οι μεγαλύτεροι σε ηλικία), κανείς μα κανείς δεν αντέδρασε όλο το προηγούμενο διάστημα.
Κι' επιτέλους ήρθε η πρώτη αντίδραση από το Swimming.gr και τον Γιάννη Μηλιδάκη.
Λίγα λόγια, απλά,ξεκάθαρα είναι υπεραρκετά για να βάλουν τα πράγματα στην σωστή τους διάσταση.
Δεν αρκεί όμως μόνο αυτό. Χρειάζονται και άλλες φωνές πέραν του Swimming.gr,
του Swimming Planet.com, χρειάζονται οι φωνές όλων όσων πληρώνουν καθημερινά και με πολύ κόπο χρήματα για την αγορά αγωνιστικών μαγιό για τα παιδιά τους.
Όσο λοιπόν δεν υπάρχουν αντιδράσεις οργανωμένες και αρκούμαστε σε πηγαδάκια συζητήσεων θα εισπράττουμε αυτό που μας αναλογεί.
Κλείνοντας θέλω να πω πως είναι πολύ τιμητικό ο Έλληνας πρόεδρος της ΚΟΕ, να είναι και αντιπρόεδρος της LEN. Δεν τον γνωρίζω προσωπικά αλλά τον έχω ακούσει να μιλάει σε εκδηλώσεις που έτυχε να είμαι προσκεκλημένος και μου άφησε την αίσθηση ενός μαχητή που πάνω απ' όλα βάζει το συμφέρον των αθλητών.
Μήπως είναι καιρός να εκμεταλλευτείτε την υπερέχουσα θέση σας κύριε Πρόεδρε;
Σάκης Φωτόπουλος
Γενικός Διευθυντής
Swimming Planet.com
Πέμπτη 25 Ιουνίου 2009
blueseventy ready for Rome
blueseventy has confirmed that body suits will be available at the World Championships in line with FINAs requirement to supply all competing athletes. Sufficient stocks are available to meet demand all major events this summer, including the European Junior Championships.
Having not altered its technical suit since initial approval in March, blueseventy has continued to produce the suits as planned. blueseventy suits were recently reinstated to FINAs list of approved suits after the brand successfully demonstrated that they do not trap air.
Athletes at the World Championships are invited to test blueseventy suits during competition in Rome.
Ceo, Steve Nicholls, commented: “There are plenty of suits available. We were confident of getting through the latest approval process and continued with production. We’re working closely with retailers to ensure supply meets demand, and will be in Rome with suits.”
“On this basis we are 100% prepared for The European Junior Championships and have yet to be contacted by LEN to discuss our situation. It’s disappointing that athletes at the European Junior Championships next month will not be permitted to select suits from the full list of currently approved suits. This can only cause an unnecessary distraction for them.”
LEN, the European governing body, will allow only those suits included on FINAs list from 19 May on the basis that newly approved suits are unlikey to be available in sufficient volumes to supply all competing athletes.
Nicholls added: “We are absolutely ready for Rome and look forward to seeing the swimmers, rather than swimwear, grabbing the headlines.”
Having not altered its technical suit since initial approval in March, blueseventy has continued to produce the suits as planned. blueseventy suits were recently reinstated to FINAs list of approved suits after the brand successfully demonstrated that they do not trap air.
Athletes at the World Championships are invited to test blueseventy suits during competition in Rome.
Ceo, Steve Nicholls, commented: “There are plenty of suits available. We were confident of getting through the latest approval process and continued with production. We’re working closely with retailers to ensure supply meets demand, and will be in Rome with suits.”
“On this basis we are 100% prepared for The European Junior Championships and have yet to be contacted by LEN to discuss our situation. It’s disappointing that athletes at the European Junior Championships next month will not be permitted to select suits from the full list of currently approved suits. This can only cause an unnecessary distraction for them.”
LEN, the European governing body, will allow only those suits included on FINAs list from 19 May on the basis that newly approved suits are unlikey to be available in sufficient volumes to supply all competing athletes.
Nicholls added: “We are absolutely ready for Rome and look forward to seeing the swimmers, rather than swimwear, grabbing the headlines.”
ΤΕΛΟΣ ΣΤΟ ΧΑΟΣ ΤΩΝ ΕΓΚΕΚΡΙΜΕΝΩΝ ΑΓΩΝΙΣΤΙΚΩΝ ΜΑΓΙΟ
Στις 22/06/09 η παγκόσμια κολυμβητική ομοσπονδία ξεκαθάρισε την θέση της απέναντι στο τεράστιο θέμα της χρήσης ή όχι των νέας τεχνολογίας αγωνιστικών μαγιό.
Ανακοίνωσε την τελική λίστα των επιτρεπόμενων αγωνιστικών μαγιό, συμπεριλαμβάνοντας σε αυτήν όλα τα μοντέλα της Blueseventy, το Jaked JO1, το Arena X-Glide (moddified version), κ.ά., τα οποία είχε αρχικά, από 19/5/09, απορρίψει.
Ξαφνικά από εχθές άρχισε να κυκλοφορεί μία κυριολεκτικά ανεύθυνη φήμη, που ως συνήθως συμβαίνει στην Ελλάδα σε χρόνο ρεκόρ διαδίδεται και παίρνει μορφή εγκυκλίου, η οποία φήμη λέει ότι η LEN (Ευρωπαϊκή ομοσπονδία) απαγορεύει τα μαγιό νέας τεχνολογίας για το πανευρωπαϊκό νέων στην Πράγα 8-12/7/09.
Φυσικά καμμία τέτοια οδηγία δεν υπάρχει. Επισκεφτείτε την επίσημη ιστοσελίδα της LEN
http://www.len.eu για να διαβάσετε τις επίσημες θέσεις της Ευρωπαϊκής Ομοσπονδίας, η οποία ακολουθεί τις οδηγίες της FINA και επιτρέπει τη χρήση όλων των μαγιό που βρίσκονται στην λίστα της Παγκόσμιας Ομοσπονδίας.
Ας σταματήσει επιτέλους η ανευθυνότητα και ας αφήσουμε τους αθλητές ήρεμους να κάνουν τις επιλογές τους και να προετοιμαστούν για τα events που πρόκειται να συμμετάσχουν.
Σάκης Φωτόπουλος
df@swimmingplanet.com
Ανακοίνωσε την τελική λίστα των επιτρεπόμενων αγωνιστικών μαγιό, συμπεριλαμβάνοντας σε αυτήν όλα τα μοντέλα της Blueseventy, το Jaked JO1, το Arena X-Glide (moddified version), κ.ά., τα οποία είχε αρχικά, από 19/5/09, απορρίψει.
Ξαφνικά από εχθές άρχισε να κυκλοφορεί μία κυριολεκτικά ανεύθυνη φήμη, που ως συνήθως συμβαίνει στην Ελλάδα σε χρόνο ρεκόρ διαδίδεται και παίρνει μορφή εγκυκλίου, η οποία φήμη λέει ότι η LEN (Ευρωπαϊκή ομοσπονδία) απαγορεύει τα μαγιό νέας τεχνολογίας για το πανευρωπαϊκό νέων στην Πράγα 8-12/7/09.
Φυσικά καμμία τέτοια οδηγία δεν υπάρχει. Επισκεφτείτε την επίσημη ιστοσελίδα της LEN
http://www.len.eu για να διαβάσετε τις επίσημες θέσεις της Ευρωπαϊκής Ομοσπονδίας, η οποία ακολουθεί τις οδηγίες της FINA και επιτρέπει τη χρήση όλων των μαγιό που βρίσκονται στην λίστα της Παγκόσμιας Ομοσπονδίας.
Ας σταματήσει επιτέλους η ανευθυνότητα και ας αφήσουμε τους αθλητές ήρεμους να κάνουν τις επιλογές τους και να προετοιμαστούν για τα events που πρόκειται να συμμετάσχουν.
Σάκης Φωτόπουλος
df@swimmingplanet.com
Τρίτη 23 Ιουνίου 2009
4strokes Newsletter #1, Swimming Planet, JUNE 2009
Swimming Planet warehouse full of allowed swimsuits from FINA list.
Full stock exists in Swimming Planet from the most popular suits from FINA’s list of approval.
More than 200 performance swimsuits are waiting to satisfy the needs of athletes in any category during this last period of the competitions. Diana submarine SA, Diana submarine TF, Speedo FSPRO & FSII, Maru MX1 and of course the most popular BLUE SEVENTY.
We remind you that in Swimming Planet you can always find the products that you desire in the best prices. Place your order in our e-shop or just give us a call and the next day your favorite product will arrive at your door.
Swimming Planet sponsorship at "Tsitia 2009"
With big success was completed the swimming event "Tsitia 2009" of Poseidon Swimming Club in Ilisia, where the Swimming Planet was one of the main sponsors in the competition.
The participation went over 1200 athletes of "age groups" and "10-11-12 years old groups".
The involvement of the new administration of Poseidon in the competition "Tsitia 2009" left a lot of promises for even better competitions in the future.
Swimming Planet sponsorship for the organization of "10-11-12 years old groups" championship in Olympic Swimming Center (OAKA).
With the determinative contribution-sponsorship the “10-11-12 years old groups" championship will take place in the Athens Olympic Swimming Center (OAKA) 
which pleased athletes and their parents who saw their requirement becoming true.
With that move the administration of Swimming Planet wishes to blaze a trail in the Greek swimming community as an e-shop with pan European activities.
Swimming Planet utilizes every possibility it has and wishes to develop a singularly constructive part in the development of the games in the water sports. For that reason we will aim at a cooperation with traditional "players" of the Greek water sports market to achieve results for the benefit of the athletes regarding the improvement of their racing conditions.
Swimming Planet collaboration with Aggeliki Exarhou for the promotion of the e-shop and DIANA products.
Swimming Planet welcomes with joy the Greek champion Aggeliki Exarhou.
From 01/09/2009 and for a year Mrs. Exarhou will collaborate closely with Swimming Planet, which will be her Silver Sponsor.
The particular collaboration completed with the contribution of DIANA Italy, the exclusive sponsor for athletic materials of Mrs. Exarhou.
In that way the promotion of DIANA products gets more powerful through Swimming Planet, which comprise the biggest associate of the Italian company in Greece.
Swimming Planet contributors net development in Thessaloniki and Patra
With steady steps Swimming Planet is growing the pan Hellenic sales network.
"4lane", specialist swimming shop in Thessaloniki, represents the first nodal net to provide the products that Swimming Planet imports and represents.
"Aquafrenia", in Patra represents the second nodal net from the, under development, pan Hellenic net of Swimming Planet.
In our contributors you can find all the products of Maru, Diana and BlueSeventy and also the special paddles of Strokemakers.
Swimming Planet is planning to expand its sales network in all the big cities of Greece and for that reason we are negotiating with the most well known swimming shops in towns like Volos, Larissa, Lamia, Ioannina, Chalkida, Chania (Crete), Iraklio (Crete) etc.
