An internal report has confirmed media revelations about abuse and structural problems in the sport of synchronised swimming. Various reforms are planned.
The report mandated by Swiss Aquatics concluded that the sport is plagued by unethical training methods, chaotic organisation, cronyism and conflicts of interest, public broadcaster SRF wrote on Tuesday.
“Many unresolved conflicts and unprofessional practices have over the years led to the current unsatisfactory situation. The badly functioning co-directorship and the severe lack of administrative resources tipped things over the edge,” the report stated.
The criticisms come after an investigationExternal link by SRF in June this year which claimed that the sport was “corroded by an atmosphere of fear and nepotism”, and that training sessions included threats, insults, and physical over-taxing of athletes.
Indeed, the treatment of the athletes also came in for criticism in the latest findings: swimmers are often unfairly criticised for their appearance, weight, and their performance, said the three sports psychologists who drafted the report.
They also highlighted the favouritism which hampered competitions, speaking of the “unfair activities of individuals who largely showed favour to their own clubs and athletes – unfortunately some parents [of athletes] belong to this category.”
More
More
Olympic Games: when the dream becomes a nightmare
This content was published on
Young elite athletes dream of Olympic glory. But for some, success goes hand in hand with trauma.
While an internal inquiry has been ongoing since May, the two co-presidents of the synchronised swimming federation stepped down from their roles following the SRF revelations in June. A new leadership team is to be elected this week, according to the public broadcaster.
Looking further ahead, Swiss Aquatics has pledged to enact various reforms to change the culture in the sport: measures suggested include banning parents and trainers of athletes from judging competitions, improving the recruitment and training of coaches, and overhauling the structure of the synchronised swimming federation itself.
Popular Stories
More
Swiss Abroad
How centuries of Swiss emigrants left their mark on the US
What can be done to protect biodiversity in your country?
Swiss voters are set to decide on a people’s initiative calling for better protection of ecosystems in the country. Have your say on the September 22 vote.
Bodycams: essential for good law enforcement, or a privacy risk?
Did you ever come across bodycams in your place of residence and if so, how do you think the use of bodycams alter the relationship between the public and (transport) police?
Swiss government pensions come under pressure in parliament
This content was published on
A parliamentary committee is favour of scrapping the generous pensions enjoyed by former government ministers and federal judges.
This content was published on
Appointed in April as the EU's incoming ambassador, Slovak man Miroslav Lajčák will ultimately not take up the post in Bern this year.
SNB boss: as a leading financial hub, Swiss must accept risks
This content was published on
The outgoing head of the Swiss National Bank, Thomas Jordan, says the country should aim to preserve its leading financial position.
Top Swiss court rules against prostitution exclusion zone
This content was published on
The Federal Court ruled that a Swiss town went too far in banning prostitution within a 100-metre radius of certain sensitive locations.
First UN fact-finding report on Sudan released in Geneva
This content was published on
Numerous acts amounting to crimes against humanity and war crimes have been committed in Sudan, according to UN investigators.
This content was published on
Trainers for the Swiss Gymnastics Federation’s women’s team have resigned en masse following an ethics investigation into psychological abuse.
Abuse of young sportspeople is frequent, says survey
This content was published on
One in five young sportsmen and women in the French-speaking part of Switzerland has suffered some form of violence, according to a new survey.
Sports ministry takes steps to tackle abuse of young athletes
This content was published on
The Swiss sports ministry wants tougher action to deal with ethics violations and to better protect young athletes in the future.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.