FINA has announced new dates for the 19th FINA World Aquatic Championship, that were originally planned to be held in Fukuoka, Japan during the summer of 2021.

The original event dates of July 16th to August 1st 2021, meant that the international swimming competition would clash with the new dates that were announced for the Tokyo Olympics (23rd July to 8th August 2021), following it’s postponement due to the global disruption caused by COVID-19.

After consulting with Fukuoka City, the Japanese Swimming federation, athletes hoping to compete and their coaches, as well as technical parties involved with the event, FINA has published that the World Championships has been pushed back by one year and will now take place from May 13th to the 29th, 2022.

According to a press release from FINA Communications Department, the president of FINA, Dr. Julio C. Maglione spoke of the announcement; “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. We look forward to witnessing the world’s best aquatic athletes from around the world competing in the city of Fukuoka (JPN) in 2022,” he continued, “At a time of unprecedented uncertainty, FINA hopes the announcement of these dates will allow for some clarity in planning for all concerned.”

2022 is set to be a busy year for swimmers with the new dates now meaning that four major swimming competition events are to be held across that year. The competition lined up for 2022 now includes the FINA World Aquatic Championships, the Commonwealth Games, the Pan-Pacific Championships and the Asian Games.

The European Aquatic Championships have also been postponed, but surprisingly the new dates for the event will take place during May of 2021, almost coinciding with the new dates for the Tokyo Olympic Games. Despite the close timing of the two events, organisers for the European Championships appear to be set on the new 2021 dates, and as stated in this press release from the organization, are currently considering how they can reschedule their 2020 water polo cup competition, which is currently cancelled.

It is important to note that the FINA World Aquatic Championships is not just a racing competition for speed swimmers, but covers a range of different swimming divisions. The aquatic sports accepted for the event are competitive swimming, diving, high diving, open water swimming, artistic swimming (formerly known as synchronized swimming) and water polo.

The 18th FINA World Aquatic Championship held in South Korea during 2019, saw a new record set for the number of participants involved in the competition, with 192 members of FINA, and 2,623 athletes.

The upcoming event, to be held during 2022, will mainly be held at the Marine Messe in Fukuoka, which was built in 1995 summer Universiade. At the venue, ticket holders will be able to watch the competitive swimming contest and artistic swimming competition.

Fukuoka’s Kokusai center will be hosting the water polo event, and diving will be held at Fukuoka Prefectural Pool. For ticket holders looking to watch the open water swimming and high diving competitions, Boat Race Fukuoka will be hosting the two events.

Fukuoka won the rights to serve as host for the 19th FINA World Aquatic Championships in 2016, after Guadalajara in Mexico abandoned the event due to financial problems in March 2015. The new dates will mark the second time that Fukuoka City has held the important international swim meet, after having hosted the 9th FINA World Aquatic Championships in 2001, 19 years ago in 2001.