The French Swimming Federation (FFN) on Tuesday asked for the “immediate” reopening of the thirty swimming pools closed on Monday, managed by the company Vert Marine.

Vert Marine justified these closures on Monday by ensuring that its energy bill had increased from "15 to 100 million euros", or "the entire annual turnover of the company".

“Could we accept that a mayor closes a school for economic reasons?

“Asks the FFN in a press release.

“These closures have direct consequences for all children and adults who will not be able to learn to swim,” she adds.

The Ministry of Sports has made "knowing how to swim" one of the axes of its policy for several years in order to prevent drowning.

The company Vert marine, which manages 90 swimming pools and ice rinks in total in France, launched an appeal on Monday “to local and governmental authorities in order to take the necessary and unprecedented decisions to return to bearable energy costs”.

In addition to the discussions with the communities, which are also bent under an overall energy bill sometimes multiplied by two according to France Urbaine, which manages metropolises and large cities, it also appeals to the government.

"Ensure the continuity of this public service"

For its part, the FFN also asks "all the actors to take their responsibilities to ensure the continuity of this public service".

The Snep union (national union of physical education) FSU was also moved by these closures, which are "to the detriment of the students".

“Preserving the financial balance put forward by the private companies that manage certain swimming pools must not come before the general interest.

It is a reductive vision that forgets all the educational, health, leisure and safety benefits, ”he wrote in a press release.

A government sports working group on energy sobriety

“Since the confinements linked to Covid-19, the social cost of swimming pool closures has been extremely heavy, with a generation of 800,000 students who could not learn to swim in 2020 and 2021”, adds the union.

This question of swimming pools and ice rinks, aging equipment in France and very energy-intensive, is on the menu of the governmental sports working group on energy sobriety.

According to the latest drowning survey by Public Health France to date, from June to September 2021, 1,480 accidental drownings were counted, 27% of which led to death.

Economy

Energy prices: Thirty public swimming pools closed on Monday, according to Vert Marine

Company

Brest: 80% of swimming pools closed due to works and filling bans

  • Company

  • Swimming pool

  • Energy

  • Budget