FINA President Husain Al-Musallam.

SINGAPORE, July 29: The International Aquatics Federation (FINA) has announced significant additions to the aquatics program for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The 50-meter events in breaststroke, butterfly, and backstroke have been added to the Olympic schedule. Additionally, the women's water polo tournament will be expanded to include 12 teams—matching the number of men’s teams for the first time in Olympic history.

The announcement was made during the FINA Congress in Singapore, held on the sidelines of the World Championships. The session was attended by prominent figures, including IOC President Christie Coventry, IOC Honorary President Dr. Thomas Bach, and FINA President Husain Al-Musallam.

Al-Musallam also revealed that the federation's scholarship program has been expanded to support 111 athletes, up from 87 in 2021. For the first time, the program now includes water polo players, offering them access to training and educational opportunities.

To further support athlete development, the number of FINA training centers has grown from four to six, with new facilities established in Thailand, the United States, France, Canada, Australia, and Hungary. A seventh center is slated to open soon in Bahrain, which will host more than 50 swimmers and divers and provide academic support.

Highlighting the progress of the "Pools for All" initiative, Al-Musallam pointed to the success of the world’s highest-altitude pool built in Bhutan last year. He confirmed that the next pools under the program will be inaugurated in the Maldives before year-end and in Granada thereafter.

The federation has also made significant strides in coach and official development. Since 2021, the number of certified coaches has grown from 15 to 346, while certified technical referees have risen from 132 to 873 across 77 countries.

Al-Musallam noted that financial support for national federations under the IAAF Support Program has increased by 25% over the past four years, benefiting a record 193 federations. Furthermore, 42% of the IAAF's total expenditure has been dedicated to development programs—ranking highest among all international federations.

In a landmark move, Al-Musallam announced the launch of an Athlete Retirement Compensation Program, with an initial investment of $10 million. He called it a pioneering step among international federations, driven by the recommendations of a dedicated working group. Further details are expected to be shared in due course.

Additionally, the IAAF has increased the prize money pool for athletes, distributing more than $12 million last year, and has adopted a gender equity policy to protect and support female athletes—setting a benchmark for other sports bodies.

Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Al-Musallam stressed that the federation maintained its high standards, successfully organizing nine major events in the past four years.