4strokes Newsletter #1, Swimming Planet, ΙΟΥΝΙΟΣ 2009
Γεμάτες οι αποθήκες του Swimming Planet με τα επιτρεπόμενα μαγιό της λίστας της FINA.
Πλήρες απόθεμα υπάρχει στο Swimming Planet από τα κυριότερα μαγιό που εμφανίζονται στην λίστα της FINA ως επιτρεπόμενα.
200 και πλέον αγωνιστικά μαγιό περιμένουν για να ικανοποιήσουν τις ανάγκες των αθλητών όλων των κατηγοριών σ' αυτή την τελευταία περίοδο αγωνιστικών υποχρεώσεων. Diana submarine SA, Diana submarine TF, Speedo FSPRO & FSII, Maru MX1 και φυσικά τα ιδιαιτέρως δημοφιλή BLUE SEVENTY.
Σας θυμίζουμε ότι στο Swimming Planet θα βρίσκεται πάντα τα προίόντα που επιθυμείτε στις καλύτερες τιμές της αγοράς. Τοποθετήστε την παραγγελία σας μέσω του ηλεκτρονικού μας καταστήματος ή διαφορετικά απλά τηλεφωνήστε μας και την επόμενη ημέρα θα φθάσει στην πόρτα σας το αγαπημένο σας προϊόν.
Χορηγία του swimming Planet στα "Τσίτεια 2009".
Με μεγάλη επιτυχία ολοκληρώθηκε το κoλυμβητικό event των "Τσιτείων 2009" του Ποσειδώνα Ιλισίων, όπου το Swimming Planet ήταν ένας εκ των βασικών χορηγών της διοργάνωσης. Η συμμετοχή ξεπέρασε τους 1200 αθλητές αγωνιστικών και προαγωνιστικών κατηγοριών . Η εμπλοκή της νέας διοίκησης του Ποσειδώνα στην διοργάνωση των "Τσιτείων 2009" άφησε πολλές υποσχέσεις για ακόμα καλύτερες διοργανώσεις στο μέλλον.
Χορηγία του Swimming Planet για την διοργάνωση του πρωταθλήματος της προαγωνιστικής στο ΟΑΚΑ.
Με την καθοριστική συμβολή-χορηγία του Swimming Planet το πρωτάθλημα των προ-αγωνιστικών κατηγοριών θα διεξαχθεί στο Ολυμπιακό κολυμβητήριο (ΟΑΚΑ) προς ικανοποίηση των αθλητών και των γονιών τους που τελικά είδαν την επιθυμία τους να γίνεται πραγματικότητα. Με αυτή τη κίνηση η διοίκηση του Swimming Planet επιθυμεί να δώσει το στίγμα του ρόλου του στα Ελληνικά κολυμβητικά δρώμενα ως ηλεκτρονικό κατάστημα πανευρωπαϊκής εμβέλειας. Το Swimming Planet αξιοποιώντας τις όποιες δυνατότητες έχει επιθυμεί να διαδραματίσει ένα ιδιαίτερα εποικοδομητικό ρόλο στην ανάπτυξη των αθλημάτων του υγρού στίβου και γι' αυτό το λόγο θα επιδιώξει την συνεργασία του με παραδοσιακούς "παίκτες" της Ελληνικής αγοράς του υγρού στίβου προκειμένου τα αποτελέσματα αυτών των συνεργασιών να μεταφραστούν σε όφελος των αθλητών ως προς τις συνθήκες διεξαγωγής των αγώνων τους.
Συνεργασία του Swimming Planet με την Αγγελική Εξάρχου για την προώθηση του ηλεκτρονικού καταστήματος και των προϊόντων της DIANA.
Την Ελληνίδα πρωταθλήτρια Αγγελική Εξάρχου υποδέχεται με ιδιαίτερη χαρά η οικογένεια του Swimming Planet. Από 01/09/09 και για ένα χρόνο η κυρία Εξάρχου θα έχει στενή συνεργασία με το Swimming Planet το οποίο θα αποτελεί και τον Αργυρό Χορηγό της. Η συγκεκριμένη συνεργασία ολοκληρώθηκε με την συμβολή της Diana Italy η οποία ως γνωστόν είναι ο αποκλειστικός χορηγός αθλητικού υλικού της κυρίας Εξάρχου. Κατ' αυτό το τρόπο ενδυναμώνεται ουσιαστικά η προώθηση των προϊόντων της DIANA μέσω του Swimming Planet που αποτελεί τον μεγαλύτερο συνεργάτη της Ιταλικής εταιρίας στην Ελλάδα.
Ανάπτυξη του δικτύου συνεργατών του Swimming Planet σε Θεσσαλονίκη και Πάτρα.
Με σταθερά βήματα εξελίσσεται η ανάπτυξη του πανελλαδικού δικτύου συνεργατών του Swimming Planet.
Το "4lane" εξειδικευμένο κολυμβητικό κατάστημα στην Θεσσαλονίκη αποτελεί τον πρώτο κόμβο του δικτύου για την διάθεση των προϊόντων που εισάγει και αντιπροσωπεύει το Swimming Planet.
Το "Aquafrenia" στην Πάτρα αποτελεί τον δεύτερο κόμβο του υπό ανάπτυξη πανελλαδικού δικτύου του Swimming Planet.
Στους συνεργάτες του δικτύου μας μπορείτε να βρείτε όλα τα προϊόντα της Maru, της Diana και της Blueseventy καθώς και τα εξειδικευμένα paddles της strokemakers.
Το Swimming Planet σκοπεύει να αναπτύξει συνεργασίες σε όλες τις μεγάλες πόλεις της Ελλάδας και γι' αυτό το λόγο βρίσκεται σε συζητήσεις με τα γνωστότερα κολυμβητικά καταστήματα στις πόλεις Βόλος, Λάρισα, Λαμία, Ιωάννινα, Χαλκίδα, Χανιά, Ηράκλειο κ.ά.
Δευτέρα 22 Ιουνίου 2009
Η Blueseventy επιστρέφει στη λίστα των επιτρεπομένων μαγιό της FINA - Blueseventy back in the pool
Η Blueseventy, μετά από απόφαση της FINA, επιστρέφει στην πισίνα με όλα της τα μοντέλα χωρίς καμία μετατροπή.
Το Swimming Planet ανακοινώνει ότι είναι έτοιμο από πλευράς στοκ να ικανοποιήσει τις ανάγκες των αθλητών όλων των κατηγοριών:
"Γεμάτες οι αποθήκες του Swimming Planet με τα επιτρεπόμενα μαγιό της λίστας της FINA.
Πλήρες απόθεμα υπάρχει στο Swimming Planet από τα κυριότερα μαγιό που εμφανίζονται στην λίστα της FINA ως επιτρεπόμενα.
200 και πλέον αγωνιστικά μαγιό περιμένουν για να ικανοποιήσουν τις ανάγκες των αθλητών όλων των κατηγοριών σ' αυτή την τελευταία περίοδο αγωνιστικών υποχρεώσεων.
Diana submarine SA, Diana submarine TF, Speedo FSPRO & FSII, Maru MX1 και φυσικά τα ιδιαιτέρως δημοφιλή BLUE SEVENTY Nero Comp και Nero 10k."
Σας θυμίζουμε ότι στο Swimming Planet μπορείτε πάντα να βρείτε τα προϊόντα που επιθυμείτε στις καλύτερες τιμές!
Blueseventy, following FINA's desicion, is back in the pool with Nero Comp and Nero 10k.
Swimming Planet announces that it is ready to serve the athletes with all approved racing swimsuits:
"Full stock exists in Swimming Planet from the most popular suits from FINA’s list of approval.
More than 200 performance swimsuits are waiting to satisfy the needs of athletes in any category during this last period of the competitions.
Diana submarine SA, Diana submarine TF, Speedo FSPRO & FSII, Maru MX1 and of course the most popular BlueSeventy Nero Comp and Nero 10k."
We remind you that in Swimming Planet you can always find the products that you desire in the best prices!
Το Swimming Planet ανακοινώνει ότι είναι έτοιμο από πλευράς στοκ να ικανοποιήσει τις ανάγκες των αθλητών όλων των κατηγοριών:
"Γεμάτες οι αποθήκες του Swimming Planet με τα επιτρεπόμενα μαγιό της λίστας της FINA.
Πλήρες απόθεμα υπάρχει στο Swimming Planet από τα κυριότερα μαγιό που εμφανίζονται στην λίστα της FINA ως επιτρεπόμενα.
200 και πλέον αγωνιστικά μαγιό περιμένουν για να ικανοποιήσουν τις ανάγκες των αθλητών όλων των κατηγοριών σ' αυτή την τελευταία περίοδο αγωνιστικών υποχρεώσεων.
Diana submarine SA, Diana submarine TF, Speedo FSPRO & FSII, Maru MX1 και φυσικά τα ιδιαιτέρως δημοφιλή BLUE SEVENTY Nero Comp και Nero 10k."
Σας θυμίζουμε ότι στο Swimming Planet μπορείτε πάντα να βρείτε τα προϊόντα που επιθυμείτε στις καλύτερες τιμές!
Blueseventy, following FINA's desicion, is back in the pool with Nero Comp and Nero 10k.
Swimming Planet announces that it is ready to serve the athletes with all approved racing swimsuits:
"Full stock exists in Swimming Planet from the most popular suits from FINA’s list of approval.
More than 200 performance swimsuits are waiting to satisfy the needs of athletes in any category during this last period of the competitions.
Diana submarine SA, Diana submarine TF, Speedo FSPRO & FSII, Maru MX1 and of course the most popular BlueSeventy Nero Comp and Nero 10k."
We remind you that in Swimming Planet you can always find the products that you desire in the best prices!
Κυριακή 21 Ιουνίου 2009
Industry News: Blueseventy Anticipates FINA's Swim Suit Ruling -- June 19, 2009
PHOENIX, Arizona, June 19.
IN a press release distributed this morning, Blueseventy launched a preemptive strike in anticipation of FINA's next ruling on swimsuits expected June 22.
Here is the full release without edit:
Swimwear brand Blueseventy was one of thirteen brands to present their high-tech body suits to swimming's world governing body, FINA, yesterday (18 June 2009). However, the announcement of which suits will be approved has been delayed by two days until Monday 22 June.
The sport has been in disarray since FINA placed previously approved world record breaking suits on the banned list. The status of records set is still under question. Eleven BlueSeventy models were amongst 136 suits not approved for racing and have been effectively 'off the shelves' since last month.
It was banned on the basis of 'air-trapping' without any clarification of how this was being tested or measured. BlueSeventy called on the technical expertise of Huub Touissant of the University of Amseterdam to demonstrate that the suit does not trap air.
