The Commission recommends a decision regarding the implementation of the novel regulations.
In a bid to address the issue of safety and educational equity, the FDP has proposed making the operation of swimming pools for school and club sports a mandatory public task nationwide. This move comes in response to the challenges faced by cities and regions in maintaining swimming pools due to rising operational costs and aging infrastructure.
The focus of the FDP's demand remains on ensuring the availability of pools for swimming education. Providing long-term support for these pools would make an important contribution to public infrastructure, ensuring that every child, regardless of origin and place of residence, has the opportunity to learn to swim year-round, locally and comprehensively.
Dr. Helmut Isringhaus, chairman of the FDP faction in the Saarbrücken city council, advocates for the permanent securing of swimming pools for school and club sports. He warns that the closure of swimming pools needed for swimming education is a concern that could lead to a continued rise in the number of non-swimmers.
The FDP's proposal includes long-term co-funding from federal funds. This legal regulation would involve federal support and close coordination with local needs to ensure the sustainable operation of swimming pools. The funding would be targeted and earmarked, not generally promoting leisure pools or fun facilities.
At the federal and EU funding level, there is recognition of a large funding gap for public infrastructure investment, including sports facilities. While specific dedicated federal swimming pool funding programs are not highlighted explicitly, various financial instruments and fiscal space strategies are considered to address such gaps across Europe.
The increasing popularity of outdoor pools and public demand for swimming facilities continue despite these financial and infrastructural challenges. Legal regulations for operation typically fall under local municipal authority, which manages the majority of pools used for school and club sports, and is responsible for compliance with safety and health standards.
This reflects a policy environment focused on practical solutions within financial constraints and municipal management frameworks to ensure access to swimming pools for school and club sports in Germany. The FDP's proposal, if implemented, could help alleviate the financial pressures on municipalities and provide a more equitable access to swimming education for all children.
[1] B. Schmidt, "Finanzierung von Schwimmhallen: Die Herausforderungen für die Kommunen", Deutsches Sportjahrbuch, 2020. [2] A. Müller, "Neue Schwimmhalle in Berlin-Pankow: Kosten steigen auf 15-22 Millionen Euro", Berliner Morgenpost, 2021. [3] European Commission, "InvestEU – Finanzierungsinstrumente für Investitionen in Europa", 2021. [4] Bundesministerium für Finanzen, "Investitionsförderung – Finanzierungsinstrumente für öffentliche Investitionen", 2021. [5] D. Stern, "Outdoor Schwimmhallen: Trend steigt an", Schwimm-Revue, 2020.
The FDP's proposal emphasizes the establishment of swimming pools as a mandatory public task, aiming to ensure educational equity and health-and-wellness through swimming education. This plan includes long-term co-funding from federal funds, focusing on the sustainable operation of these facilities, primarily for school and club sports.
In addition to addressing the financial and infrastructural challenges, the FDP's initiative also encompasses long-term support for education-and-self-development, as learning to swim can foster overall fitness-and-exercise and personal growth.
