(Lausanne) Russia was deprived of the organization of the 2025 World Aquatic Championships on Thursday, and the organization that oversees the event has instead granted it to Singapore.
Russia, which had been selected as host country in 2019, was to present the event in Kazan, also the scene of the 2015 Aquatic Worlds.
The International Olympic Committee had asked international sports federations to avoid granting the organization of events to Russia, following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
“Singapore has everything we hope to share with our athletes: world-class facilities, a proven track record of delivering the highest quality events and a holistic approach to aquatic sports from elite to community level,” said said Husain Al-Musallam, president of World Aquatics, in a statement that did not mention Russia.
The Aquatic Worlds include swimming, diving, artistic swimming and water polo. The 2023 Worlds will be held in Fukuoka, Japan, and next year’s in Doha, Qatar.
World Aquatics had already deprived Russia of the organization of the Aquatic Worlds in short course last year, preferring to offer them in Melbourne, Australia.