On this basis BlueSeventy is not proposing any alterations be made to its existing suits. The delay to FINA's announcement, originally scheduled for Saturday 20 June, is based on the French national federation's request to avoid disruption at their national championships, which are taking place this weekend.
BlueSeventy's Dean Jackson commented: "We presented a rock-solid argument that our suits do not trap air and feel this will help convince FINA to put us back on the list of approved suits. However, we are disappointed that the announcement has been delayed until Monday, as this is effectively another two days of lost sales opportunities."
Blueseventy will make a statement following the publication of FINAs new list on Monday 22nd June. This will be issued at 5pm GMT.
About blueseventy
blueseventy, aptly named to suggest 70% of the earth covered in water, is the world leader in triathlon and open water wetsuits, swimskins and googles. Since 1993, the Seattle-based company has designed, tested, refined and crafted products using superior materials and revolutionary details that equate to comfort, freedom from restriction and ultimately a competitive advantage in the water. blueseventy products have instilled confidence in beginners as well as carried world-class athletes to victory. blueseventy products can be found in more than 250 retail locations across the U.S. and in 15 countries.
The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing.
IN a press release distributed this morning, Blueseventy launched a preemptive strike in anticipation of FINA's next ruling on swimsuits expected June 22.
Here is the full release without edit:
Swimwear brand Blueseventy was one of thirteen brands to present their high-tech body suits to swimming's world governing body, FINA, yesterday (18 June 2009). However, the announcement of which suits will be approved has been delayed by two days until Monday 22 June.
The sport has been in disarray since FINA placed previously approved world record breaking suits on the banned list. The status of records set is still under question. Eleven BlueSeventy models were amongst 136 suits not approved for racing and have been effectively 'off the shelves' since last month.
It was banned on the basis of 'air-trapping' without any clarification of how this was being tested or measured. BlueSeventy called on the technical expertise of Huub Touissant of the University of Amseterdam to demonstrate that the suit does not trap air.
On this basis BlueSeventy is not proposing any alterations be made to its existing suits. The delay to FINA's announcement, originally scheduled for Saturday 20 June, is based on the French national federation's request to avoid disruption at their national championships, which are taking place this weekend.
BlueSeventy's Dean Jackson commented: "We presented a rock-solid argument that our suits do not trap air and feel this will help convince FINA to put us back on the list of approved suits. However, we are disappointed that the announcement has been delayed until Monday, as this is effectively another two days of lost sales opportunities."
Blueseventy will make a statement following the publication of FINAs new list on Monday 22nd June. This will be issued at 5pm GMT.
About blueseventy
blueseventy, aptly named to suggest 70% of the earth covered in water, is the world leader in triathlon and open water wetsuits, swimskins and googles. Since 1993, the Seattle-based company has designed, tested, refined and crafted products using superior materials and revolutionary details that equate to comfort, freedom from restriction and ultimately a competitive advantage in the water. blueseventy products have instilled confidence in beginners as well as carried world-class athletes to victory. blueseventy products can be found in more than 250 retail locations across the U.S. and in 15 countries.
The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing.
Πέμπτη 18 Ιουνίου 2009
Swimming Blogs - The Screaming Viking !
'This article published in floswim today trying to present the chaos created by Fina's list"
Big Suit Meeting Today
The Screaming Viking ! Profile
June 18, 2009
Swimnews is reporting that today is the day that all the swimsuit companies get their “15 minutes” to plead their cases to FINA about why their suit should make the final approved list for this long course season. To quote Craig Lord:“For now, more certain is that there will be some uncomfortable moments in Lausanne today; for FINA, for the independent testing team and for suit makers. Feelings boil down to the question of whether it is fair to have left the Speedo LZR and other 2008-09 non-textile apparel in the water when they clearly enhance performance but then cut out things such as the Jaked01 and arena X-Glide when they also enhance performance, if not in a quantifiable way then surely in a significant and undeniable fashion.” Yeah, I’d say it will be uncomfortable. I can only hope that John Leonard isn’t the one trying to give the suit companies an explanation for drawing their imaginary line at the LZR. The lawyers will eat him alive. In his interview with Garrett at floswim he danced around the answers to the hard questions better than the zombies in the Thriller video. He is on the FINA suit commission and could not give any clue of the testing procedure that got suits taken off of the unapproved list. He made it clear that he knows nothing about the testing. He didn’t even get the head of the testing team’s name right! What’s worse is that he then went on a spiel about air trapping being an issue since 2000 and pointed at the “silver” sheen when someone jumps in the pool with a dry FS1, which is on the FINA approved list. How can you admit that other suits trap air too, but then give no reason for drawing the line where you did? If permeability is not to be addressed until January, there is no justifiable reason to have made the decisions that were made. The whole point of forming the commission was so that we could have an open scientific process through which to make a fair decision. Way to go, guys. When the buoyancy and thickness standards were printed, I honestly thought the list was going to allow all current tech… and just like I and so many others predicted, current tech met those standards. When the Arena X-glide debuted, it had not yet been approved by FINA. I could almost hear the defeat in Alan Thompson’s voice he was quoted as saying this regarding Alain Bernard’s 100m free record set in that unapproved suit: “The procedure has been very open, all the manufacturers know what tests will be done, and I doubt that any major manufacturer would submit a suit that wouldn't get through the process.” How then, did we get to where we are? It looks to me like hiring Prof. Manson was just for show. They “carefully” added the word “may” to the required specs for suit companies to follow so that they can take the scientific stats and throw them out the window if needed and disqualify any suits they see fit. How are they gonna explain that to Blueseventy’s lawyers? Hopefully better than John Leonard explained it to us. This meeting is gonna be a zoo.
Τετάρτη 17 Ιουνίου 2009
FINA's Final 2009 Approved Suits List Due June 22
FINA's Final 2009 Approved Suits List Due June 22
Craig Lord (www.swimnews.com)
Jun 16, 2009
The Paris Open will be run under the same conditions as the Mare Nostrum Tour after FINA informed federations today that it will release the final list of approved suits, with any modified versions of suits that may now have passed independent tests, after Midsummer Night and the French meet, next Monday, June 22.
The move follows a request by the French federation, FFN, for FINA to avoid any announcement on suits until after the June 19 deadline set for suit makers to submit for testing any apparel rejected on May 19 and since modified to take account of the objections raised by FINA according to advice received from the head of the independent suit-testing team, Prof Jan-Anders Manson.
France had feared that the chaos seen at meets across the world this past six months would spill over into the Paris Open, to be held this weekend, if yet another new instruction on suits was issued on the eve of racing in the French capital.
The FFN stated: "The French federation is happy with that decision, which is the positive response we were looking for. The information [from FINA], also indicates the control procedure [on suits] that will be in place at world championships in Rome."
Craig Lord (www.swimnews.com)
Jun 16, 2009
The Paris Open will be run under the same conditions as the Mare Nostrum Tour after FINA informed federations today that it will release the final list of approved suits, with any modified versions of suits that may now have passed independent tests, after Midsummer Night and the French meet, next Monday, June 22.
The move follows a request by the French federation, FFN, for FINA to avoid any announcement on suits until after the June 19 deadline set for suit makers to submit for testing any apparel rejected on May 19 and since modified to take account of the objections raised by FINA according to advice received from the head of the independent suit-testing team, Prof Jan-Anders Manson.
France had feared that the chaos seen at meets across the world this past six months would spill over into the Paris Open, to be held this weekend, if yet another new instruction on suits was issued on the eve of racing in the French capital.
The FFN stated: "The French federation is happy with that decision, which is the positive response we were looking for. The information [from FINA], also indicates the control procedure [on suits] that will be in place at world championships in Rome."
Τρίτη 16 Ιουνίου 2009
USMS Suit Update
A member of the FINA press association was recently quoted as saying that FINA is not applying the regulations of the Dubai Charter to masters swimming. This essentially breaks down to – suits that were legal 2 months ago are legal today for masters competition. This also include records. Suits do not need to be declared for world masters records. Stay tuned for more info.
Δευτέρα 15 Ιουνίου 2009
Buoyancy?
"An article on floswimming.org by Chris Brammer"
Buoyancy?
Chris Brammer Profile
June 13, 2009
FINA has yet to provide any sound reasoning as to why some suits are banned and others are not. Where in the manufacturing of suits is the line drawn and what exactly does that line differentiate? BlueSeventy suits "may trap air when worn by a swimmer" and that is why they are banned? Well they may not. Does this mean that for all of the suits that were approved this air trapping effect has been ruled out? I cannot fathom how they were able to quantify this “air trapping” as it is surely dependent on the shape, texture, and position of the swimmer in addition to the permeability of the suit material. The issue of permeability has been put off until later, as John Leonard stated in his interview with GM. How then, knowing for sure that the LZR and others do not trap air and not knowing of the suit’s permeability, did FINA create this list of banned suits? Buoyancy is one variable that Professor Hanson ..err Manson has supposedly measured and is at the center of recent discussion. Therefore, I wish to define buoyancy and discuss some of the issues that FINA and the independent research group hired to evaluate the suits are faced.
Buoyancy is only part of what makes an object float or sink in a fluid. Buoyancy is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by a submerged object, and is proportional to the object’s volume. However, it is the summation of an object’s weight (downward force) and it’s buoyancy (upward force) that determines if it will sink or float. An object that is completely submerged in water will float if it’s dry weight is less than it’s buoyancy and, alternatively, an object will sink if it’s weight is greater than its buoyancy.
To put it in other terms, if an object’s weight to volume ratio (it’s density) is less than the density of the fluid in which it is submerged, then the object will float. If we wish to decrease our density relative to the fluid to improve “floatability” then we can decrease our weight, increase our volume, or some combination of both. For example, a lean-bodied swimmer who normally sinks needs only to take a big breath of air (thus increasing volume and decreasing density below that of the water) and he/she will float. In the case of suits, if the density of the swim suit is less than the density of the swimmer, then the density of suit+swimmer will be less than the swimmer alone and he or she will have a larger buoyancy. The increase in buoyancy can work to make a swimmer sink less or float more depending on their individual body density. The problem is that the greater difference in density the suit is compared to the swimmer, the more relative effect it will have. In other words, although a given suit will increase buoyancy the same amount for everyone, the effect of this change on “floatability” will be different depending on the individual’s initial density.
FINA states that a “swimsuit shall not have a buoyancy effect of more than 1 Newton (100g).” What does this mean exactly and why 1 Newton? Is it that a suit (by itself) shall not have buoyancy greater than 100g?If that is the case, then a suit measured to have a volume of 100ml will also have a buoyancy of 100g and the majority of our suits would not be compliant. Is it that a suit alone shall not have a net upward force (downward weight plus upward buoyancy) of 100g? I interpret FINA’s rule to mean a suit when worn by a swimmer shall not cause a net increase in upward force more than 1 Newton (100g). But as I said above, just because a suit increases buoyancy 100g for all who wear it, that does not mean that each swimmer enjoys the same effect. So how has Professor Manson proposed to address this issue?
