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swimmablecities

The Paris Olympics is a once in a generation moment, a confluence of global action. Now,  a  grassroots movement is seeking to transform how communities connect with local urban waterways. Are you ready to join the Swimmable Cities alliance?

swimmablecities

The urban swimming movement is building momentum! What if we had a set of common principles to empower decision-makers, advocates and actors in their work with local natural waterways?

Making Peace with Nature

Promoting the Rights to Life

Empowering People in Practice

Swimming towards Sustainable Development

Investing in a Better Future for All

Connecting South, North, East & West

FOUNDATIONAL VALUES
1. The Right to Swim

Safe, healthy and swimmable waterways should be accessible to all people.

2. One Health, Many Swimmers

Swimmable urban waterways are vital to the liveability of cities and communities, as shared civic places that promote the health of people (physically, mentally, spiritually) and the health of Mother Earth.

3. Urban Swimming Culture

Urban swimming culture is a unique expression of life in cities and communities, reflecting the distinct interplay of sports, recreation and tourism in each given place, as well as natural and cultural heritage.

4. Water is Sacred

Urban swimming should celebrate natural waterways as living, integrated entities that nurture communities; promoting universal accessibility and peaceful coexistence inclusive of religious, cultural and gender diversity.

ENABLING CONDITIONS
5. Rewriting the Rules

Urban waterway swimming should become part of a new status quo in public access standards, challenging accepted conventions such as industrial uses and stormwater pollution, with governing authorities swiftly amending legal and regulatory frameworks to enable citizens access to its benefits.

6. Democratic Participation in Swimming Places

Urban swimming places and experiences should be planned, designed, made and operated through inclusive, integrated water management approaches; with managers ensuring universal access via community-led programs for learning how to swim in natural waterways and ecological literacy.

7. Reconnection & Resilience

Urban swimming places and experiences should be invested in as an innovative way to enable resilient communities to adapt and thrive in a changing global climate, environment and economy.

SHARING BENEFITS
8. New Economic Opportunities

Urban swimming development models should balance social, cultural, ecological and economic values, creating new jobs, careers and livelihoods in regenerative professions and industries.

9. Sharing Wellbeing Benefits, Culture & Knowledge

Urban swimming should create wellbeing benefits to local citizens, ecosystems and economies; enhanced by the respectful sharing of Indigenous, traditional and Western water culture knowledge.

NEXT GENERATION
10. Stewardship for Today, Tomorrow & Future Generations

Urban swimmers are stewards responsible for protecting the health of their local waterways, working alongside Mother Earth’s closest carers, such as Indigenous peoples, rangers and waterkeepers as well as urbanists, architects, social changemakers, educators and policy-makers.

Express your Interest to sign the Charter and become part of the Swimmable Cities alliance.
swimmablecities
Swimmers jumped off of a dock during sanctioned swimming in the Charles River. / JESSICA RINALDI/GLOBE STAFF

Have you heard about the global biodiversity goals and the ’30 by 30’ target? Well, we thought we’d add some fresh ideas.

Note: Why ‘Mother Earth’? Just as the UN Global Biodiversity Framework recognises voices of Indigenous Peoples and the rights of Nature, so do we.

3 by ‘30
Swimmable Cities Summits

Let's bring movement
actors together!

2025 – Paris (tbc)
2027 – Copenhagen (tbc)
2029 – New York (tbc)

30 by ‘30
Flagship Swimmable Cities

Let's Learn, Share & Lead by example!

 

• Knowledge sharing & research

• Relationship building

• Investment & Advocacy

300 by ‘30
Next Gen Swimmable Cities

Start the journey towards 'swimmability'!

 

• Seasonal Events
• Capacity Building programs
• Case Studies & resources

3000 by ‘30
Swimmable Cities Charter signatories