Author Chris Ayriss is Launching: "Look, Listen, Swim, 2012" to Celebrate 100 Years of English Swimming History

London, United Kingdom, January 01, 2012 --(PR.com)-- The 2012 London Olympics will mark 100 years since Frank Sachs published his informative book: The Complete Swimmer. Through this "Look, Listen and Swim" project, he hopes to portray just how dramatically things have changed for swimmers during the last century. Ayriss says: “Looking through the list of swimming and bathing places recommended 100 years ago by the A.S.A, and reproduced in Frank Sachs book, is both fascinating and revealing. One thing that stands out is the number of open water swimming venues available to swimmers back then.” The last hundred years has seen attitudes to swimming outdoors change remarkably. Indoor pools have been built country wide, youthful swimmers contained, and their behaviour moderated. Swimming has been transformed from an animated outdoor playful activity, mostly enjoyed by working class boys, into a very competitive sport, confined predominantly to man-made pools.(1) The British seaside holiday, the lido era and two world wars have all played a part in England’s rich swimming history. But swimming survives as the number one participation sport in the U.K.(2)

More recently, in recognition of the health benefits of exercise, the government proposed to steer the nation away from obesity, and to guide people back into the water as swimmers.[3] Starting with the over 60's and extending to school children in 2009, the government had hoped that free swimming would become part of the texture and pattern of everyday life for the English by the time of the 2012 London Olympics. Sadly, the financial crisis[4] has overshadowed such hopes and free swimming has been consigned to the nation's "wild swimmers," whether in river, lake or sea.

Chris Ayriss appeals to all swimmers and historians: please help celebrate the history of swimming.

"Look, Listen and Swim" 100 years of swimming

Visit www.hungouttodry.co.uk and click on the icon: Look, Listen, and Swim: 2012, for more details.

Look Listen Swim 2012

(1) www.swimminghistory.co.uk/1_8_Pools.html

(2) “Swimming is already Britain's number one participation sport.” www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmcumeds/416/416we06.htm

(3) www.parliament.uk/business/publications/research/key-issues-for-the-new-parliament/social-reform/2012-olympics-and-sporting-legacy/

(4) www.uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/18062010/58/government-scrap-free-swimming-programme.html

###