Kazan reporting from the 2015 FINA World Swimming Championships – Kazan<br />

Supporting Pacific Swimmers on the World Stage: The Reporters’ Academy & Oceania Swimming Association

Former The 2015 FINA World Swimming Championships in Kazan saw an exciting partnership between the Oceania Swimming Association (OSA) and The Reporters’ Academy (TRA). The goal? To provide professional media coverage for Pacific island swimmers, ensuring their stories were told and their achievements celebrated on a global stage.

Task

TRA was tasked with delivering comprehensive media coverage of Pacific swimmers throughout the Championships. This involved capturing race results, interviews, and behind-the-scenes insights while ensuring that content reached the home nations’ media outlets.

Action

  • TRA liaised with OSA and international media before the event.
  • Swimmers were interviewed by The Reporters’ Academy post-race in the Mixed Zone to reflect on their performances.
  • Daily press releases, photos, and video content were produced and shared globally.
  • Federations were supported with tailored content for their platforms. 

Result

  • 62 press releases were distributed across 10 Pacific nations.
  • Content was sent to 192 journalists, editors, and news organizations worldwide.
  • 171 high-quality photos captured key moments from the Championships.
  • Social media and federation websites were updated daily with results, interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage.
  • Increased media confidence among Pacific swimmers, giving them exposure and interview experience. 

Deliverables Met

✔ Provided daily written and photographic coverage of Pacific swimmers.
 ✔ Produced four behind-the-scenes films on team experiences.
 ✔ Ensured global media outlets featured Pacific island swimmers alongside major swimming nations.
 ✔ Strengthened TRA’s media archive of Pacific swimming for future coverage.
 ✔ Promoted positive stories of Oceania swimmers worldwide.

 

“The Reporters’ Academy were a blessing. It was a great feeling for the athletes from the Pacific Islands to be greeted as important athletes in their own right. The interviews gave them confidence and made them feel part of something special.”
 — Liz Wells, Former Treasurer, Oceania Swimming Association 

Kazan reporting from the 2015 FINA World Swimming Championships – Kazan

Photos from the 2015 project in Kazan, Russia for Oceania Aquatics (Formerly Oceania Swimming)