SINGAPORE: It was a brief three-day stop, but the man who could be the next chief of swimming left the Republic impressed.

Fina honorary treasurer Julio Cesar Maglione (picture), who is running for the presidency at the federation's general congress in Rome on July 24, was struck by the way the inaugural Asian Youth Games had been organised, particularly the swimming competition.

"All the necessary facilities needed for an excellent championship are here," Dr Maglione, 73, told Today during Friday's swimming competition at the Singapore Sports School. "And it helps that the standard of competition has been very good. I enjoyed every single race I saw (over the past two days)."

Dr Maglione, who is also Uruguay's International Olympic Committee member, is set to replace outgoing Fina chief Mustapha Larfaoui as he is the sole candidate so far. "If I become Fina president, my goal is to help promote all five disciplines of aquatics" he said.

"Fina has 204 affiliates, and it is important to support youth development across the five disciplines." - TODAY