The four-leg World Series is set to feature two virtual events, with one in the US and Canada streaming tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday (March 20), and a second virtual competition hosted by Australia, due to be streamed on May 7 and 8.

The International Swimming Federation (FINA) told insidethegames that Russian and Belarusian swimmers were featuring in this weekend’s virtual opening round of the FINA Artistic Swimming World Series, because competition was recorded prior to the start of the war in Ukraine.

"As a virtual competition, the FINA Artistic Swimming World Series 2022 first leg was filmed prior to the war in Ukraine," said a FINA spokesperson.

"As a result, this first virtual stop did not fall under the new bylaw that now provides FINA with the power to review the participation of athletes and officials at FINA events on a case-by-case basis in emergency situations.

"Moreover, a virtual event is deemed a low risk to the health and safety of athletes.

"For the livestream of this virtual leg, Russian or Belarusian athletes will compete as independent FINA athletes under the FINA flag.

"The remaining artistic swimming events calendar, along with all other FINA events, is under review and this will include any decisions on the non-participation of athletes or teams."

The FINA Bureau confirmed earlier this month that Russian and Belarusian athletes may compete as neutrals at its events - but adopted a legally robust option to exclude them "if their attendance threatens the safety and wellbeing of athletes or places the conduct of competition at risk."

Competition is across five disciplines - the duet free, the duet technical, the solo free, the solo technical and the team technical.

Technical finals are due to be streamed tomorrow, with free finals set to be streamed on Sunday.

In-person rounds of the series are due to take place from April 1 to 3 in Paris, France, and from May 20 to 22 in Athens, Greece, in the form of the Artistic Swimming World Series Super Final.