First-ever European Aquatics Learn to Swim Conference gets under way in Jurmala

 

Wide-ranging presentations and networking the order of the day

The first-ever European Aquatics Learn to Swim Conference was opened today in Jurmala, Latvia by President Antonio Silva. The two-day conference has brought together close to 200 delegates from 28 nations, including Olympians, academics, and experts from across the aquatic community.

“This Conference is the first step to show that European Aquatics will take a leadership role in developing the first Europe-wide standard for learning to swim.

“By finding ways to work with political and commercial partners we aim to promote the social benefits of swimming as a vital and healthy life skill, and to prevent drowning.

“The next two days will allow us to meet, discuss and share ideas to be used both at national and European level.”

These sentiments were echoed in a video message sent by Iliana Ivanova, the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.

Strongly supporting the goals of the conference, she welcomed the ongoing co-operation between the European Union and representatives of our sport.

"We have a shared objective to promote safe swimming and to harness the transformative power of sport. Swimming is a powerful tool to promote equality and inclusion in our society,” she said.

Following the welcome from local authorities, represented by Vladimirs Steinbergs (Director of the Sport Department of Latvia’s Ministry of Education and Science), Janis Ledins (Vice chairman of Jurmala City Council) and Aivars Platonovs (President of the Latvian Swimming Federation) the Conference got off to a dynamic start when a diverse group of former athletes spoke of how learning to swim had transformed their lives.

The athletes included Peter Mankoc, five-time Olympian, World Champion and World and European record holder:

He said: "You do not really enjoy the Olympics when you are an athlete. You do not have time to do that. You are there to do a job. But now that I am a coach, I try to teach my young athletes that the most important thing in sport is to enjoy, and to grow through sport.

“Life has ups and downs and swimming gives you the skills to deal with the hard stuff, to have resilience, to learn to take responsibility and realise that nothing is tough to a swimmer!”

The first-ever European Aquatics Learn to Swim Conference was opened today in Jurmala, Latvia by President Antonio Silva. The two-day conference has brought together close to 200 delegates from 28 nations, including Olympians, academics, and experts from across the aquatic community.

“This Conference is the first step to show that European Aquatics will take a leadership role in developing the first Europe-wide standard for learning to swim.

“By finding ways to work with political and commercial partners we aim to promote the social benefits of swimming as a vital and healthy life skill, and to prevent drowning.

“The next two days will allow us to meet, discuss and share ideas to be used both at national and European level.”

These sentiments were echoed in a video message sent by Iliana Ivanova, the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.

Strongly supporting the goals of the conference, she welcomed the ongoing co-operation between the European Union and representatives of our sport.

"We have a shared objective to promote safe swimming and to harness the transformative power of sport. Swimming is a powerful tool to promote equality and inclusion in our society,” she said.

Following the welcome from local authorities, represented by Vladimirs Steinbergs (Director of the Sport Department of Latvia’s Ministry of Education and Science), Janis Ledins (Vice chairman of Jurmala City Council) and Aivars Platonovs (President of the Latvian Swimming Federation) the Conference got off to a dynamic start when a diverse group of former athletes spoke of how learning to swim had transformed their lives.

The athletes included Peter Mankoc, five-time Olympian, World Champion and World and European record holder:

He said: "You do not really enjoy the Olympics when you are an athlete. You do not have time to do that. You are there to do a job. But now that I am a coach, I try to teach my young athletes that the most important thing in sport is to enjoy, and to grow through sport.

“Life has ups and downs and swimming gives you the skills to deal with the hard stuff, to have resilience, to learn to take responsibility and realise that nothing is tough to a swimmer!”