In addition to an unequal effect on “floatability”, where this additional buoyancy is acting on the swimmer is also of concern. If the resultant buoyancy does not act through the swimmer’s center of mass, then the body begins to rotate. In a typical swimmer, resultant buoyancy is directed closer to the head than the center of mass (through which the subject’s weight acts). This torque causes the body to rotate in the direction of the feet toward the pool’s floor. The greater distance between the downward force of weight and upward force of buoyancy, the faster the body will tend to rotate. If we were able to shift the resultant buoyancy closer to the center of mass (perhaps with a leg suit of low density), then the effect would be a slower sinking of the legs and improved body position (less energy is required of the swimmer to keep his legs up). The problem here is that it is entirely possible that these new swim suits do not result in a net upward force (and therefore pass the 1 Newton test) but may shift the resultant buoyancy closer to the center of mass with the effect of decreasing leg rotation toward the pool’s floor. How can we account for this?
The independent research group hired to evaluate the suits have yet to disclose their results and, perhaps more importantly, their methodology. When (or if) this occurs we may gain greater insight as to how a suit is or is not approved. However, buoyancy is not the only variable of concern as I have yet to mention about material permeability to air and water, both of which have the potential to affect performance. Further, the variables of resistance, compression, and body alignment, among others, have been identified as potential players in the task of swim suit evaluation. Some would say the enormous task FINA faces is of their own doing, but it is too late to point fingers. We cannot change the past. We must now focus on gathering as much information on the What and How of tech-suits so that we may make reasoned decisions for the future.
Buoyancy?
Chris Brammer Profile
June 13, 2009
FINA has yet to provide any sound reasoning as to why some suits are banned and others are not. Where in the manufacturing of suits is the line drawn and what exactly does that line differentiate? BlueSeventy suits "may trap air when worn by a swimmer" and that is why they are banned? Well they may not. Does this mean that for all of the suits that were approved this air trapping effect has been ruled out? I cannot fathom how they were able to quantify this “air trapping” as it is surely dependent on the shape, texture, and position of the swimmer in addition to the permeability of the suit material. The issue of permeability has been put off until later, as John Leonard stated in his interview with GM. How then, knowing for sure that the LZR and others do not trap air and not knowing of the suit’s permeability, did FINA create this list of banned suits? Buoyancy is one variable that Professor Hanson ..err Manson has supposedly measured and is at the center of recent discussion. Therefore, I wish to define buoyancy and discuss some of the issues that FINA and the independent research group hired to evaluate the suits are faced.
Buoyancy is only part of what makes an object float or sink in a fluid. Buoyancy is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by a submerged object, and is proportional to the object’s volume. However, it is the summation of an object’s weight (downward force) and it’s buoyancy (upward force) that determines if it will sink or float. An object that is completely submerged in water will float if it’s dry weight is less than it’s buoyancy and, alternatively, an object will sink if it’s weight is greater than its buoyancy.
To put it in other terms, if an object’s weight to volume ratio (it’s density) is less than the density of the fluid in which it is submerged, then the object will float. If we wish to decrease our density relative to the fluid to improve “floatability” then we can decrease our weight, increase our volume, or some combination of both. For example, a lean-bodied swimmer who normally sinks needs only to take a big breath of air (thus increasing volume and decreasing density below that of the water) and he/she will float. In the case of suits, if the density of the swim suit is less than the density of the swimmer, then the density of suit+swimmer will be less than the swimmer alone and he or she will have a larger buoyancy. The increase in buoyancy can work to make a swimmer sink less or float more depending on their individual body density. The problem is that the greater difference in density the suit is compared to the swimmer, the more relative effect it will have. In other words, although a given suit will increase buoyancy the same amount for everyone, the effect of this change on “floatability” will be different depending on the individual’s initial density.
FINA states that a “swimsuit shall not have a buoyancy effect of more than 1 Newton (100g).” What does this mean exactly and why 1 Newton? Is it that a suit (by itself) shall not have buoyancy greater than 100g?If that is the case, then a suit measured to have a volume of 100ml will also have a buoyancy of 100g and the majority of our suits would not be compliant. Is it that a suit alone shall not have a net upward force (downward weight plus upward buoyancy) of 100g? I interpret FINA’s rule to mean a suit when worn by a swimmer shall not cause a net increase in upward force more than 1 Newton (100g). But as I said above, just because a suit increases buoyancy 100g for all who wear it, that does not mean that each swimmer enjoys the same effect. So how has Professor Manson proposed to address this issue?
In addition to an unequal effect on “floatability”, where this additional buoyancy is acting on the swimmer is also of concern. If the resultant buoyancy does not act through the swimmer’s center of mass, then the body begins to rotate. In a typical swimmer, resultant buoyancy is directed closer to the head than the center of mass (through which the subject’s weight acts). This torque causes the body to rotate in the direction of the feet toward the pool’s floor. The greater distance between the downward force of weight and upward force of buoyancy, the faster the body will tend to rotate. If we were able to shift the resultant buoyancy closer to the center of mass (perhaps with a leg suit of low density), then the effect would be a slower sinking of the legs and improved body position (less energy is required of the swimmer to keep his legs up). The problem here is that it is entirely possible that these new swim suits do not result in a net upward force (and therefore pass the 1 Newton test) but may shift the resultant buoyancy closer to the center of mass with the effect of decreasing leg rotation toward the pool’s floor. How can we account for this?
The independent research group hired to evaluate the suits have yet to disclose their results and, perhaps more importantly, their methodology. When (or if) this occurs we may gain greater insight as to how a suit is or is not approved. However, buoyancy is not the only variable of concern as I have yet to mention about material permeability to air and water, both of which have the potential to affect performance. Further, the variables of resistance, compression, and body alignment, among others, have been identified as potential players in the task of swim suit evaluation. Some would say the enormous task FINA faces is of their own doing, but it is too late to point fingers. We cannot change the past. We must now focus on gathering as much information on the What and How of tech-suits so that we may make reasoned decisions for the future.
Πέμπτη 11 Ιουνίου 2009
French Federation Seeks Suit List Delay
French Federation Seeks Suit List Delay
Craig Lord
Jun 10, 2009
The French Swimming Federation has called on FINA to delay any release of a new suits list until June 22 so that the Paris Open can take place under sensible conditions understood by officials, coaches and swimmers alike. Those conditions would follow the current FINA suit list, in common with the three stages of the Mare Nostrum Tour this week.
In a statement, the federation notes that it would be impossible to "police" the Paris Open if FINA publishes a list of modified versions of suits rejected on May 19 but potentially eligible to make the 2009 approved-for-use list after alterations to take into account the objections of FINA on the advice of Prof Jan-Anders Manson and his team of independent suit testers.
What the French federation is calling for is the kind of certainty that has been lacking in the sport of swimming for some while now after the international federation allowed the LZR into the water last year and precipitated the arrival of an equipment-based sport. FINA is now working on a return to textile suits in 2010 but the waters remain muddy this summer in what the international federation describes as a transition phase that is fair to suit makers.
There are many who believe that FINA's priority should have been fairness to swimmers. But a withdrawal from the world of fast suits as fast as the entry into that domain was never going to be easy, with production lines rolling and stock to clear.
What the FFN is calling for should be easy to deliver: June 19 was the deadline by which suit makers had to get modified suits to FINA, therefore any amended suits list would, presumably, take at least a couple of days to compile and to make public.
The French federation is making serious attempts to understand precisely what FINA wants from January 1, 2010. In response to FINA's letter to federations, which invites them to "vote" "Yes" or "No" to FINA's swimwear rule (don't recall federations voting for the approval of the LZR - that was down to just three men) proposals from Jan 1, 2010, French fed president and FINA Bureau member Francis Luyce asks 12 questions, among them:
Thickness - 0.8mm, is that applicable to stretched textile or not?
Pemeability - how were the 167 points of 'control' arrived at? Were they arrived at by testing suits in use (swimmer in motion) or static (just on the suit alone)?
Textile-Only - what do we understand by textile? The definition of textile is: woven fabric. Under that definition, which fabrics will be authorised? [ED: this is a very critical question, for reasons that will soon become apparent].
Caps - it would seem that we ought also to look into issues of thickness and buoyancy.
Craig Lord
Jun 10, 2009
The French Swimming Federation has called on FINA to delay any release of a new suits list until June 22 so that the Paris Open can take place under sensible conditions understood by officials, coaches and swimmers alike. Those conditions would follow the current FINA suit list, in common with the three stages of the Mare Nostrum Tour this week.
In a statement, the federation notes that it would be impossible to "police" the Paris Open if FINA publishes a list of modified versions of suits rejected on May 19 but potentially eligible to make the 2009 approved-for-use list after alterations to take into account the objections of FINA on the advice of Prof Jan-Anders Manson and his team of independent suit testers.
What the French federation is calling for is the kind of certainty that has been lacking in the sport of swimming for some while now after the international federation allowed the LZR into the water last year and precipitated the arrival of an equipment-based sport. FINA is now working on a return to textile suits in 2010 but the waters remain muddy this summer in what the international federation describes as a transition phase that is fair to suit makers.
There are many who believe that FINA's priority should have been fairness to swimmers. But a withdrawal from the world of fast suits as fast as the entry into that domain was never going to be easy, with production lines rolling and stock to clear.
What the FFN is calling for should be easy to deliver: June 19 was the deadline by which suit makers had to get modified suits to FINA, therefore any amended suits list would, presumably, take at least a couple of days to compile and to make public.
The French federation is making serious attempts to understand precisely what FINA wants from January 1, 2010. In response to FINA's letter to federations, which invites them to "vote" "Yes" or "No" to FINA's swimwear rule (don't recall federations voting for the approval of the LZR - that was down to just three men) proposals from Jan 1, 2010, French fed president and FINA Bureau member Francis Luyce asks 12 questions, among them:
Thickness - 0.8mm, is that applicable to stretched textile or not?
Pemeability - how were the 167 points of 'control' arrived at? Were they arrived at by testing suits in use (swimmer in motion) or static (just on the suit alone)?
Textile-Only - what do we understand by textile? The definition of textile is: woven fabric. Under that definition, which fabrics will be authorised? [ED: this is a very critical question, for reasons that will soon become apparent].
Caps - it would seem that we ought also to look into issues of thickness and buoyancy.
Front Line Of The FINA Suit Fiasco
Front Line Of The FINA Suit Fiasco.Floswimming interviewed John Leonard, a member of the FINA Suit Commission, and tried to get the lowdown on how the FINA suit decision went down. Hopefully this explains things for you.
Τρίτη 9 Ιουνίου 2009
Swimming: Swimsuit company set for FINA showdown over ban
4:00AM Sunday Jun 07, 2009By Dylan Cleaver
New Zealand swimsuit manufacturers blueseventy are still to receive an acceptable explanation from FINA as to why their racing suit has been banned, so are preparing for a showdown with swimming's governing body in Lausanne.
