World’s Largest Swimming Lesson adapts for Australasia and Asia

Making allowances for time zone differences between regions, this year’s World’s Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL) will be held at 10am in each country where its events are being held.

Previously, the event had required a simultaneous start time at 3pm GMT which made it difficult for host facilities in Australia, New Zealand and East Asia to participate.

Commenting on the change in timing, a WLSL spokesperson explained “last year, for example, the start time of 3pm GMT would have meant swim schools and facilities in Australia and New Zealand would have had to run the swim event late in the evening – during the middle of winter!

“This was hardly a conducive time for getting nippers along for a swim.”

While WLSL is still being held in the southern hemisphere winter, at least it will be in the daytime.

Being held on Thursday 18th June, with this new schedule the WLSL is hoping to see considerable growth in Australia, New Zealand and East Asia.

Over the past five years, Team WLSL has set five Guinness World Records for the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, with 36,564 swimmers from 22 countries participating in 2014. More importantly, the WLSL has spread the vital message that ‘Swimming Lessons Save Lives’ through more than 150 million media impressions.

Since the first event in 2010, more than 120,000 people have participated in WLSL events and millions of individuals have learned about the vital importance of teaching children to swim to help prevent the leading cause of accidental death of children under five years of age.

To register as a Host Facility go to the WLSL website and submit your details before 5th June. While there is a small fee to cover the collateral, registered WLSL Host Locations receive:

• The 2015 WLSL Host Location Kit covering all aspects of implementing your community event.
• The official 2015 WLSL Curriculum
• New 2015 Media/print ready promotion materials including: WLSL Logos, snipes, web banners, flyers, posters, rack cards, yard signs, vinyl banners, and mini counter-top brochure.
• Press release and media advisory templates
• New WLSL water safety tip sheet
• New WLSL water safety message web banners
• New WLSL participant recognition certificates
• The new 2015 Guinness World Record required submission guidelines and required correspondence
• 25 Signature Bright Orange WLSL Swimming Lessons Save Lives wristbands (for multi-site groups of more than three facilities< they will receive 75 wristbands).

Tragically, drowning remains the leading cause of unintended, injury related death for children aged under five, and the second leading cause for children under 14. Research shows participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children aged bwtween one and four year, yet many children do not receive formal swimming or water safety training.

More than 40 different aquatics and safety organisations and publications support Team WLSL™ in their mission and encourage their members and constituencies to join the effort by registering as an official WLSL Host Location or participating in a local lesson.

Founded by the World Waterpark Association in 2010, WLSL aims to be a platform to help aquatic facilities and the many different regional, national and international water safety organisations work together to communicate the fundamental importance of teaching children to swim.

Australasian Leisure Management is a proud supporter of the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson.

For more information go to www.worldslargestswimminglesson.org/teach

19th June 2014 - WORLD’S LARGEST SWIMMING LESSON RECOGNISED WITH ANTI-DROWNING AWARD

20th January 2014 - WORLD’S LARGEST SWIMMING LESSON AIMS TO SET NEW WORLD RECORD IN 2014

11th June 2013 - YAS WATERWORLD JOINS WITH WORLD’S LARGEST SWIMMING LESSON, ANNOUNCES WORLD FLOWBOARDING CHAMPIONSHIP