Duisburg's inner port becomes a swimming spectacle - free admission!

Duisburg's inner port becomes a swimming spectacle - free admission!

Duisburg, Deutschland - swimming in Duisburg will be reinterpreted this summer. The Duisburg inner port has turned into a free swimming area for the next six weeks. From now on until July 5, always from Thursday to Sunday between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., water rats can spend unforgettable hours here. Later, from July 6 to August 3, the swimming pool invites you to splash on the weekends from 12 noon to 8 p.m. A real highlight are the floating stages and various sporting actions that ensure a lively atmosphere. The safety of the bathers is guaranteed by qualified lifeguards, which is particularly important, as the reactions of the residents show. While many welcome the campaign, there are also concerns about security. In social media, praise and skepticism are expressed on the security precautions, such as derwesten.de reports.

But where do the lifeguards come from, which ensure the safety of the bathers? The lack of personnel in outdoor pools is a Germany -wide problem. The situation is so precarious that the Federal Association of German Swimming Masters estimates that there are currently no lifeguards between 2,000 and 3,500 lifeguards. This gap in Duisburg is partly closed by committed individuals, such as Benno Wolfgang Ecker, who is already retired at the age of 63, but is actively involved in the Leheim outdoor swimmer. Ecker wants to meet the staff shortage and is also active in the DLRG local association Arnsberg. He not only takes care of the security of the swimmers, but also works in the training of new swimming. Its work is particularly important because the supervision becomes increasingly demanding with increasing number of visitors, especially for children playing.

swimming pools in the crisis

The challenges with which outdoor pools are confronted are diverse. In addition to the lack of staff, high costs and ailing infrastructure are difficult for the companies. The use of specialist assistants for pool companies that are responsible for water quality, pelvic supervision and safety is absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, the apprenticeships in this area are not very attractive, which is clearly evident in the number of new trainees. In the last year of training, only 22 trainees enrolled for the profession of specialist for bathroom companies, which represents a decline from a third. The central vocational school in Hagen could urgently use support.

Another obstacle is that the training as a lifeguard can be carried out quickly and usually only takes 12 hours, but the requirements are not without: This includes the German rescue badge silver, swimming, diving and jumping from a height of three meters. In addition, many volunteer lifeguards, such as Ecker, do their work unpaid, which makes the situation even more complicated, because they need at least as much time as at a half -day position. However, the decline in interest in the job profile makes it clear that long -term solutions have to be sought in order to close the gap and ensure security in Germany's swimming pools.

The current outdoor pool season impressively shows how important it is to stay attentive. In Duisburg there is an exciting new swimming offer that is supported by the commitment of people such as Benno Ecker and the organizations that take care of the training of rescue swimmers. However, it remains to be hoped that the situation will relax in the coming years and that the swimming pools in Germany, which are considered indispensable leisure facilities, are better equipped to ensure security and fun for all swimmers. The challenges are great, but with commitment and support from the population, the water summer 2025 can become a dense experience.