Chief executive Steve Nicolls is hoping for more details why FINA have rejected their racing suit before the June 18 meeting but, despite several emails and calls to the body, has received only partial explanation.
Racing suits have come under intense scrutiny in the past year in the wake of several smashed world records.
FINA believe many suits worn by the world's top swimmers contravene buoyancy and permeability regulations. The more buoyant the suits, the higher the swimmers' hips sit in the water and the faster they can go.
"Our suits have passed the thickness and buoyancy tests. We measured a 20 when you have to finish below 100 on the FINA scale so there is no grey area. We're not talking about coming in at 99.5 and leaving it open to doubt," said Nicholls.
Blueseventy, a small New Zealand company that specialised in triathlon swim suits before moving into the pool a year ago to great effect, have put the matter into the hands of lawyers. Nicolls is scathing of the explanation they have received so far.
"FINA's line is the commission made a decision based on a 'general observation' of our suits.
"Where does that leave us? Where does that leave our customers? We submitted 11 different samples and that is what they come back with. I've since been told our suits are very close to passing. Being a small company, this decision has a massive effect on the business."
Nicolls said they were less than a 30th the size of swimwear giants Speedo, who work on a annual revenue of about US$300 million, so did not have the resources for a long and costly battle with the authorities.
Unless FINA has a change of heart, whatever option blueseventy take - whether it be legal or changing the manufacturing of the suit - it will be a costly affair.
"We have got to look after the customers but there is a limit to what we can do.
"They might be wearing a suit that was legal a month ago, is illegal now, and could be legal again by the end of the month.
"We've looked at recall options but it would be extremely difficult with our relatively small resources.
"We're in limbo really."
Blueseventy had a penetration of close to 40 per cent in some countries in the race-suit market.
New Zealand swimsuit manufacturers blueseventy are still to receive an acceptable explanation from FINA as to why their racing suit has been banned, so are preparing for a showdown with swimming's governing body in Lausanne.
Chief executive Steve Nicolls is hoping for more details why FINA have rejected their racing suit before the June 18 meeting but, despite several emails and calls to the body, has received only partial explanation.
Racing suits have come under intense scrutiny in the past year in the wake of several smashed world records.
FINA believe many suits worn by the world's top swimmers contravene buoyancy and permeability regulations. The more buoyant the suits, the higher the swimmers' hips sit in the water and the faster they can go.
"Our suits have passed the thickness and buoyancy tests. We measured a 20 when you have to finish below 100 on the FINA scale so there is no grey area. We're not talking about coming in at 99.5 and leaving it open to doubt," said Nicholls.
Blueseventy, a small New Zealand company that specialised in triathlon swim suits before moving into the pool a year ago to great effect, have put the matter into the hands of lawyers. Nicolls is scathing of the explanation they have received so far.
"FINA's line is the commission made a decision based on a 'general observation' of our suits.
"Where does that leave us? Where does that leave our customers? We submitted 11 different samples and that is what they come back with. I've since been told our suits are very close to passing. Being a small company, this decision has a massive effect on the business."
Nicolls said they were less than a 30th the size of swimwear giants Speedo, who work on a annual revenue of about US$300 million, so did not have the resources for a long and costly battle with the authorities.
Unless FINA has a change of heart, whatever option blueseventy take - whether it be legal or changing the manufacturing of the suit - it will be a costly affair.
"We have got to look after the customers but there is a limit to what we can do.
"They might be wearing a suit that was legal a month ago, is illegal now, and could be legal again by the end of the month.
"We've looked at recall options but it would be extremely difficult with our relatively small resources.
"We're in limbo really."
Blueseventy had a penetration of close to 40 per cent in some countries in the race-suit market.
Δευτέρα 8 Ιουνίου 2009
blueseventy is back in the pool in Germany
UPDATE (June 22nd 2009): Blueseventy made it on FINA's List of Approved Swimsuits, click here to read more.
" One by one European swimming federations change their initial decisions about blueseventy."
blueseventy is back in the pool in Germany.
The use of blueseventys nero is legal for all all German Master events from now on. German swimmers are very happy that DSV (German swim federation) changed its decision and allows the blueseventy suits for the upcoming masters events. We wish all swimmers good luck for the German masters championships next weekend.For further information please see the DSV document that confirms the legal use of blueseventy nero swimskins. We would like to say thank you to the Master Swimmers Halle (Germany) for their substantial support.
Posted by Steve Nicholls.
" One by one European swimming federations change their initial decisions about blueseventy."
blueseventy is back in the pool in Germany.
The use of blueseventys nero is legal for all all German Master events from now on. German swimmers are very happy that DSV (German swim federation) changed its decision and allows the blueseventy suits for the upcoming masters events. We wish all swimmers good luck for the German masters championships next weekend.For further information please see the DSV document that confirms the legal use of blueseventy nero swimskins. We would like to say thank you to the Master Swimmers Halle (Germany) for their substantial support.
Posted by Steve Nicholls.
Παρασκευή 5 Ιουνίου 2009
Θα σκεφτούμε ποτέ τους αθλητές μας?
"Άρθρο του Γενικού Διευθυντή του Swimming Planet για την σκανδαλώδη λίστα της FINA και την τοποθέτηση της ΚΟΕ"
Πόσο απογοητευτικό είναι τελικά να αναμένεις να σεβαστούν οι αρχές τις θυσίες που κάνεις για να ανταπεξέλθεις στις αγωνιστικές υποχρεώσεις του παιδιού σου, αλλά τελικά να διαπιστώνεις πως στα μάτια τους είσαι ο τελευταίος τροχός της άμαξας.
Αναφέρομαι στην απόφαση της FINA, η οποία έρχεται να απαγορεύσει την χρήση συγκεκριμένων αγωνιστικών μαγιό νέας τεχνολογίας για το επερχόμενο παγκόσμιο πρωτάθλημα της Ρώμης ευνοώντας με αυτή την απόφαση άλλα μαγιό νέας τεχνολογίας διατηρώντας τα στην περίφημη λίστα.
Οι προβλεπόμενοι από τους κανονισμούς εργαστηριακοί έλεγχοι δεν κατέγραψαν πρόβλημα ως προς τις παραμέτρους της Άνωσης και της παγίδευσης του αέρα (air trapping) . Παρ’ όλα αυτά ο επικεφαλής του εργαστηρίου ανακοινώνοντας την αξιολόγιση του αναφέρθηκε σε πιθανότητα παγίδευσης αέρα στο μαγιό κατά την χρήση του χωρίς να είναι σε θέση να παράσχει ουδεμία τεκμηρίωση επ’ αυτού.
Το αποτέλεσμα λοιπόν αυτής της διαδικασίας είναι η απροκάλυπτη εκ’ μέρους της FINA χειραγώγηση της αγοράς καταλύοντας οποιοδήποτε νομικό πλαίσιο ελεύθερου ανταγωνισμού. Γι’ αυτό το λόγο τόσο η Blueseventy όσο και η Jaked (οι βασικότεροι ανταγωνιστές του LZR), έχουν αναθέσει ήδη σε μεγάλα Ευρωπαϊκά νομικά γραφεία τον χειρισμό των υποθέσεων τους διεκδικώντας άμεσα την δικαίωση τους.
Σκοπός μου δεν είναι να αναλύσω το πως προέκυψε αυτή η απόφαση της FINA μεσούσης της αγωνιστικής περιόδου διότι αυτό έχει καταγραφεί από τα μεγαλύτερα διεθνή ηλεκτρονικά και έντυπα μέσα ως σκάνδαλο τεραστίων διαστάσεων που συνδέεται άμεσα με τις διοικητικές ανακατατάξεις στα εσωτερικά της FINA.
Σήμερα η κατάσταση έχει διαμορφωθεί ως εξής
Έχουμε μία απόφαση της διεθνούς ομοσπονδίας, η οποία σημειώνω δεν έχει ακόμα οριστικοποιηθεί – εκκρεμεί η τελική της διαμόρφωση στις 19/06/09 – η οποία αναφέρεται στο ποιά αγωνιστικά μαγιό θα χρησιμοποιηθούν στο επερχόμενο παγκόσμιο πρωτάθλημα της Ρώμης.
Έχουμε μία προγενέστερη απόφαση της FINA (14/03/09), η οποία προσπαθεί να βάλει κανόνες για το ποιά θα είναι η σύσταση του υλικού των αγωνιστικών μαγιό από 01/01/2010, ξεκαθαρίζοντας ότι όσα μαγιό κυκλοφορούν στην αγορά μπορούν να χρησιμοποιηθούν έως και τις 31/12/09.
Έχουμε επίσης ως δεδομένο την ελευθερία που δίνει η FINA προς τις Εθνικές Ομοσπονδίες – μέλη της- να αποφασίσουν για τις εγχώριες διοργανώσεις τους εάν θα ακολουθήσουν ή όχι την παραπάνω οδηγία..
Πριν συνεχίσω σε αυτό το σημείο οφείλω να εξηγηθώ για τον εαυτό μου.
Είμαι γονέας δύο αθλητών κολύμβησης του Φωτόπουλου Κωνσταντίνου (Παίδας μικρός) και της Φωτοπούλου Ελένης (Παγκορασίδα Β) και παράλληλα έχω τη χαρά να διοικώ μία ιδιαίτερα δυναμική και ανερχόμενη επιχείρηση που δραστηριοποιείται εμπορικά στον χώρο του υγρού στίβου από τις αρχές του τρέχοντος έτους και αναφέρομαι στο ηλεκτρονικό κατάστημα www.swimmingplanet.com , καθώς και στην εισαγωγική εταιρία Nisos Trading & Consulting Ltd, η οποία αντιπροσωπεύει σε Eλλάδα και Κύπρο την Blueseventy και είναι για την Ελλάδα ειδικός συνεργάτης της Diana, Αντιπρόσωπος της Maru, της Strokemakers, της Myotest και άλλων πολύ γνωστών οίκων του εξωτερικού.
Στις 21/05/09 αποστέλλουμε ως εταιρία επίσημη επιστολή προς την ΚΟΕ προκειμένου αφ’ ενός να την ενημερώσουμε για την κατάσταση που έχει δημιουργηθεί με την λίστα της FINA και αφ’ ετέρου να της παρουσιάσουμε το τι συμβαίνει στην Ελληνική αγορά.
Ζητήσαμε από την ΚΟΕ να λάβει υπόψη της την επένδυση εκατοντάδων Ελλήνων αθλητών και να τους προστατέψει επιτρέποντας τους την χρήση των μαγιό για τις εγχώριες διοργανώσεις και δεσμευτήκαμε ως οφείλαμε ότι δεν προτιθέμεθα να πουλήσουμε ούτε ένα μαγιό, εκτός λίστας, έως της τελικής ανακοίνωσης της FINA στις 19/6/09.
