Activists said that swimming in waterways in urban areas should be really, as the international coalition aims to persuade politicians to clean rivers so that they can be used safely by their citizens.
In the first world Summit of swimming cities In Rotterdam, more than 200 representatives of more than 20 countries gathered and fell into water.
The swimming cities coalition was formed after the Sine River cleaning project in the Paris 2024 Olympics. The summit was designed to build on this work and progress made in other European cities to create a global network of swimming urban water corridors.
The same setting has shown what could be possible; Rothaven from Rotterdam, which was once an industrial port on the southern bank of the Nieuwe Maaas River, is now a dedicated swimming area with a floating floating garden, and the only legal place for swimming in downtown Rotterdam.
Local population for evening swimming or declines comes at lunch time, where children jump and play, and during the top, conversations in swimwear were held.
“There are no titles, no roles-just human beings are linked,” said Daniel Allen Horsenfelt, founder of Umeå Kallbad, a non-profit initiative that allows access to bathing and sauna in Umeå, Sweden. “The Dutch approach to risks is simple: report, empowerment, then left. I was seriously affected. This feeling of confidence and ease – along with clean water and smart design – is a reminder of what the swimming city can look like.”
Increasingly, cities become creative. Paris spent approximately 1.4 billion euros (1.19 billion pounds) On the restoration of the Seine River In the period before the Olympic Games, including building giant storm water ponds to stop the surplus in sewage and install new filtering systems in the main ports. As a result, three new urban swimming points will open in the city center in July.
Copenhagen has led the road more than a decade ago by investing in the actual water quality control and the redirect water during the heavy rains. Her clean ports are now hosting High public bath areas are largely famous with rescue stations, diving paintings and sauna.
In Switzerland, it makes floating clothes change rooms and safe entry points Rivers in BaselBern and Zurich feels a real extension of the public space.
Berlin launched Flussbad project In 2012 with the ambition of converting the boat into a free free public pool with integrated areas of wetlands to clean water naturally.
Elsewhere, the Yara Barak Melbourne project, led by citizens and architects, is operating the river as a place for people to gather and play.
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However, despite these examples, many cities face stubborn barriers in front of swimming up even when the water itself is clean. Historical legal frameworks often prohibit swimming in urban rivers by default, and insurance fears and fear of litigation prevent authorities from opening access.
The general perception of reality is lagging behind, with continuous fears of dirty water and chemicals left by the industry. In many cities, swimming spots collect in richer areas, or come with hidden costs.
“Every citizen should feel that urban waterways are to try and protect them. Clean and safe urban waterways are not just environmental assets, they are vital spaces for communication, health and luxury,” said Oumaima Ouissa from Waveemakers United, an international non -profit organization.
“Rotterdam is a city that is formed from water-and increasingly, it has been increasingly reclaimed in the best possible way. This summit is not only related to swimming-it is related to restoring our relationship with water, and leading together towards cleaner and more lively cities,” said Rotterdam, Pascal Lansenic-Bastimiger.
The summit covered topics including the right to swim and nature, restore waterways, water quality, swimming communities, investment from public and private partnerships, water literacy and international water diplomacy.
“Access to water should be a civilian, and it is not good to have it,” said Toby Robinson, a British Olympic swimmer attending the summit.
The swimming cities coalition aims to create a basic line to measure the extent of swimming in the world around the world, with specific criteria for measuring the health of the waterway, accessibility, biological diversity, and social impact. This process will allow cities to measure progress progress, exchange best practices, and accelerate the transformation of polluted or neglected waterways to safe and swimming public places.
“This summit shows that swimming in the city is not only possible, but it is right,” said Matt Sykes, founder of the coalition. “By the time when the city is swimming, it is more flexible in climate, healthy and more fair.”
