National Swimming Pool Day Date in the current year: July 11, 2024

Swimming pools have been around since ancient times. The Great Bath at the archaeological site of Mohenjo-Daro in present-day Pakistan, built in the 3rd millennium BCE, is believed to be the oldest known public swimming pool. Ancient Greeks and Romans constructed artificial pools for athletic training, military exercises, and nautical games. Roman emperors also had private swimming pools, which often doubled as fish ponds.

Modern swimming pools began to emerge in the 19th century. As early as 1837, London already had six indoor pools with diving boards. The first modern Olympic Games, held in Athens in 1896, included swimming races, which helped boost the popularity of swimming pools across the world. Home swimming pools became popular in the US after the Second World War.

Today, most countries have public swimming pools and water parks, but the commonality of private pools varies by country. In some countries, they are relatively common, while in others, they are a sign of wealth and luxury. The United States has an astounding number of home swimming pools, around 10.4 million, but New Zealand holds the record in swimming pools per capita. Public swimming pools can be municipal or provided by fitness centers, health clubs, hotels, private clubs, leisure centers, spas, etc.

Swimming pools are popular around the globe for a variety of reasons. They make perfect relaxation spots, give us the opportunity to enjoy quality time with friends and family, present a fun fitness opportunity (swimming is a great form of whole body workout that doesn’t put too much strain on your joints), help relieve stress, and are a great place to escape the summer heat.

The origins of National Swimming Pool Day are unclear, but it is believed to have been observed since 2016 or 2017. Its main goals are to celebrate the rich history and cultural significance of swimming pools, highlight the many benefits of swimming pools for our physical and mental health, encourage people to spend time by the pool and swim any chance they get, and give a shout-out to both public swimming pools and the home swimming pool industry.

There are many ways to celebrate this amazing holiday. You can go for a swim in a pool, whether its your own pool, one belonging to a relative or a friend, or a public pool; throw a pool party with games like Marco Polo and water volleyball; visit a water park or a hot spring resort; buy a new bathing suit or that inflatable flamingo you’ve been eyeing for some time; think about installing a swimming pool in your backyard or at least buying an inflatable pool for your kids. And don’t forget to spread the word about the holiday on social media by taking a poolside selfie and posting it with the hashtag #NationalSwimmingPoolDay.