Προς απογοήτευση μας στις 29/5/09 λάβαμε απαντητική επιστολή η οποία μας ανακοίνωνε την ειλλημένη από 27/5/09 απόφαση τους ότι δεν θα επιτρέψουν την χρήση όπου μαγιό είναι εκτός λίστας της FINA.
Την ίδια στιγμή μεγάλες Εθνικές Ομοσπονδίες, επιτελώντας το καθήκον τους απέναντι στους αθλητές τους, ανακοινώνουν την χρήση όλων των αγωνιστικών μαγιό στις εγχώριες διοργανώσεις τους και ακόμα περισσότερο επιτρέπουν στους αθλητές τους να συμμετάσχουν στα trials για το παγκόσμιο της Ρώμης με αυτά τα μαγιό. Οι Ομοσπονδίες αυτές είναι η Ιαπωνία, Ιταλία, Γαλλία και Αγγλία.
Οι παραπάνω ομοσπονδίες σεβάστηκαν την επένδυση των αθλητών τους και των οικογενειών τους, συνυπολόγισαν την σκληρή οικονομική κρίση που βιώνουμε όλοι μας, επέδειξαν την αρμόζουσα ευαισθησία παρουσιάζοντας ανθρώπινο πρόσωπο.
Σας θυμίζω ότι με αυτά τα μαγιό που δεν επιτρέπει σήμερα η ΚΟΕ αθλητές μας πρόσφατα έκαναν πανελλήνια ρεκόρ και έπιασαν το όριο συμμετοχής τους για το παγκόσμιο της Ρώμης.
Κλείνοντας αυτή την επιστολή θέλω κάποια στιγμή να λάβω απαντήσεις στα παρακάτω ερωτήματα που ταλανίζουν την πλειοψηφία των Ελλήνων κολυμβητών/τριών.
Έπεται συνέχεια....
Σάκης Φωτόπουλος
df@swimmingplanet.com
www.swimmingplanet.com
www.swimmingplanet.blogspot.com
Πόσο απογοητευτικό είναι τελικά να αναμένεις να σεβαστούν οι αρχές τις θυσίες που κάνεις για να ανταπεξέλθεις στις αγωνιστικές υποχρεώσεις του παιδιού σου, αλλά τελικά να διαπιστώνεις πως στα μάτια τους είσαι ο τελευταίος τροχός της άμαξας.
Αναφέρομαι στην απόφαση της FINA, η οποία έρχεται να απαγορεύσει την χρήση συγκεκριμένων αγωνιστικών μαγιό νέας τεχνολογίας για το επερχόμενο παγκόσμιο πρωτάθλημα της Ρώμης ευνοώντας με αυτή την απόφαση άλλα μαγιό νέας τεχνολογίας διατηρώντας τα στην περίφημη λίστα.
Οι προβλεπόμενοι από τους κανονισμούς εργαστηριακοί έλεγχοι δεν κατέγραψαν πρόβλημα ως προς τις παραμέτρους της Άνωσης και της παγίδευσης του αέρα (air trapping) . Παρ’ όλα αυτά ο επικεφαλής του εργαστηρίου ανακοινώνοντας την αξιολόγιση του αναφέρθηκε σε πιθανότητα παγίδευσης αέρα στο μαγιό κατά την χρήση του χωρίς να είναι σε θέση να παράσχει ουδεμία τεκμηρίωση επ’ αυτού.
Το αποτέλεσμα λοιπόν αυτής της διαδικασίας είναι η απροκάλυπτη εκ’ μέρους της FINA χειραγώγηση της αγοράς καταλύοντας οποιοδήποτε νομικό πλαίσιο ελεύθερου ανταγωνισμού. Γι’ αυτό το λόγο τόσο η Blueseventy όσο και η Jaked (οι βασικότεροι ανταγωνιστές του LZR), έχουν αναθέσει ήδη σε μεγάλα Ευρωπαϊκά νομικά γραφεία τον χειρισμό των υποθέσεων τους διεκδικώντας άμεσα την δικαίωση τους.
Σκοπός μου δεν είναι να αναλύσω το πως προέκυψε αυτή η απόφαση της FINA μεσούσης της αγωνιστικής περιόδου διότι αυτό έχει καταγραφεί από τα μεγαλύτερα διεθνή ηλεκτρονικά και έντυπα μέσα ως σκάνδαλο τεραστίων διαστάσεων που συνδέεται άμεσα με τις διοικητικές ανακατατάξεις στα εσωτερικά της FINA.
Σήμερα η κατάσταση έχει διαμορφωθεί ως εξής
Έχουμε μία απόφαση της διεθνούς ομοσπονδίας, η οποία σημειώνω δεν έχει ακόμα οριστικοποιηθεί – εκκρεμεί η τελική της διαμόρφωση στις 19/06/09 – η οποία αναφέρεται στο ποιά αγωνιστικά μαγιό θα χρησιμοποιηθούν στο επερχόμενο παγκόσμιο πρωτάθλημα της Ρώμης.
Έχουμε μία προγενέστερη απόφαση της FINA (14/03/09), η οποία προσπαθεί να βάλει κανόνες για το ποιά θα είναι η σύσταση του υλικού των αγωνιστικών μαγιό από 01/01/2010, ξεκαθαρίζοντας ότι όσα μαγιό κυκλοφορούν στην αγορά μπορούν να χρησιμοποιηθούν έως και τις 31/12/09.
Έχουμε επίσης ως δεδομένο την ελευθερία που δίνει η FINA προς τις Εθνικές Ομοσπονδίες – μέλη της- να αποφασίσουν για τις εγχώριες διοργανώσεις τους εάν θα ακολουθήσουν ή όχι την παραπάνω οδηγία..
Πριν συνεχίσω σε αυτό το σημείο οφείλω να εξηγηθώ για τον εαυτό μου.
Είμαι γονέας δύο αθλητών κολύμβησης του Φωτόπουλου Κωνσταντίνου (Παίδας μικρός) και της Φωτοπούλου Ελένης (Παγκορασίδα Β) και παράλληλα έχω τη χαρά να διοικώ μία ιδιαίτερα δυναμική και ανερχόμενη επιχείρηση που δραστηριοποιείται εμπορικά στον χώρο του υγρού στίβου από τις αρχές του τρέχοντος έτους και αναφέρομαι στο ηλεκτρονικό κατάστημα www.swimmingplanet.com , καθώς και στην εισαγωγική εταιρία Nisos Trading & Consulting Ltd, η οποία αντιπροσωπεύει σε Eλλάδα και Κύπρο την Blueseventy και είναι για την Ελλάδα ειδικός συνεργάτης της Diana, Αντιπρόσωπος της Maru, της Strokemakers, της Myotest και άλλων πολύ γνωστών οίκων του εξωτερικού.
Στις 21/05/09 αποστέλλουμε ως εταιρία επίσημη επιστολή προς την ΚΟΕ προκειμένου αφ’ ενός να την ενημερώσουμε για την κατάσταση που έχει δημιουργηθεί με την λίστα της FINA και αφ’ ετέρου να της παρουσιάσουμε το τι συμβαίνει στην Ελληνική αγορά.
Ζητήσαμε από την ΚΟΕ να λάβει υπόψη της την επένδυση εκατοντάδων Ελλήνων αθλητών και να τους προστατέψει επιτρέποντας τους την χρήση των μαγιό για τις εγχώριες διοργανώσεις και δεσμευτήκαμε ως οφείλαμε ότι δεν προτιθέμεθα να πουλήσουμε ούτε ένα μαγιό, εκτός λίστας, έως της τελικής ανακοίνωσης της FINA στις 19/6/09.
Προς απογοήτευση μας στις 29/5/09 λάβαμε απαντητική επιστολή η οποία μας ανακοίνωνε την ειλλημένη από 27/5/09 απόφαση τους ότι δεν θα επιτρέψουν την χρήση όπου μαγιό είναι εκτός λίστας της FINA.
Την ίδια στιγμή μεγάλες Εθνικές Ομοσπονδίες, επιτελώντας το καθήκον τους απέναντι στους αθλητές τους, ανακοινώνουν την χρήση όλων των αγωνιστικών μαγιό στις εγχώριες διοργανώσεις τους και ακόμα περισσότερο επιτρέπουν στους αθλητές τους να συμμετάσχουν στα trials για το παγκόσμιο της Ρώμης με αυτά τα μαγιό. Οι Ομοσπονδίες αυτές είναι η Ιαπωνία, Ιταλία, Γαλλία και Αγγλία.
Οι παραπάνω ομοσπονδίες σεβάστηκαν την επένδυση των αθλητών τους και των οικογενειών τους, συνυπολόγισαν την σκληρή οικονομική κρίση που βιώνουμε όλοι μας, επέδειξαν την αρμόζουσα ευαισθησία παρουσιάζοντας ανθρώπινο πρόσωπο.
Σας θυμίζω ότι με αυτά τα μαγιό που δεν επιτρέπει σήμερα η ΚΟΕ αθλητές μας πρόσφατα έκαναν πανελλήνια ρεκόρ και έπιασαν το όριο συμμετοχής τους για το παγκόσμιο της Ρώμης.
Κλείνοντας αυτή την επιστολή θέλω κάποια στιγμή να λάβω απαντήσεις στα παρακάτω ερωτήματα που ταλανίζουν την πλειοψηφία των Ελλήνων κολυμβητών/τριών.
Γιατί κύριοι δεν συνυπολογίσατε ότι η τελική λίστα της FINA θα ανακοινωθεί στις 19/6/09 και υποχρεώνετε γονείς και αθλητές να επενδύσουν σε αγορά άλλου μαγιό εν’ όψει της Ημερίδας των Τσιτείων?
Τι θα πείτε σε όλους όσους ξοδέψουν χρήματα άνευ λόγου εάν στις 19/06/09 η FINA ενσωματώσει τα μαγιό στην λίστα της?
Που θα επηρέαζε η χρήση των μαγιό για τις εναπομείναντες εγχώριες διοργανώσεις?
Σκεφτήκατε καθόλου την ψυχολογία των αθλητών ?
Έπεται συνέχεια....
Σάκης Φωτόπουλος
df@swimmingplanet.com
www.swimmingplanet.com
www.swimmingplanet.blogspot.com
Πέμπτη 4 Ιουνίου 2009
The Greek Swimming Federation (K.O.E.) Harmonize with FINA's list
" June 1st, the Greek Swimming Federation communicated its harmonization with FINA's list,constricting for local events all models which not listed in FINA's list"
Αριθ. πρωτ. 3664/Ε
Αθήνα 1 Ιουνίου 2009
Προς
Σωματεία – Μέλη ΚΟΕ
Περιφερειακές Επιτροπές
-------------------------------
Κύριε Πρόεδρε,
Όπως ίσως έχετε πληροφορηθεί, το τελευταίο διάστημα υπάρχει μεγάλη αναταραχή και συζητήσεις μεταξύ Ομοσπονδιών, παραγόντων, προπονητών κ.λ.π., σχετικά με το αν πρέπει να χρησιμοποιούνται από κολυμβητές-τριες τα μαγιό της νέας τεχνολογίας.
