International Swimming Federation
| Name | International Swimming Federation (Fédération internationale de natation) |
| Abbreviation | FINA |
| Foundation date | July 19, 1908 |
| Jurisdiction | International |
| Affiliation | Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) |
| President | Julio Maglione |
| Headquarters | Lausanne, Switzerland |
| Address | Chemin de Bellevue 24a/24b CH - 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland |
| Website | http://www.fina.org/ |
FINA is the global governing body of water sports recognised by the International Olympic Committee to administer water sports competitions at the international level. The federation aims to establish unified rules and regulations to conduct water sports events at the major stages and controls the development of swimming, diving, water polo, high diving, synchronised swimming and open water swimming. Since 1973, it has been organising the World Championships in the respective water sports disciplines.
History
Founded back on 19 July 1908, FINA is the outcome of the brainstorm of eight national federations: Belgium, Finland, France, Great Britain, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Hungary. In 1912, women events were conducted in the Stockholm (SWE) Olympic Games for the first time in the history of water sports. With the participation of 18 teams from five continents at the London Olympics in 1948, Water Polo went global. The first permanent office of FINA (headquarter) was established in 1986.
