International

As a result of the international structure of the aquatic disciplines from the early 1900s to date, there are and have been very limited opportunities for Scotland to compete in it’s own right on the international stage.

Scotland does not have individual representation at the “tables” of the Governing Organisations to which it is beholden, LEN (French: Ligue Européenne de Natation, English: European Swimming League) is the European governing body for aquatic sports affiliated to FINA.

LEN is the Continental Association for Europe and FINA (French: Fédération internationale de natation, English: International Swimming Federation) is the international federation recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for administering international competitions in water sports.
Scotland’s interests are represented at these organisations by delegates from currently, British Swimming and previously the ASFGB.

The exception is when the aquatic disciplines of Scotland compete in their own right as Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games.
But why should Scotland have the right to participate in as a Nation only at the Commonwealth Games? Well, that was due to the tenacity and forward thinking of Bobby Robinson, a Canadian journalist and member of the Canadian Olympic Committee.
The full story of “Why Team Scotland and not Team GB” is available at the press of the 1st button, top right of page.

From the early 1920s through to the late 1970s, teams representing Scotland did compete at “international” Meets, which were organised by host countries as multi-Nations Meets. It varied from 3 through to 8 Nations, competing predominately at pool swimming and water polo in the UK and throughout Europe. However, the the ever increasing frequency of high quality Club and National competitive opportunities, combined with improvements in travel and reductions in travel costs, resulted in the demise in the frequency and popularity of multi-Nations meets, that in turn significantly reduced the opportunities to compete as “Team Scotland”.