Bernburg. A great honour for the DLRG in Bernburg! Swimming star and Olympic champion Lukas Märtens from SC Magdeburg will be dropping by the first Saale Swim on Sunday 6 September. He is doing so in response to an invitation from District Administrator Markus Bauer to the Salzlandkreis. “Lukas is our ambassador for the Seepferdchen Sundays. I’m absolutely delighted that, despite his many competitions and training sessions, he’s taking the time to draw attention to the event here once again. He’s simply a great bloke who’s remained down-to-earth despite his success,” says Markus Bauer.
The Saale Swim is organised by the Bernburg branch of the DLRG in collaboration with Bernburg Sports Club. The event kicks off at the Saale ferry terminal from 11.00 am, with three races over distances of 200, 400 and 800 metres. There will also be a rubber duck race. Meanwhile, Lukas Märtens and District Administrator Markus Bauer are campaigning for the ‘Seepferdchen Sundays’ programme to continue even after the end of the outdoor swimming season and into next year. “We have seen just how great the demand is for people to want to take a swimming test, despite the options available at school. We are on the right track and have the right partner by our side in Lukas,” explains the District Administrator.
As part of the event, the DLRG is providing information on swimming in rivers. This is because, unlike in an outdoor swimming pool, there are additional factors to bear in mind when swimming in flowing water. Currents, the riverbed and boat traffic all play a part.
The ‘Seepferdchen Sundays’ programme was launched on his initiative. Together with the Salzlandsparkasse, the Salzlandkreis has created an accessible scheme enabling children to take a swimming test that certifies their ability to swim. What makes this scheme special is that families did not have to pay any examination fees; these were covered by the Salzlandsparkasse. The courses and examinations are organised by the swimming clubs and lifesaving organisations in the Salzlandkreis. They provide the training, conduct the examinations and supply the many volunteers.
“We can see what the situation is regarding swimming ability. That’s why we want to take a practical approach,” says District Administrator Markus Bauer. “There are swimming lessons, no question about it. But we need to do more. I’d like to thank the clubs and their many volunteers, as well as the Salzlandsparkasse, for making this so straightforward.” For the Salzlandkreis, these initiatives also provide an opportunity to engage with the swimming clubs: to discuss courses and programmes, instructors, coaches and the recruitment of young talent. As this strengthens the voluntary sector, the promotion of swimming fits in with the Salzlandkreis 2030 strategy for the future.