FINA Approves Use Of Underwater Video Technology At Olympics and World Champs

FINA, the international governing body for 6 aquatic sports, has approved an amendment to their by-law regarding the use of automatic time recording systems at Olympic and World Championship meets, according to the Russian Swimming Federation . The amendment serves to allow underwater video equipment to be used by the referee to confirm a stroke violation and to refute violations made by the judges on the side.

Official Amendment By FINA

The International Water Sports Federation (FINA) approved the amendment of regulation BL 9.2.2:

“At Olympic Games and World Championships approved Automatic Officiating Equipment, including Underwater Video Judging Equipment shall be provided and used. The approved Underwater Video Judging Equipment shall be used to initiate stroke infraction calls, confirm stroke infraction calls or assist the Referee to overturn calls made on the pool deck.”

Previous By-Law 9.2.2

“At Olympic Games and World Championships approved Automatic Officiating Equipment shall be provided and used.”

In a variation from the existing underwater review practices, this rule means that video footage will be able to be used to make a new call to disqualify a swimmer. That’s in addition to using the technology to either confirm or refute an existing call that had been made by an official on the pool deck.

USA Swimming has had a similar provision in their annual rulebook under Article 102 “Conduct and Officiating of All Swimming Competition”, subsection 22 “Disqualifications”. In the most recent edition of the rule book, section 102.22.15 reads:

“Video replay footage from cameras approved in writing in advance of the competition by the Program & Events Committee Chair or designee may be used to review stroke or turn infractions called on deck. The official(s) reviewing the video may only confirm the call made on deck, overrule the call, or advise the Referee that the review proved inconclusive.”

This has been a controversial rule around the world, as athletes from other nations have claimed that the ability to overturn a disqualification gives the United States an advantage in qualifying.

Having gone through minor changes every few years, this section on the use of video footage in USA Swimming’s handbook was first introduced in the 2012 addition, reading:

“Approved underwater video replay may be used to review stroke or turn infractions called on deck. The official(s) reviewing the video may only confirm the call made on deck, overrule the call, or advise the Referee that the review proved inconclusive”

Early in 2019, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel made a similar call as FINA just has when they approved the use of video review technology in order to determine whether the “15-meter violation” was called. A “15-meter violation” occurs when a swimmer remains under water past the 15-meter mark off any wall. With this update, the referee will have video replay footage as an added resource and holds sole jurisdiction over the call.

Previously, in 2013, the FINA Congress voted ‘no’ on using underwater cameras. That vote came a year after Cameron van der Burgh admitted to using extra dolphin kicks en route to an Olympic gold medal in the 100 breaststroke.

Baring cancellations or postponements, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games will be the first time that this new by-law from FINA will come into play and will be subsequently effective at the 2020 Short Course World Champs in Abi Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and 2021 long course World Champs in Fukoka, Japan.

18
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

18 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
DLSwim
4 years ago

This is not just *underwater* video technology, right? The text talks about video technology in general, and to see a 15 m underwater infraction you need an above water camera.

DLSwim
Reply to  DLSwim
4 years ago

I meant for the USA Swimming rule.

Mark Rauterkus
4 years ago

Longer meets, for sure. But swimming isn’t troubled by that, is it? Delay those podium visits.

Mark Rauterkus
4 years ago

Wasn’t there a recent case in scholastic swimming when a DQ was called and the WRONG LANE was penalized? This rule would allow the DQ to be over-turned but not to penalize the lane where the false start happened. The rule says CONFIRM, Overturn or make inconclusive. What about using the videos for fixing the calls to make sure that the proper outcome is applied, regardless of the initial officials call???

Coach Mike 1952
Reply to  Mark Rauterkus
3 years ago

excellent point Mark

SwimReason
4 years ago

Perhaps, providing a URL to the revised by-laws would be good. You might have done it already, but I couldn’t find it in the article.

https://www.fina.org/sites/default/files/7_fina_by_laws_20032020_revised_0.pdf

Coach Mike 1952
Reply to  SwimReason
3 years ago

That peraticular link doesn’t work any more. Try this one now: https://www.fina.org/rules/by-laws

Mike
4 years ago

“At the Olympic Games and World Championships, the approved automatic time recording system will include underwater video equipment designed for video monitoring in case of violations of swimming technique rules, to confirm these violations and to assist the referee in refuting violations made by the judges on the side.” – Looks like this has been translated from Russian, hopefully it’s not the official English version.

ElvisVB
4 years ago

Oh great… 20 years later.

Mean Dean
4 years ago

This may create some nice drama…

Coach Mike 1952
Reply to  Mean Dean
3 years ago

May??? LOL get the popcorn…

DrSwimPhil
4 years ago

Told ya…

DrSwimPhil
Reply to  DrSwimPhil
4 years ago

By the way, you state this: “This rule means that while video footage will not be able to be used to make a new call to disqualify a swimmer…”

However, the FINA ruling you quote says this: “…underwater video equipment designed for video monitoring in case of violations of swimming technique rules…”

That’s different wording than what is in the USA rule book. Might want to look into clarifying that…..