The major sports body has unified core systems, enhancing service delivery, data security, and engagement through extensive digital transformation initiatives.
World Aquatics, the international governing body for swimming, diving, and related water sports, has long managed a global network of athletes, coaches, and national federations.
Tasked with overseeing major events and supporting a diverse digital community, their operations have increasingly relied on robust, secure, and scalable digital infrastructure. In mid-2025, the organization was facing mounting challenges from fragmented legacy systems limiting its growth. This detracted from its ability to connect with stakeholders, ensure platform reliability during global events, and harness data for organizational insights and fan engagement.
On 30 July 2025, the organization announced a comprehensive digital transformation, shifting its entire core system infrastructure to cloud-based operations. This marks the first time a sports federation of its scale has announced full migration of core digital systems to a cloud environment, with the aim of enhancing platform stability, and advancing data security and greater global reach.
Key technical initiatives include:
- Migration and modernization of World Aquatics’ General Management System to a cloud platform—improving access, scalability, and operational resilience
- A new web platform and mobile app providing a unified experience for athletes, coaches, and fans worldwide
- Establishment of a secure, scalable cloud environment underpinning the global digital ecosystem
- Deployment of a customer data platform that offers tailored digital services for varied audience segments
- Integration of AI to streamline operational processes and maximize efficiency
World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam commented: “With this transition … we can scale operations, improve platform stability, and better serve the global aquatics community.”
According to Selina Yuan, President of International Business, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence), the vendor providing the technology platform: “We are thrilled to reach this significant milestone in collaboration with World Aquatics,” reiterating the firm’s contract to create a more connected global aquatics family online, driving World Aquatics’ broader vision of “a world united by water, for health, life and sport.”
Such extensive digital transformation programs underscore a broader movement among sports federations to use digital systems not only for operational improvements but also to create more connected, data-driven international communities.
