Swimming world championships moved from 2021 to 2022

PARIS: The next swimming world championships, scheduled for summer 2021 in Japan, have been pushed back until May 2022 following the postponement of the Olympic Games, the sport’s governing body said Monday.

The world championships were due to be held in Fukuoka next year from July 16-August 1 but will instead take place from May 13-29 in 2022, the international swimming federation (FINA) said in a statement.

The 2020 Olympic Games were delayed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, and will now run from July 23-August 8 in 2021.

“After liaising with the relevant stakeholders and receiving feedback from them, we have no doubt that the decision taken will provide the best possible conditions for all participants at the championships,” said FINA president Julio Maglione.

“At a time of unprecedented uncertainty, FINA hopes the announcement of these dates will allow for some clarity in planning for all concerned.”

The world aquatics championships also feature diving, open water swimming, synchronised swimming and water polo.

It’s believed aquatics worlds, held 18 times since the start in 1973, have never taken place in May. They have almost always been in July and August, save times Australia hosted during its warmer months.

A May swimming worlds could also allow for the major summer meets in even, non-Olympic years — European Championships, Pan Pacific Championships — to still be held. However, FINA has not commented on that scenario.