Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The World Health Organization estimates that learning to swim can reduce children's drowning risk by up to 88%. However, many public pools built in the 1960s to 1980s are nearing the end of their lifespan, threatening this vital safety resource in Europe, Australia, and beyond. Myrtha Pools, a Global Partner of World Aquatics since 2009, is addressing this infrastructure crisis by renovating and constructing resilient aquatic centers, supporting World Aquatics’ drowning prevention initiatives like Discover Water and Pools for All.
In Italy, Olympic artistic swimmer Giorgio Minisini highlighted the importance of swimming as a life-saving skill, endorsing Myrtha Pools’ work to create modern, safe, and accessible aquatic facilities that build water confidence and help prevent drowning.
In Australia, Myrtha collaborates with Royal Life Saving Australia to renew aquatic centers, including converting the George Town pool in Tasmania into a year-round venue and refurbishing remote community pools in Wadeye and Katherine in the Northern Territory.
France is transforming temporary pools from the Paris 2024 Olympics into permanent public aquatic centers in underserved areas such as Sevran and Bagnolet. Laurent Ciubini, General Director of the French Swimming Federation, called this a significant social legacy that addresses inequalities in access to swimming education, enabled by Myrtha Pools’ community-focused design technology.
Similar legacy projects are underway in Japan and the United States, where pools from recent Olympic Games are being integrated into schools and communities to improve access to swimming and aquatic education.