We are now halfway through the European Junior Swimming Championships, taking place at the Stadio del Nuoto in Rome, and I would like to express, on behalf of the Ligue Europeenne de Natation and the Italian Swimming Federation, my full satisfaction. The efforts made to organise such a prestigious international event, despite the pandemic that led the Federation Internationale de Natation to cancel the junior events, are repaid by the passion of the 600 swimmers from 48 countries who are competing in the pool. To see in their eyes the happiness of having returned to compete for an important medal, of having returned to experience an event together with other excited athletes, is a source of pride and joy and means that we made the right choice. The experience gained in LEN with the organisation of the Champions League and the European Water Polo Cups and with the European Championships in Budapest, as well as in FIN with the management of national and international championships and events in the last 15 months, has given us knowledges that demonstrates how to carry out sporting events of the highest level in complete safety. But all this would not have been possible without the scrupulous observance of strict rules of conduct and prevention by all delegates, managers, coaches, athletes, judges, media and staff, that I would like to thank for the strong sense of responsibility they demonstrate each days.
This European Junior Championship, which follows the successes of the European Championships in Budapest and the Sette Colli Trophy / International Swimming Championships, is also a window on the 36th edition of the next European Championships in water disciplines scheduled from 11 to 22 August 2022 in Foro Italico, Ostia and a location in downtown that will host the high diving.
With the hope that the pandemic will be overcome and the vaccination work completed, we expect more than 100.000 spectators in 12 days of competitions for 74 finals and 1.500 athletes representing 52 countries. It will be an exceptional event which will gather the strongest European athletes who will hine at the Tokyo Olympics and World Championships in Fukuoka, but also from the touristic and promotional point of view, thanks to receptivity, the artistic, sociocultural and enogastronomic offer of Rome, the Lazio Region and the national territory. I would like to thank Roma Capitale and the Lazio Region, and the italian Governament, for their support of the complex organisation.
In the meantime, at the Stadio del Nuoto, the next generation of European Championships are going on, and they have attracted the interest of the media and the public, numerous also indirectly through the streaming of the competitions. We are witnessing exciting races, with a high technical content, as demonstrated by the 47"30 swam in the 100 free style by the 16-year-old Romanian David Popovici, a rising star of speed who will arrive at the Tokyo Olympics with the best time of the year to challenge Russian Kliment Kolesnikov (47"31), the American star Caeleb Dressel (47"39) and the Italian Alessandro Miressi (47"45). We looked at vice-champion and world record holder and European champion Benedetta Pilato winning the 50 breaststroke and many other Olympic outsiders who show how the top of swimming can be represented either by young and over 30 champions. 
The show will continue for the next three days. Have a good fun with great swimming.

the President Paolo Barelli

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