Swimming body giving $6.5M in aid for athletes

FILE PHOTO — Vladmir Morozov of Russia wins the Men’s 50m Freestyle during day one of the FINA Champions Swim Series at the Indiana University Natatorium on May 31, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Justin Casterline/Getty Images/AFP

Swimming governing body FINA is giving almost $6.5 million to help athletes prepare for the postponed Tokyo Olympics.

FINA says it wants to help athletes who “endure hardships related to their training and competitive opportunities due to the pandemic.”

The plan includes $4 million for at least 160 national federations to support athletes with expenses for training, competitions and living over the next year.

A further $2 million will support 100 scholarships for athletes who currently do not have Olympic qualifying standards to prepare at national or continental centers. FINA supports regional bases in Russia, Senegal, Thailand and the United States.

Grants totaling $460,000 will go to continental swimming bodies to distribute.