Save Those Swimming Pools! NRW Swimming Association Wants them To Be Mandatory for Municipalities
Mandatory Pool Upkeep Demanded by Swimming Organization - Mandates Proposed by Swimming Association for Enforced Swimming in Public Places
Hey there!
The Swimming Association of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is riling things up, urging municipalities across the state to make swimming pool preservation a no-brainer. With energy costs skyrocketing and CO2 taxes set to surge in the coming years, they're warning of a potential tidal wave of pool closures—leading to a noticeable dip in swimming proficiency. Their warning came from Frank Rabe, the General Secretary of the association.
As things stand, swimming pools unlike schools or kindergartens, haven't been under the mandatory public services obligations, but rather considered voluntary services. The association points the finger at the financial struggles of municipalities in NRW, which in the last 25 years, have already wiped out over 40% of the state's swimming pools, according to their count. They represent about 600 swimming clubs and over 220,000 members in NRW.
The association stresses the need for a responsible financial support program from the federal and state governments to keep municipal pool operators afloat.
Swimming Courses on Waitlists in Clubs
According to the association, the demand for swimming courses in NRW clubs is off the charts, with around half of the clubs grappling with waiting lists for beginner lessons. But what good are dedicated swimming instructors in our clubs if swimming lessons in school are becoming rarer than a four-leaf clover, complains the association's president, Claudia Heckmann.
The association references statistics showing that barely half of primary school students nationwide can swim securely by the end of primary school. That translates to thousands of future swimmers in NRW being left out in the cold each year, laments the association.
Municipalities Want to Preserve Pools But Don't Have the Cash
A spokesperson for the Cities and Municipalities Association of NRW emphasized that municipalities really value swimming education and pool preservation. But budget constraints, they say, are the real barrier. "The heart is there, but the wallet's empty," he quipped. Despite their struggles, many municipalities are trying to make things work through cooperation with each other and clubs. "No one wants to close a public pool," he added.
Swimming Lessons are a Must, Says NRW Swimming Association
- Important for health, safety, community well-being
- Critical for social, educational, and health functions
- Implementing mandatory municipal responsibility for pools to counter budgetary pressures and prevent pool closures
- Long-term benefits for swimming education and community health and safety
- Tens of thousands of students being left behind each year
Enrichment Data:
Swimming pools play a pivotal role in public health, swimming education, and community well-being. They foster social interaction and provide spaces for various age groups. The association advocates for their mandatory inclusion in public service obligations to protect them from budgetary and political neglect. By designating swimming pool maintenance and operation as a mandatory duty, they hope to secure ongoing swimming education, future community health, and safety in NRW.
- The NRW Swimming Association emphasizes that swimming lessons are crucial for health, safety, and community well-being.
- They argue that swimming pools serve vital social, educational, and health functions and should be included as a mandatory municipal responsibility to counter budgetary pressures and prevent pool closures.
- The long-term benefits include ongoing swimming education, future community health, and safety in NRW, as tens of thousands of students are being left behind each year.
- To ensure their sustainability, the association advocates for a responsible financial support program from federal and state governments to help municipal pool operators.
- Additionally, the association calls upon the integration of vocational training programs in the field of swimming education and fitness-and-exercise within the broader context of education-and-self-development, policy-and-legislation, and general-news discussions.
- Recognizing the value that science brings to improving swimming proficiency and the health-and-wellness of individuals, the association encourages collaboration between swimming institutions, researchers, and policymakers for the betterment of communities.
