Finswimming is one of the most exciting water sport ever. Finswimming is a sport belonging to the aquatic specialties which, using specific equipment (monofin, fins, snorkel or cylinders) allows the athlete to reach much higher speeds than swimming. There are indoor (swimming pools) and open water (sea, lake, rivers) championships.

To which federation belongs Finswimming?

The international federation to which fin swimming belongs is CMAS, the Confédération Mondial des Activités Subaquatiques, which is part of the ARISF, and is a discipline recognized by the IOC.

Is there an age limit to join Finswimming?

Finswimming is suitable for any age . In fact, there are competitions for very young people, for children and adults and for veterans, over 25 years old.

How can I find a Finswimming club?

You can find Finswimming clubs easily, just looking on the internet.

How can i stay updated with Finswimming News?

Finswimmer Magazine is the most comprehensive web site about Finswimming in which you can find events, updates and everything about Finswimming.

2nd CMAS Freediving and Finswimming Paralympic World Championship - Finswimmer Magazine

The 2nd CMAS World Championship for Para Finswimming Indoor, scheduled from 14th to 18th November 2024 in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy, will bring together the world’s best para-athletes in the sport of finswimming. Organized by the Italian Federation FIPSAS, this event will serve not only as a platform for world title contention but also as a key selection event for the 12th edition of the World Games in Chengdu, China, in August 2025. Let’s delve deeper into the details of the event, from its historical importance to the logistics and competition structure.

Welcome from the FIPSAS President

FIPSAS President, Prof. Ugo Claudio Matteoli, expressed his excitement for the event in his official welcome message. He emphasized the importance of the championship, recognizing it as a cornerstone in promoting Paralympic Freediving and Finswimming on an international stage. Additionally, this event will significantly contribute to the selection process for the World Games, fostering enthusiasm and competitive spirit among athletes. His message welcomed international delegations and expressed confidence in the event’s success due to collaboration with local authorities and sports clubs.

Lignano Sabbiadoro: A Perfect Host City

Lignano Sabbiadoro, the venue for the event, is a renowned tourist destination in northern Italy. Known for its extensive sandy beaches and lively nightlife, the city stands on a pine-tree-covered peninsula in the Marano lagoon nature reserve. The site provides excellent facilities, including historical landmarks like the Hemingway Park and the Punta Verde Zoo Park, blending the rich history and natural beauty of the region.

The Bella Italia Sports Village, nestled within 60 hectares of verdant pine forest, will serve as the venue for the competition. With a dedicated 1120-meter-long beach and two indoor pools (one Olympic-sized), the village offers an ideal environment for athletes to train, compete, and relax. This venue has been designed with accessibility in mind, ensuring para-athletes can navigate the facilities with ease.

Event Structure and Disability Classes

The competition will follow the CMAS rules, and only national federation teams affiliated with CMAS are eligible to participate. Participants will compete across various disability classes, which are divided into categories based on the type of impairment:
– Motor Disabilities: FS1 to FS4
– Visual Impairments: FS11 to FS13
– Intellectual/Relational Disabilities: FS21 and FS14
– Deaf Athletes: Category 0

Athletes must be at least 14 years old to compete. The competition will feature multiple distances and events, including finswimming with bifins(BF) and monofins(SF), covering distances of 25m, 50m, 100m, and 200m. For relay events, teams must adhere to specific class point limits, ensuring fairness across different levels of impairment.

Competition Highlights

1. Finswimming Events: Competitions will include the 25m, 50m, 100m, and 200m BF and SF styles for both men and women. A unique feature of the finswimming competition is the unified relay system, which considers the combined disability points of the athletes in the team.
2. Freediving Events: Dynamic Freediving (with and without fins) and Static Freediving competitions will also be held alongside the finswimming events. These will be contested in 25m and 50m pools.
3. Relay Races: These will include 4x50m BF and SF mixed relays and will have separate categories for physical, visual, and intellectual disabilities. Special rules will ensure that teams compete fairly by calculating the total score based on the athletes’ disability classes.

Key Dates and Schedule

The competition will run for five days, with the official program as follows:
– Thursday, 14th November: Arrival of delegations, check-in, and training.
– Friday, 15th November: Opening ceremony, classification checks, and first finswimming competitions.
– Saturday, 16th November: Dynamic Freediving and further finswimming competitions.
– Sunday, 17th November: Static Freediving and final finswimming events, followed by the closing ceremony.
– Monday, 18th November: Departure of delegations.

Registration and Participation

Each nation may enter a maximum of two male and two female swimmers per disability class for each distance. Only one team can be registered for each relay. Entries must be submitted by 14th September 2024, and the final hotel booking and fee payments are due by 30th September 2024.

The registration fee for participants is €400, which includes accommodation in three-star hotels with full board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). For those seeking single-room accommodation, there is an additional charge of €50 per day. Teams can also opt for training camps before the event, priced at €100 per person per day, including full board and lane rentals.

Awards, Anti-Doping, and Other Considerations

The championship will adhere to CMAS regulations regarding classification, awards, and the handling of protests. Doping controls will be conducted according to WADA standards. The organizer requires each team to bring three national flags and a CD with their national anthem for the ceremonies.

Conclusion

The 2024 CMAS World Championship for Para Finswimming Indoor promises to be a celebration of excellence in para-sports, offering athletes the chance to showcase their skills on an international platform. Lignano Sabbiadoro’s welcoming atmosphere and state-of-the-art facilities make it an ideal location for this prestigious event. The competition will not only determine world champions but also play a crucial role in preparing athletes for the upcoming World Games in 2025. As the countdown to November begins, the excitement for this unique championship continues to build.

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2024 CMAS 2nd World Championship Para Finswimming Indoor_Results.pdf

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