World's Largest Swimming Lesson aims to set new world record in 2014

On Friday 20th June 2014, tens of thousands of children and adults at aquatic facilities around the world will unite for the fifth year in a row to set a new Guinness World Record.

The simultaneous global event will again attempt a global record for The World's Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL) aiming to help raise awareness of the importance of teaching children to swim and reduce drownings (the world's leading cause of unintended, injury related death for children ages one to five, and the second leading cause of accidental death for children under 14).

Global research shows participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children aged one to four years, yet many children do not receive formal swimming or water safety training.

Team WLSL holds the current Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous swimming lesson, which stands at 32,450 participants hosted by 432 facilities in 13 countries. This is a 30% increase over last year's record of 24,873 participants.

The 2013 WLSL event generated more than 40 million media impressions, spreading the event's important message to hundreds of thousands of families.

Set to take in aquatic facilities in 14 countries on five continents, Australian and New Zealand aquatic facilities are invited to sign up as an Official Host Location for the 2014.

Registration for facilities to sign up as an Official Host Locations opens from 15th February.

The World's Largest Swimming Lesson was created as 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.

For more information visit www.WLSL.org

14th December 2013 - YAS WATERWORLD ABU DHABI PART OF GLOBAL SWIMMING LESSON WORLD RECORD

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