Open Water Swimming as a Life-long Activity (OWSLA) is an Erasmus+ Sport project dedicated to promoting open water swimming (OWS) as a lifelong, inclusive, and accessible sport. Through a series of structured events, OWSLA has provided training, competitions, and opportunities for participants of all ages, from children and recreational swimmers to elite athletes.

The key objectives of the OWSLA project include:

• Encouraging lifelong participation in open water swimming for all age groups.
• Ensuring structured education on safety and training techniques in both pool and open water environments.
• Promoting social inclusion, reducing financial, geographical, and social barriers.
• Raising awareness about environmental sustainability in open water swimming locations.
• Developing digital tools and educational resources to support swimmers, coaches, and event organizers.

Project Implementation & Activities

The project was implemented through five major events held between April and September 2024, each targeting specific participant groups and objectives.

1st Event: Čatež (Youth Training – Pool)

📅 April 12-14, 2024 | 📍 Čatež, Slovenia

• The first event in Čatež was a pool-based training camp for youth swimmers.
• Focused on structured training, safety protocols, and technical skills development for young athletes transitioning to open water swimming.
• Included training on endurance techniques, stroke improvement, and race preparation.
• Served as the kickoff meeting for project partners to discuss implementation strategies.

2nd Event: Cres (Open Water Training & Competitions)

📅 June 21, 2024 | 📍 Cres, Croatia

• The first open water event, designed for recreational swimmers, children, and competitive athletes.
• Featured a unique 1000m open water race, where swimmers of all categories competed together, including a separate category for athletes with disabilities.
• Hosted a 50m children’s race, giving young swimmers their first open water competition experience.
• Focused on safe swimming in open water conditions, navigating currents, and distance endurance training.

3rd Event: Malinska (Elite & Recreational Open Water Competition)

📅 June 22, 2024 | 📍 Malinska, Croatia

• A high-level open water swimming event, featuring elite swimmers, recreational participants, and youth competitors.
• Included official competitive races, with categories for elite, amateur, and young swimmers.
• Featured a 50m children’s race, following the successful format introduced in Cres.
• Strengthened community engagement by attracting a wide range of participants, from casual swimmers to professional athletes.

4th Event: Čatež (Children’s Pool Training Camp)

📅 August 30 - September 1, 2024 | 📍 Čatež, Slovenia

• A dedicated event for children, held in a controlled pool environment to introduce young swimmers to open water techniques in a safe setting.
• Focused on confidence building, technical training, and fun-based learning.
• Coaches and experts provided age-appropriate education on safety, swimming techniques, and transitioning to open water swimming.

5th Event: Ražanac (European OWS Cup – Elite Competition)

📅 September 7-8, 2024 | 📍 Ražanac, Croatia

• The final and most prestigious event of the OWSLA project, featuring Europe’s top elite open water swimmers.
• Hosted as part of the European Open Water Swimming Cup, attracting professional athletes and serving as a platform for high-performance competition.
• Provided an opportunity for top-level swimmers to compete at the highest European level, demonstrating the impact of structured training and community engagement in open water swimming.

Project Outcomes & Future Impact

By organizing a diverse range of events, OWSLA successfully promoted open water swimming as an inclusive, safe, and accessible sport for all. The project established a sustainable model for expanding OWS participation in local and international communities.

Key outcomes:

• Creation of training resources for coaches and swimmers.
• Increased awareness of safe swimming practices and risk management in open water.
• Engagement of youth, recreational swimmers, and elite athletes, ensuring the sport’s long-term development.
• Strengthened collaborations between European swimming communities.

Project Links (Poveznice)

🌍 Website: owsla.eu📘 Facebook: OWSLA Facebook Page📺 YouTube: OWSLA YouTube Channel