Sweden Faces Growing Inequality in Children's Swimming Skills

A recent report reveals a troubling trend in Sweden regarding children's swimming abilities, highlighting that swimming skills are increasingly becoming a class-related issue. According to the Arenagruppen, over 12,400 children aged 10-16 cannot swim 200 meters, primarily due to lack of access and high costs associated with swimming education.

Pia Zätterström, chairperson of the Swedish Swimming Federation, explained that 37% of parents have faced challenges enrolling their children in swimming schools. This disparity in access is raising concerns about safety and increasing the risk of drowning, especially as Bertil Göransson from the Swedish Lifesaving Society warns that rising costs could reverse previous improvements in drowning statistics.

Moreover, 80% of municipal swimming facilities require substantial renovations, with the cost estimated at 60 billion SEK. This necessitates tough financial decisions by local governments, which are already struggling with budget constraints affecting essential services like education and healthcare. The report criticizes municipal politicians for their failure to prioritize funding for swimming facilities, as continued neglect could deepen socio-economic divides in swimming capabilities among children in Sweden.