Με πρωτοβουλία της FINA και ύστερα από συσκέψεις της εκτελεστικής επιτροπής του Δ.Σ της FINA, της Τεχνικής Επιτροπής Κολύμβησης της FINA, της επιτροπής προπονητών της FINA, της επιτροπής αθλητών της FINA καθώς και του Νομικού Συμβούλου της FINA και μετά από εξέταση 348 διαφορετικών μαγιό από 21 κατασκευαστές, η εκτελεστική επιτροπή της FINA ενέκρινε τη χρησιμοποίηση των πιο κάτω μαγιό (βλ. συνημμένη κατάσταση) για τις αγωνιστικές εκδηλώσεις της. Η εν λόγω κατάσταση θα ισχύει μέχρι 31.12.2009.
Όσα μαγιό δεν συμπεριλαμβάνονται σε αυτήν την κατάσταση, δεν επιτρέπεται η χρησιμοποίησή τους.
Όπως θα διαπιστώσετε από τη συνημμένη κατάσταση, τα μαγιό που δεν επιτρέπονται είναι αυτά που είναι κατασκευασμένα εξολοκλήρου από Neopren.
Το Δ.Σ της ΚΟΕ στη συνεδρίασή του στις 27/5/09 αποφάσισε να εναρμονισθεί με την απόφαση αυτή.
Σας γνωρίζουμε λοιπόν ότι από 5.6.09 για όλες τις αγωνιστικές εκδηλώσεις εντός Ελλάδας θα επιτρέπεται η χρησιμοποίηση μόνο των μαγιό που αναφέρονται στην συνημμένη κατάσταση της FINA. Είναι αυτονόητο βέβαια ότι δεν υπάρχει περιορισμός για τα κλασσικά μαγιό.
Στους κολυμβητές-τριες που δεν θα φορούν μαγιό εγκεκριμένα, δεν θα επιτρέπεται η συμμετοχή τους στους αγώνες.
Για την τήρηση των πιο πάνω, υπεύθυνοι θα είναι οι Αλυτάρχες των αγώνων.
Για το Δ.Σ
Ο Γενικός Γραμματέας
ΔΗΜΗΤΡΗΣ ΣΑΡΑΚΑΤΣΑΝΗΣ
Αριθ. πρωτ. 3664/Ε
Αθήνα 1 Ιουνίου 2009
Προς
Σωματεία – Μέλη ΚΟΕ
Περιφερειακές Επιτροπές
-------------------------------
Κύριε Πρόεδρε,
Όπως ίσως έχετε πληροφορηθεί, το τελευταίο διάστημα υπάρχει μεγάλη αναταραχή και συζητήσεις μεταξύ Ομοσπονδιών, παραγόντων, προπονητών κ.λ.π., σχετικά με το αν πρέπει να χρησιμοποιούνται από κολυμβητές-τριες τα μαγιό της νέας τεχνολογίας.
Με πρωτοβουλία της FINA και ύστερα από συσκέψεις της εκτελεστικής επιτροπής του Δ.Σ της FINA, της Τεχνικής Επιτροπής Κολύμβησης της FINA, της επιτροπής προπονητών της FINA, της επιτροπής αθλητών της FINA καθώς και του Νομικού Συμβούλου της FINA και μετά από εξέταση 348 διαφορετικών μαγιό από 21 κατασκευαστές, η εκτελεστική επιτροπή της FINA ενέκρινε τη χρησιμοποίηση των πιο κάτω μαγιό (βλ. συνημμένη κατάσταση) για τις αγωνιστικές εκδηλώσεις της. Η εν λόγω κατάσταση θα ισχύει μέχρι 31.12.2009.
Όσα μαγιό δεν συμπεριλαμβάνονται σε αυτήν την κατάσταση, δεν επιτρέπεται η χρησιμοποίησή τους.
Όπως θα διαπιστώσετε από τη συνημμένη κατάσταση, τα μαγιό που δεν επιτρέπονται είναι αυτά που είναι κατασκευασμένα εξολοκλήρου από Neopren.
Το Δ.Σ της ΚΟΕ στη συνεδρίασή του στις 27/5/09 αποφάσισε να εναρμονισθεί με την απόφαση αυτή.
Σας γνωρίζουμε λοιπόν ότι από 5.6.09 για όλες τις αγωνιστικές εκδηλώσεις εντός Ελλάδας θα επιτρέπεται η χρησιμοποίηση μόνο των μαγιό που αναφέρονται στην συνημμένη κατάσταση της FINA. Είναι αυτονόητο βέβαια ότι δεν υπάρχει περιορισμός για τα κλασσικά μαγιό.
Στους κολυμβητές-τριες που δεν θα φορούν μαγιό εγκεκριμένα, δεν θα επιτρέπεται η συμμετοχή τους στους αγώνες.
Για την τήρηση των πιο πάνω, υπεύθυνοι θα είναι οι Αλυτάρχες των αγώνων.
Για το Δ.Σ
Ο Γενικός Γραμματέας
ΔΗΜΗΤΡΗΣ ΣΑΡΑΚΑΤΣΑΝΗΣ
blueseventy FINA approval dated 3rd June 2009
"Here is the last blueseventy's announcement for the swimwear approval rules to its swimsuits."
blueseventy has had no satisfactory response from FINA to its questions about the recent application of the swimwear approval rules to its swimsuits. blueseventy regards the existing decision-making as lacking a satisfactory basis in fact or law. Accordingly, and in the interests of the swimming fraternity and blueseventy’s loyal supporters and athletes it has now instructed lawyers in Europe to take the matter up with FINA directly and immediately.
blueseventy has had no satisfactory response from FINA to its questions about the recent application of the swimwear approval rules to its swimsuits. blueseventy regards the existing decision-making as lacking a satisfactory basis in fact or law. Accordingly, and in the interests of the swimming fraternity and blueseventy’s loyal supporters and athletes it has now instructed lawyers in Europe to take the matter up with FINA directly and immediately.
Τετάρτη 3 Ιουνίου 2009
Gold Medal Mel: The Swimsuit Controversy Continues
Here is an interesting article about the competitive swim suits controversy. The author makes some interesting comments regarding FINA'S decision based on "may cause ... air trapping" and the effect of this decision on the free market and market fairness.
The Swimsuit Controversy Continues
Blueseventy did not make the infamous FINA competitive swimsuit list. FINA's reason was subjective:
"While these swimsuits comply with the buoyancy values when tested in accordance with defined procedure, we note that this kind of construction MAY cause significant air trapping effects when worn by the swimmers."
"May?" May sounds gray. What scientific method did they use to arrive at "may"? (Did Jaked and Arena get the "may" answer as well?)
Whether FINA's method was scientific or not, National Governing Bodies around the globe are deciding whether or not to accept it. USA Swimming's Rules & Regulations Committee is doing just that. Based on the feedback I've gotten, USA Swimming is following FINA 100%. Japan, Italy and France are not. British Swimming is allowing the suits previously approved by FINA through September of '09. (The Brits are doing so to give the companies and the swimmers who have invested in the now banned suits, time to make changes and adjustments.)
Can the Brits, Japanese, Italians, and/or the French, really compete in suits which are not on the list? If they break world records, will the records count? What world record swims count that have been swum in the past, the ones broken in suits that are now not on the list?
I know, I know. It is very easy to get lost in this world with so much divided leadership.
The competitive swimsuit biz, marshaled by FINA, has become the wild, wild west. While I confess that I love the media circus it has caused and is causing, unfortunately FINA's actions right now will disrupt market fairness.
I know the introduction of new technology can get ugly, and I have compassion for the FINA folks at this time in history. HOWEVER, I always worry about market fairness, the ability of all players involved to make money. We need a vibrant market. We need lots of players.
Speaking from an Olympian's point of view, one who was once under contract at Speedo, I knew my value to them was based on my not endorsing some other swimsuit. During my time, the era of papersuits, Speedo was an fantastic partner. I valued our relationship. The money I earned supported my training. Without them I couldn't have continued competing.
I worry now about the world-class swimmers trying to make it, the ones on the edge, just out of the medal count. Often these swimmers become our new champions, and in 2009 they're more than likely post-graduates. They need a vibrant market. They need swimsuit manufacturers who need them. They need endorsement dollars to sustain their careers on the way to the Olympics.
The rub here is simple: FINA needs to be fair. They should've given swimsuit manufacturers, like Blueseventy, time to make changes before World Championship, the biggest meet of the year.
Sadly, FINA has not.
I could reference other swimsuit manufacturers, but I'm not. I'm referencing Blueseventy for one reason: I know Roque.
Roque Santos is an old teammate, my fellow Olympic alum from the 1992 Games in Spain. Roque is now (and has been) the man behind Blueseventy, the competitive swimsuit that nabbed a nice piece of the market share since last spring.
Rogue is good guy. Everybody know and loves Roque! From our '92 Class, he was the most popular swimmer, the easiest guy to get alone with.
I remember seeing Roque all last year. He had a grin on his face and car-trunk full of blue suits. "It's fast, Melvin. Just try it. You'll see." I tried it and liked it, but it meant little to me. I was doing it purely out of curiosity, to get some overall sense about the new technology.
What I saw Roque doing last year made me very proud. He was selling a great new product, and quickly Blueseventy became sort of an APPLE in a PC world. While Speedo saturated the market with splashy ads and flashy Olympic athlete appearances, Roque sold Blueseventy on the road to our grassroot swimming geeks.
"It's fast..." was his pitch alone, and it worked on the strength of his reputation and the product's results.
Watching '08 Olympic Trials and the Olympic Games, I saw a lot of Speedos, a few TYR suits and a surprising number of Blueseventies. Then US Masters Swimming partnered with Blueseventy, and soon a splashy sponsorship with an Olympic icon followed. Blueseventy had arrived. Roque had clearly done a great job!
For me, Roque did more than grab market share. He created a brand that could and would go on to support Olympic swimmers' careers.
I've saved this last part, though it's no big reveal. Blueseventy has been FINA approved for nearly two years. Now absent from the FINA list, Blueseventy is stuck trying to modify their product. Can they do it by World Trials? Can they do it by World Champs? It difficult to proceed with feedback from FINA like "may". Still I hope so, for Roque...and for every single world-class athlete.
The Swimsuit Controversy Continues
Blueseventy did not make the infamous FINA competitive swimsuit list. FINA's reason was subjective:
"While these swimsuits comply with the buoyancy values when tested in accordance with defined procedure, we note that this kind of construction MAY cause significant air trapping effects when worn by the swimmers."
