International swimming Association’s president confesses to Echourouk

The head of the International Swimming Association, the Algerian Mustapha Laarfaoui Tuesday paid a visit to “Echourouk Al Yaoumi” forum and seized the opportunity to talk about several issues in relation to the discipline he cherishes the most as well as the Algerian participation in Pekin Olympic Games.

• M. Laarfaoui (76) is not very known by the Algerian large public despite his great influence at the international level, considered as one of the most prominent Arab personalities worldwide.
• The Algerian participation in Pekin was honorable
•  M Laarfaoui in his interview mentioned the participation of the Algerian athletes in Pekin saying that one silver medal and two bronze ones could be considered as a great achievement” I think that the Algerian athletes did a good job there and the outcome was positive in comparison to other countries and we couldn’t ask from them to do more.”
• He by the way, laid the blame on the athlete; Agoune, who pulled out from the 10000 meter competition, considering it as a tremendous mistake because he had to take part in this race.
• Talking about the preparations for such a great events like the Olympiads, M laarfaoui declared that a swimmer has to be prepared between 4-8 years in a bid to ripe the fruits in major competition like the world and Olympics games, that‘s why it is pivotal to think from know on to prepare very young talents to get them ready for the 2012 games in London and 2016 in Japan.
• It is hard for any Arab or African to substitute me on top of the Association
• M Laarfaoui considers that he’s the first and last Algerian, Arab and African to be elected on top of the International Swimming Association “ because the competition to take the lead is fierce inside this institution and most of the major countries are taking the lead in the different international competitions and run for the post, that’s why I consider it very hard to any Arab or African to reach the top in the future”
• As president, he had the opportunity to travel across the world and visited most of the countries in different corners of the planet but he swore that Algeria was the best country in the world provided that all its wealth should be distributed in a sound manner.
• All along his long professional career, M Laarfoui had the opportunity to meet various personalities all over the world and declared that his knows the Algerian president Abdelaziz bouteflika since the period he was on top of the Algerian sports ministry; but declared that the he has privileged relations with the newly elected South Korean president.
• In this respect, M Laarfaoui said that he will refuse any official position in Algeria despite his huge popularity, adding that he will continue to serve his country, but will not mix with politics even if he was appointed prime Minister.

• He declared not being informed about the candidacy of the Algerian swimmer Salim Iles for a post into the sport’s committee of the International Swimming Association, but was sure of his failure before the former Olympic champion Popov.
• The president seized the opportunity to call on the Algerian authorities for intensifying its effort to boost the Algerian swimming by providing more means for the development of this discipline in the future.
• He denies accusing any swimmer of using doping products to boost the performances, adding that Micheal Phelps is gifted athlete and must be encouraged stressing the fact that anybody can do similarly. But didn’t exclude the possibility of using doping products by the athletes to enhance their performances.
• As to his future projects, M Laarfaoui said he will run for a sixth term on top of the International swimming Association, despite a previous intent to make an end to his professional career. As to the chances of snatching another mandate, he said that it was hard to predict the outcome but was almost certain to win.