Empowerment and progress for a world united by water, for health, life and sport
World Aquatics is proud to release its 2024 Development and Athletes Services Annual Report, which reflects on a year of substantial progress.
Explore the full report here.
In a year defined by three major international competitions - the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, the Olympic Games in Paris, and the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in Budapest - development remained a central focus. From elite athlete support to grassroots outreach, the report highlights how targeted investment, new programmes and global collaboration have helped shape a stronger and more inclusive future for aquatics around the world.
World Aquatics continues to empower athletes
Direct support to athletes in 2024 reached record levels. A total of 117 athletes from 70 countries benefited from World Aquatics scholarships, helping them to train and compete at elite levels. This commitment was matched by a record $11.1 million in prize money awarded at events, more than in any previous year in the organisation’s 116-year history.
Strengthening member federations
Development funding through the World Aquatics Support Programme extended to 169 Member Federations in 2024. That support made possible 621 projects serving nearly 400,000 athletes (395,503). These initiatives spanned infrastructure, training programmes, and accessibility initiatives, tailored to meet the needs of local communities.
Expanding coach education
In 2024, more than 1,800 coaches took part in education and training opportunities provided or supported by World Aquatics. Sixteen World Aquatics certification courses resulted in 322 newly certified coaches, helping to raise coaching standards worldwide and empower the global aquatics community.
Infrastructure development
2024 also marked a major milestone for the Pools for All initiative with the opening of Bhutan’s first-ever swimming pool. Built at the highest altitude of any pool in the world, the facility is already becoming a hub for both aspiring athletes and the wider community. You can read more about it here.
Sustainability and capacity building
In 2024, World Aquatics took further steps toward its long-term environmental and community goals. In Paris, during the Olympic Games, it signed the UN Sport for Climate Action Framework, an initiative aimed at encouraging the global sports community to contribute to worldwide climate action goals. With aquatic sports strongly linked to the natural environment, the significance of threats posed by climate change are great. World Aquatics is evolving its sustainability efforts to meet the challenge. Read more about this important work here!
Also during the Olympic Games Paris 2024, specifically on World Drowning Prevention Day, World Aquatics launched Discover Water, a programme aiming to provide young children around the world with the necessary education and skills to enjoy aquatics sports safely.
Speaking at the launch event, President Husain Al-Musallam underlined World Aquatics’ role in promoting water safety around the world, stating;
“World Aquatics and our 210 National Federations remain committed to working with the entire aquatics family to promote water safety and reduce the risk of drowning, and this initiative is just one of the many steps we are taking.”
More information about the programme can be found here.
Speaking about the development and athletes services report, President Al-Musallam commented;
“Aquatics should bring joy to people, and the successes of our development initiatives are a true reflection of our dedication to ensure that. Together, as a global aquatics family, we have not only strengthened the foundations of our sports, but also paved the way for a bold and exciting future. I am deeply grateful to our athletes, coaches, National Federations, Continental Organisations, partners, and staff - your passion drives our continued progress. We both celebrate the achievements of 2024 and look ahead, as we work to inspire generations to come.”
2024 was a year of progress through development, with World Aquatics committed to supporting the entire aquatic ecosystem, from elite athletes and coaches to children and underserved communities. This will only continue in the years ahead.
The full World Aquatics 2024 annual report is also live and can be found here.