2019 World Aquatics Championships Explained

18th FINA World Championships
Hostcity:Gwangju, South Korea
Dates:12–28 July[1]
Venues:Nambu University
Chosun University
Yeosu Expo Ocean Park
Yeomju Gymnasium
Athletes:2,623
Nations:192
Previous:Budapest 2017
Next:Budapest 2022

The 2019 World Aquatics Championships were the 18th FINA World Aquatics Championships, held in Gwangju, South Korea from 12 to 28 July 2019. The city had previously hosted the 2015 Summer Universiade aquatics events in the same venues.[2]

Host selection

The host was announced on 19 July 2013 on the biennial General Congress of FINA in Barcelona, the host-city of the 2013 World Aquatics Championships.[3] Budapest was awarded the 2021 Championships in the same vote, though in 2015 it was announced that they will host the 2017 Championships due to Guadalajara's withdrawal. Fukuoka was subsequently awarded the 2021 event.

The awarding was controversial within Korea as the South Korean government claimed that the mayor of Gwangju had forged the signature of endorsement.[4] As a result, the Korean government initially refused to fund the event, but eventually agreed upon passage of a law that required National Assembly approval for future bids for major sporting events.

Symbols

The mascots for the event were a pair of otters, chosen due to their natural habitat being in the mountains near Gwangju, as well as their symbolizing "swimmers' passion for challenge", according to the organizing committee. The slogan of the Championships, meanwhile, was "Dive Into Peace".[5]

Venues

Most of the competitions were held at the Main Aquatics Centre, built for the 2015 Summer Universiade, also hosted in Gwangju.[6] The Aquatics Centre hosted the swimming and diving competitions, and there were two adjacent outdoor temporary venues for synchronised swimming and water polo.[7]

Schedule

A total of 76 medal events were held across six disciplines.[8] Beach water polo was introduced as a demonstration, non-medal event.

bgcolor=#00cc33 align=center valign=centerOpening ceremonybgcolor=#3399ff align=center valign=centerOther competitionsbgcolor=#ffcc00 align=center valign=centerFinalsbgcolor=#ee3333 align=center valign=centerClosing ceremonyMMen's matchesWWomen's matches
July1213141516171819202122232425262728Total
Ceremonies bgcolor=#00cc33 bgcolor=#ee3333 align=center-
Swimming4455556842
Open water swimmingbgcolor=ffcc00 1bgcolor=ffcc00 1bgcolor=ffcc00 1bgcolor=ffcc00 1bgcolor=ffcc00 1bgcolor=ffcc00 27
Artistic swimming1121111210
Diving3221111213
High diving112
Water poloWMWMWMWMWMWMWM2
Beach water poloWMWMWM2
Total0544333444466567876
Cumulative Total059131619222630343844505561687676

Medal table

China topped the medal table, although the United States won the highest number of medals in total.[9] Host nation South Korea earned one bronze medal, from Kim Su-ji in the Women's 1 m springboard.

Participating nations

Out of 209 FINA members, 191 nations took part in the Championships, as well as a Refugee Team of independent FINA athletes. 194 teams initially entered,[10] [11] setting a new record number of participating nations. However, Lesotho and the United Arab Emirates subsequently withdrew their athletes and did not appear on the start list.[12] [13]

Media coverage

In the United States, NBCUniversal holds rights to the event.[14] [15]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FINA.org . 31 July 2017 . 12 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180312011922/http://www.fina.org/event/18th-fina-world-championships-0 . dead .
  2. http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-swimming-world-idUKBRE96I0CK20130719
  3. http://world.kbs.co.kr/service/news_view.htm?lang=e&Seq_Code=97323 Gwangju Wins Bid to Host 2019 Aquatics Championships
  4. https://swimswam.com/2019-fina-world-cships-bidding-scandal-creates-gwangju-money-woes/ FINA World Championships Bidding Scandal Creates Gwangju Money Woes
  5. Web site: 2018-05-04 . Otters Symbolically Chosen as Gwangju 2019 World Championships Mascots . https://web.archive.org/web/20220713172503/https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/otters-symbolically-chosen-as-gwangju-2019-world-championships-mascot/ . July 13, 2022 . 2022-08-16 . Swimming World News . en-US.
  6. http://gwangju2019.com/?cat=6 Our Plan
  7. Web site: 18th FINA World Championships - Venue Info . 24 June 2019 . 8 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190708093204/http://www.fina.org/content/18th-fina-world-championships-venue-info . dead .
  8. Web site: Schedule . 22 June 2019 . 22 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190622130318/https://www.fina.org/sites/default/files/general/fina_wch_gwangju_2019_-_comeptition_schedule_-_rev.18.06.2019.pdf . dead .
  9. Web site: Medals.. 2020-09-16. fina.org. 27 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201027042008/http://fina.org/event/18th-fina-world-championships/medals. dead.
  10. Web site: PR 57 - FINA Bureau Meeting in Gwangju (KOR) . FINA . 30 July 2019.
  11. Web site: Gwangju 2019 World Championships boast record 194 participating nations . 14 July 2019 . SwimSwam . 30 July 2019.
  12. Web site: Entry List by Event and Nation . FINA . 20 July 2019.
  13. Web site: Results Book . FINA . 20 July 2019.
  14. Web site: FINA partners with Universal Sports: new media rights agreement in the USA until 2021. FINA. 6 July 2017. 27 January 2014.
  15. Web site: NBCUniversal acquires Universal Sports programming from World Championship Sports Network. NBC Sports Group. 14 September 2016. 6 July 2017.