Diana Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 World Cup swim meet cancelled due to funding Sep 29, 2009 12:00 PM ASSOCIATED PRESS ROME – A World Cup swimming event scheduled for Rio de Janeiro next month has been cancelled after organizers failed to come up with enough funding. The announcement comes at a particularly delicate moment, with Rio competing against Chicago, Madrid and Tokyo in Friday's vote to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. "There are no financial resources. They cannot find any funding. They say they cannot do it," Cornel Marculescu, the executive director of swimming governing body FINA, said Tuesday. The World Cup page on FINA's website has a line crossing out the Rio meet, with the word "cancelled" printed twice. Marculescu said Rio informed FINA of the decision "two or three weeks ago," adding that the Brazilian city has also pulled out of hosting World Cup events from 2010-13. Marculescu refused to speculate if the cancellations would have any effect on the IOC vote. "I only know about my own sport, and there will be no World Cup in Rio for the next four years," he said. "The Olympic Games is a different budget. Rio's proposals for aquatics venues are very good." The move is also surprising because of interest generated after Cesar Cielo swept the 50- and 100-metre freestyle events in Rome a few months ago for Brazil's first gold medals in 27 years at a swimming world championship. Belo Horizonte has hosted a World Cup event for the last several years, but the Brazilian federation wanted to move the meet to Rio to attract a better international field. "Belo Horizonte is difficult to get to," Marculescu noted. ``You have to change planes in Rio or Sao Paulo." Without Rio, only five World Cup events will be held this year – in Durban, South Africa; Moscow, Stockholm, Berlin and Singapore. From 2010-2013 there will be seven short-course meets – in Berlin, Stockholm, Moscow, Dubai and Singapore; and at sites to be determined in China and Japan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micheal_warren Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 Interesting I am not sure how much of a bearing it will have on the result. But it will put some doubt into the minds of some people Rio's ability to host and organise the games. If Rio can;t get their act together to organise a swim meet then what does that say about their ability to host the games? Time will no doubt tell if this will have a bearing on the final vote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew NYC Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 This is just a meeting, not a competition. Its far more complicated to get funding as there are no sport activity at all. There's no public support other than the federation. A sport event is different and get strong financial supports. Rio 2016 bid for example got Bradesco (BBD), Odebrecht, TAM, EBX and Embratel. And the games will got for sure Petrobras support. I would not be confused by this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cslopes54 Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 If rio can't get funds for a swimming competition, how do you think the city prepared the Panams games? It costed billions... And defintely will be getting alot more support if rio2016 becomes a reality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew NYC Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 Again, what competition ? Since when a meeting has become a competition ? Any city in the world has cancelled events in the past ! Including New York, London, Paris.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aluz Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 Some browsing in some swimming website show that the World Cup as a role is in jeopardy. FINA has changed its rules several times, but the tour seems to be losing momentum and some alternatives are being considered. Australia (probably the most swimming-crazy country) also withdrew from this year edition. Anyway, it's a shame. It would be the last opportunities for Brazilians to watch Cesar Cielo in the country this year - the only one after the sweep in the printing events in Rome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 in the printing events in Rome. When did "printing" become an Olympic sport? I must've missed something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aluz Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 When did "printing" become an Olympic sport? I must've missed something. Ok. Missed an "s": sprinting events. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 Ok. Missed an "s": sprinting events. I know. Just giving you a hard time, aluz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiTown16 Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 Again, what competition ? Since when a meeting has become a competition ? Any city in the world has cancelled events in the past ! Including New York, London, Paris.... A meet meaning swim meet (or multiple sporting event competition in a single venue) - not a meet as in a meeting or congress. CHItown '16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosh Posted September 29, 2009 Report Share Posted September 29, 2009 Rio has held a number of international sporting events just this year that were successful. This one was canceled because its' long time sponsor pulled out. The Olympics won't have that problem mainly because it's backstopped by the Brazilian government at all levels, and because the Olympics is a potentially much much more lucrative event. Moving on... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Athensfan Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 I don't doubt that the funds would be there for the Olympics. The significant thing about this development is that it reveals the state of sports organization. Clearly things are falling through the cracks. That is something to keep in mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aluz Posted September 30, 2009 Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 In a recently issued statement, the Rio 2016 Bid Committee replied to this news. First, there were two mistakes in the news released by AP: 1. The cancellation was made in the beginning of the month and not this week as stated. 2. FINA Executive Director Cornel Marculescu confirmed FINA's interest in having Brazil hosting WC events from 2010-13. The motive of the cancellation was confirmed to be the lack of funds. The reason for it being the emphasis given by CBDA (Brazilian Aquatics Federation) to the preparations for the 2009 FINA World Championship in Rome. In fact, Brazil did have a good participation in the event taking 4 medals home (2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze) and finishing among the top 10 in swimming. As I said before, there is an ongoing battle between the CBDA president and the National Postal Service regarding the existing sponsorship contract and how its funds should be used. Probably, the event was cancelled due to the refusal from the sponsor to give additional money for the event preparations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diana Posted September 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2009 I know. Just giving you a hard time, aluz. Baron, you are as nervous and edgy as the other Brazilians are. Cool it! Time to take a rest. How about a glass of wine???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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