WIESBADEN, Germany: It’s the summer, and if you want to go for a swim in Germany, chances are you’ll head to your local swimming pool. For Germans, outdoor pools are a vital part of their culture. But they can also be a source of heated tensions. That’s why this year, one Pool has set up a new monitoring system to keep an eye on swimmers in case they run into trouble.
The pool in the western city of Wiesbaden’s Kleinfeldchen district is testing a camera mechanism that has four cameras forming a monitor attached to the ceiling above the indoor swimming bath. If someone is in trouble, a message is sent to the lifeguards and their head coach. The camera can see faces underwater as well, and can be positioned in any position to cover all angles of the water. It can even be set up so that the coach can watch a certain area of the pool, which can be useful for training and observation.
But the system is not a solution to all problems at public swimming pools, as it does not prevent the kinds of fights that have become all too common. On June 21, the first day of summer, an argument between two young guests and some staff at an outdoor swimming pool in Berlin’s Neukolln neighbourhood escalated into a full-on brawl.
A few days later, a similar incident happened in Pankow, where an argument between youths was escalated into a mass brawl. These incidents were fueled by what Welt newspaper described as a “macho culture” from young migrants who were attacking women and fighting among themselves.
In response, some German towns have started barring adult male refugees from their public pools. The deputy mayor of Bornheim, about 30 km south of Cologne, explained that the decision to close the pool was difficult but necessary to send a clear message that the exploitation of women was not welcome.
Some people have started criticising these measures, saying that they are racist. Others are calling for stronger police presence at problem locations. But the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) says that public swimming pools are much more than a leisure activity, and that they have important social functions.
In addition to keeping people fit and healthy, it also offers the chance for parents to spend some quality time with their kids. But in a country where many families are struggling with housing and childcare costs, it can be expensive to take the kids to the pool. That’s why some local municipalities are trying to offer reduced-rate membership cards or even free admission for children under three years of age. The goal is to encourage people to swim more often and help them save money in the process. The cards are available at most municipal pools and some private ones. Some also offer discounts on admission for low-income residents.
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