"May?" May sounds gray. What scientific method did they use to arrive at "may"? (Did Jaked and Arena get the "may" answer as well?)
Whether FINA's method was scientific or not, National Governing Bodies around the globe are deciding whether or not to accept it. USA Swimming's Rules & Regulations Committee is doing just that. Based on the feedback I've gotten, USA Swimming is following FINA 100%. Japan, Italy and France are not. British Swimming is allowing the suits previously approved by FINA through September of '09. (The Brits are doing so to give the companies and the swimmers who have invested in the now banned suits, time to make changes and adjustments.)
Can the Brits, Japanese, Italians, and/or the French, really compete in suits which are not on the list? If they break world records, will the records count? What world record swims count that have been swum in the past, the ones broken in suits that are now not on the list?
I know, I know. It is very easy to get lost in this world with so much divided leadership.
The competitive swimsuit biz, marshaled by FINA, has become the wild, wild west. While I confess that I love the media circus it has caused and is causing, unfortunately FINA's actions right now will disrupt market fairness.
I know the introduction of new technology can get ugly, and I have compassion for the FINA folks at this time in history. HOWEVER, I always worry about market fairness, the ability of all players involved to make money. We need a vibrant market. We need lots of players.
Speaking from an Olympian's point of view, one who was once under contract at Speedo, I knew my value to them was based on my not endorsing some other swimsuit. During my time, the era of papersuits, Speedo was an fantastic partner. I valued our relationship. The money I earned supported my training. Without them I couldn't have continued competing.
I worry now about the world-class swimmers trying to make it, the ones on the edge, just out of the medal count. Often these swimmers become our new champions, and in 2009 they're more than likely post-graduates. They need a vibrant market. They need swimsuit manufacturers who need them. They need endorsement dollars to sustain their careers on the way to the Olympics.
The rub here is simple: FINA needs to be fair. They should've given swimsuit manufacturers, like Blueseventy, time to make changes before World Championship, the biggest meet of the year.
Sadly, FINA has not.
I could reference other swimsuit manufacturers, but I'm not. I'm referencing Blueseventy for one reason: I know Roque.
Roque Santos is an old teammate, my fellow Olympic alum from the 1992 Games in Spain. Roque is now (and has been) the man behind Blueseventy, the competitive swimsuit that nabbed a nice piece of the market share since last spring.
Rogue is good guy. Everybody know and loves Roque! From our '92 Class, he was the most popular swimmer, the easiest guy to get alone with.
I remember seeing Roque all last year. He had a grin on his face and car-trunk full of blue suits. "It's fast, Melvin. Just try it. You'll see." I tried it and liked it, but it meant little to me. I was doing it purely out of curiosity, to get some overall sense about the new technology.
What I saw Roque doing last year made me very proud. He was selling a great new product, and quickly Blueseventy became sort of an APPLE in a PC world. While Speedo saturated the market with splashy ads and flashy Olympic athlete appearances, Roque sold Blueseventy on the road to our grassroot swimming geeks.
"It's fast..." was his pitch alone, and it worked on the strength of his reputation and the product's results.
Watching '08 Olympic Trials and the Olympic Games, I saw a lot of Speedos, a few TYR suits and a surprising number of Blueseventies. Then US Masters Swimming partnered with Blueseventy, and soon a splashy sponsorship with an Olympic icon followed. Blueseventy had arrived. Roque had clearly done a great job!
For me, Roque did more than grab market share. He created a brand that could and would go on to support Olympic swimmers' careers.
I've saved this last part, though it's no big reveal. Blueseventy has been FINA approved for nearly two years. Now absent from the FINA list, Blueseventy is stuck trying to modify their product. Can they do it by World Trials? Can they do it by World Champs? It difficult to proceed with feedback from FINA like "may". Still I hope so, for Roque...and for every single world-class athlete.
Τρίτη 2 Ιουνίου 2009
USA Swimming Amends Rules Regarding Swimsuits -- June 1, 2009
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, June 1.
FOLLOWING the ruling by FINA on May 19, 2009, regarding approval of swimsuits for international competition, USA Swimming's Rules and Regulations Committee has announced an amendment to rule 102.9, covering swimsuits at USA Swimming competitions.
The committee has also outlined specific rules applying to swimsuits allowed at the 2009 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships and World Championship Trials and 2009 Open Water Word Championship Trials. These amendments are designed to provide consistency with the rules as established by FINA.
Effective June 1, 2009, swimmers competing in USA Swimming-sanctioned or approved competitions will be governed by the following rules. Only swimwear approved by FINA, as reflected on its published list of approved swimwear, may be worn in any USA Swimming sanctioned or approved competition.
Additionally, since the FINA-approved list only addresses "new model" swimsuits submitted by swimsuit manufacturers, swimmers will, until otherwise directed by FINA, also be able to wear traditional swimsuits provided the suits meet the following criteria:
1. For female swimmers, the swimsuit shall not cover the neck, extend past the shoulders or past the pelvis, and
2. For male swimmers, the swimsuit shall not extend above the navel or below the knees. There are currently 202 suits on the FINA-approved list. If and when FINA approves additional suits, those suits will also be allowed in USA Swimming competition. At the 2009 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships and World Championship Trials, and the 2009 Open Water World Championship Trials, the following rules apply, in addition to the above. Only those permitted swimsuit models that are available to all competitors may be used. To avoid confusion, availability is defined as follows:
1. The swimsuit manufacturer is present at the event with its approved swimsuits available for all competitors on a purchase, loan, give-away or other basis, or
2. The swimsuit manufacturer has provided to USA Swimming a written representation in the form requested by USA Swimming, that its approved swimsuit will be made available before July 7, 2009 to all World Championship Trials competitors and before June 14, 2009 to all Open Water World Championship Trials competitors on a purchase, loan, or giveaway basis through retail stores, the internet, or other means.
USA Swimming will publish a list of swimsuit manufacturers who have made this representation once they are received. Competitors may rely on this list as approval to wear a particular swimsuit model at either event. The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing.
Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.
FOLLOWING the ruling by FINA on May 19, 2009, regarding approval of swimsuits for international competition, USA Swimming's Rules and Regulations Committee has announced an amendment to rule 102.9, covering swimsuits at USA Swimming competitions.
The committee has also outlined specific rules applying to swimsuits allowed at the 2009 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships and World Championship Trials and 2009 Open Water Word Championship Trials. These amendments are designed to provide consistency with the rules as established by FINA.
Effective June 1, 2009, swimmers competing in USA Swimming-sanctioned or approved competitions will be governed by the following rules. Only swimwear approved by FINA, as reflected on its published list of approved swimwear, may be worn in any USA Swimming sanctioned or approved competition.
Additionally, since the FINA-approved list only addresses "new model" swimsuits submitted by swimsuit manufacturers, swimmers will, until otherwise directed by FINA, also be able to wear traditional swimsuits provided the suits meet the following criteria:
1. For female swimmers, the swimsuit shall not cover the neck, extend past the shoulders or past the pelvis, and
2. For male swimmers, the swimsuit shall not extend above the navel or below the knees. There are currently 202 suits on the FINA-approved list. If and when FINA approves additional suits, those suits will also be allowed in USA Swimming competition. At the 2009 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships and World Championship Trials, and the 2009 Open Water World Championship Trials, the following rules apply, in addition to the above. Only those permitted swimsuit models that are available to all competitors may be used. To avoid confusion, availability is defined as follows:
1. The swimsuit manufacturer is present at the event with its approved swimsuits available for all competitors on a purchase, loan, give-away or other basis, or
2. The swimsuit manufacturer has provided to USA Swimming a written representation in the form requested by USA Swimming, that its approved swimsuit will be made available before July 7, 2009 to all World Championship Trials competitors and before June 14, 2009 to all Open Water World Championship Trials competitors on a purchase, loan, or giveaway basis through retail stores, the internet, or other means.
USA Swimming will publish a list of swimsuit manufacturers who have made this representation once they are received. Competitors may rely on this list as approval to wear a particular swimsuit model at either event. The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing.
Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.
Δευτέρα 1 Ιουνίου 2009
Larfaoui 'Steps Down' From Fight For FINA Presidency
Craig Lord
May 30, 2009
Speculation is rife that Mustapha Larfaoui's 21-year presidency of FINA will end in Rome in July after the Algerian member of the IOC decided to step down from the presidential contest with Treasurer Julio Maglione.
Rumours that reached SwimNews from Germany today have been confirmed as "accurate" by senior FINA sources. Official confirmation is yet to announced, but if the president's decision is confirmed, it will come as a relief to the swimming world. Some may link it directly to the suits issue and the distraction at a time of crisis of the bitter political infighting that developed as a result of Mr Larfaoui's decision to stand once more for the FINA presidency after first having indicated that he would make way for a new candidate.
But the effect of Larfaoui standing aside is more significant for the future of FINA than the past: the president can pass to honorary status with some dignity, with the achievements of his years at the helm since 1988 credited to him, while a period of calm can descend on FINA before Congress in Rome, allowing all parties to work more closely on the solutions that must be found not only on suits but on the future structures of an international federation that has been perceived as dysfunctional at times of difficulty.
We await confirmation from FINA of the speculation spreading through the swimming community today. It is believed that the president made his decision known to the FINA executive in Lausanne yesterday, when issues regarding Rome 2009 and the suits crisis were discussed by the international federation's top table, including Maglione and Bartolo Consolo, the hon secretary.
May 30, 2009
Speculation is rife that Mustapha Larfaoui's 21-year presidency of FINA will end in Rome in July after the Algerian member of the IOC decided to step down from the presidential contest with Treasurer Julio Maglione.
Rumours that reached SwimNews from Germany today have been confirmed as "accurate" by senior FINA sources. Official confirmation is yet to announced, but if the president's decision is confirmed, it will come as a relief to the swimming world. Some may link it directly to the suits issue and the distraction at a time of crisis of the bitter political infighting that developed as a result of Mr Larfaoui's decision to stand once more for the FINA presidency after first having indicated that he would make way for a new candidate.
But the effect of Larfaoui standing aside is more significant for the future of FINA than the past: the president can pass to honorary status with some dignity, with the achievements of his years at the helm since 1988 credited to him, while a period of calm can descend on FINA before Congress in Rome, allowing all parties to work more closely on the solutions that must be found not only on suits but on the future structures of an international federation that has been perceived as dysfunctional at times of difficulty.
We await confirmation from FINA of the speculation spreading through the swimming community today. It is believed that the president made his decision known to the FINA executive in Lausanne yesterday, when issues regarding Rome 2009 and the suits crisis were discussed by the international federation's top table, including Maglione and Bartolo Consolo, the hon secretary.
1 June Update FINA approval process for Blueseventy
We remain in the same situation as before and are not on the list. We continue to believe this is an oversight since we can now confirm that our suits passed all the tests that EPFL put them through. We will be in further contact with FINA and will have an update on the situation at 1pm PST weds.
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