The scholarships will provide support to two athletes from each of the 19 Southeast Asian National Federations ©Getty Images

The International Swimming Federation (FINA) have launched an initiative titled ‘Scholarships for Swimmers – Targeting Rio 2016’ which aims at providing support to Southeast Asian National Federations.

Created by FINA in partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Olympic Solidarity and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the programme attempts to support 38 swimmers from 19 National Federations with their preparations for the Rio 2016 Olympics.

The year-long initiative, which forms part of FINA’s development programme, will see two potential elite athletes selected by their federation, who will then be rewarded with the opportunity to gain financial and technical assistance.

Scholarship holders will then be assisted by FINA to train in a state-of-the-art training centre in Thanyapura, Thailand, as the swimmers hone their preparations ahead of major competitions in the build-up to the Olympics.

The programme will see swimmers continue their preparations for Rio 2016 at the state-of-the-art training centre in Thanyapura
The programme will see swimmers continue their preparations for Rio 2016 at the state-of-the-art training centre in Thanyapura ©Getty Images

“It is very important for FINA and for the Olympic Movement to raise the quality of our athletes participating in the Games,” stated FINA President Julio Cesar Maglione.

“The programme is a concrete example of this effort and I am sure that it will tremendously help in the development of Aquatics in this part of the world.


“This centre in Thanyapura is one of the most modern training facilities in this part of the world and we are thrilled to be working with the Thai authorities on this beautiful initiative.”

Swimmers will be supervised by qualified and experienced international coaches at the centre, while its facilities include a 50 metre Olympic standard pool, a 25m lap pool and a teaching pool with a video analysis window.

The 38 selected swimmers are set to begin the year-long programme on May 1, with the scholarships set to end on the same date in 2016.

Swimming is due to get underway on the opening day of competition at Rio 2016 on August 6 and will be held in the newly constructed 18,000-capacity Aquatics Centre.