The World Waterpark Association (WWA) has revealed the date for the 12th annual World’s Largest Swimming Lesson. The event, which will take place on 17 June 2021, is a key platform for the aquatics industry to build awareness of the importance of swimming skills. Following the lack of swimming lessons over the past year, access to formal lessons this summer is more important than ever.
The WWA has now launched its #21in21 campaign ahead of this year’s event, as it works to share the message that swimming lessons save lives.
“A dire consequence of the pool closures created by the 2020 pandemic is that millions of children did not have the chance to begin swimming lessons as they normally would,” says Rick Root, President of the World Waterpark Association, the founding organization of the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson.
#21in21 campaign
As facilities begin to open up once more this summer, the #21in21 campaign is designed to encourage locations of all sizes to get involved on 17 June, whether they can hold 21 swimmers or 2,100.
“Over the last 11 years of hosting the WLSL event, we’ve learned we can make a real difference in our communities if we all work together,” says Root. “By committing to the #21in21 campaign, we can get kids and families back on track to being water aware by participating in life-saving swim lessons.”
Registration for host locations opens here on 1 April, and WWA encourages aquatic facilities to get involved, helping parents to make the connection between learning to swim and staying safe in and around the water.
The event will take place over 24 hours on 17 June at host locations which are able to reopen. Both traditional and socially-distanced lessons will be available at a range of waterparks, aquatic centres, swim schools, YMCA’s and more.
Last year, the WWA celebrated the 40th anniversary of its annual show with a special virtual event.
