LEN, the organisation responsible for European aquatics, is concerned about a rising trend of swimming pool closure across Europe.
National authorities are invoking
constraints caused by the health crisis resulting from COVID-19; consequences
linked to this summer's drought, and increased energy costs to justify the
suspension of activity at aquatic facilities.
LEN believes that the closure of
these facilities has direct negative consequences for people from all
socio-economic strata in Europe. Not only is the development of aquatic sport
and leisure activity curtailed but “learn to swim” programmes are affected, at
a time when the number of drowning accidents is increasing.
We have a collective obligation to
provide a place for every citizen to learn how to swim. Without access to
facilities the number of tragic deaths will continue to increase.
LEN is willing to cooperate with
European governments and national federations in a co-ordinated way to prevent
the closure of pools, either public or private. We can support initiatives to
access European financing programmes.
Working in close cooperation with the
European Union (European platform of Sports innovation, EPSI, and European
Funding Development, EFD), LEN is ready to organise a webinar to discuss three
main programmes which will help to counter the rise in energetic costs if there
is interest from federations:
Repower EU
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52022DC0108&from=EN
Life Programme https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life_en
The EU’s funding instrument for the
environment and climate action
At member state level: Structural
funds https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/funding/
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