This follows an Extraordinary Congress in Doha on Saturday (November 29) in which FINA gave the green light to mixed events in the first two disciplines being showcased on the major global stage for the first time.

It was not immediately clear when these would first feature, but both will definitely be included at the Championships in Kazan from July 24 until August 9, it has now been confirmed.

Mixed synchronised three metre springboard and 10 metre platform diving competitions will be held, while there will be technical and freestyle mixed duet events in synchronised swimming.

A FINA spokesperson has also told insidethegames that they hope to add mixed duet events to the Olympic synchronised swimming programme in the future. 

Following the success of mixed competitions at the Summer Youth Olympic Games and European Championships in 2014, two mixed swimming relays will also take place, in the 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley events.

Great Britain celebrate mixed medley relay swimming success at the European Championships in Berlin in August ©Bongarts/Getty Images



Each country will field teams consisting of two men and two women, although the specific legs they swim is up to them, meaning both genders will be directly swimming against each other and interesting tactics will come into play as to who swims where. 

These changes can be interpreted as part of FINA's effort to illustrate modernisation and innovation as the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Agenda 2020 reform process reaches its final stages ahead of next week's Extraordinary Session in Monte Carlo.

With the IOC keen to adopt a more flexible sports programme, it is possible that sports like aquatics could be under pressure to reduce the number of events contested in order to accommodate new sports.

If so, mixed events could be a possible replacement for separate male and female ones in swimming and diving, thus reducing the number of events on the programme, although there is no direct indication at this stage that this is the plan. 

A FINA spokesperson added to insidethegames today that mixed events will "ensure the evolution of aquatic sports".

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November 2014: FINA to introduce mixed gender events in diving and synchronised swimming
July 2013: Mixed relays to be introduced at World Swimming Championships