Overview

• The DLRG issued 95,273 swim badges in 2024, the highest number in a decade, with increases in Seepferdchen and Bronze certifications.
• Demand for swimming courses remains high, with half of local DLRG clubs maintaining waiting lists averaging six months to over a year.
• A KfW study highlights that around 800 swimming pools in Germany are at risk of closure without significant renovations.
• DLRG President Ute Vogt has urged federal and state governments to allocate more funds to modernize aging pool infrastructure.
• While the federal government has pledged €1 billion for sports infrastructure, the DLRG warns this is insufficient to address the scale of the crisis.