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Culture news

Take a dip at Antwerp’s MAS Museum this summer

Why choose between a pool day and a cultural outing, when you can do both? Antwerp’s MAS Museum is planning to open the Bonaparte Dock – the first time it's possible to swim there in 200 years.

wellbeing

Does it really matter if you eat before you go swimming?

Despite warnings about swimming on a full stomach, eating before you jump in the pool is generally nothing to worry about. But something else might be.

France

Paris 2024 equality questioned as no man picked for artistic swimming

Four-time world gold medalist Giorgio Minisini announced he's retiring after no man was picked to compete in Paris 2024 synchronised swimming out of 96 athletes.

Green News

Paris spent €1.4 billion trying to clean up the Seine: Has it worked?

Anne Hidalgo took a dip in the long-polluted Seine River to show that Paris' river is clean and safe.

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France

French sports minister takes symbolic dive into river Seine

Amelie Oudea Castera was hoping to show that the river is clean enough for swimming events to take place during the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Destinations

Could this Swiss city become the queer capital of Europe?

Zurich’s blend of nature, culture and a welcoming community makes it ideal for a LGBTQ+ city break.

Travel News

These European destinations have the cleanest water to swim in

Most of Europe's bathing waters, ranging from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, are of outstanding quality for swimming.

Eco-Innovation

Inside Europe’s largest indoor arena as it seeks to clean up its act

As audience expectations grow bigger and bigger, how can stadiums reign in their emissions?

Moments

Here’s how to access fancy hotel pools for one day only

Day pass apps, which offer access to hotel pools and facilities, are getting ever more popular as holidays rocket in price across Europe.

Moments

Europe’s best train routes that take you straight to the beach

Chlorinated pools can have an annual footprint of 1,400kg CO2, so cool off in these dreamy natural swimming spots instead.

Nature

London’s Thames will be safe for swimming in 10 years, mayor vows

A 25-kilometre super sewer is set to help - but campaigners say the scale of the challenge remains ‘absolutely massive’.

Green News

Could sewage pollution put a stop to Olympic events in the Seine?

Only one out of 14 water samples show the river to be safe for swimming, according to analysis by Surfrider Foundation.

Residences

The hotels where guests swim, cycle and tree-climb to their rooms

For the adventurous traveller, the fun can begin before you’ve even checked in.

Moments

Watch: I took an ‘ice dip’ in the North Sea and survived

Forget about Finland, go to Northumberland to try 'ice dipping' this winter.

Sport

Paris Olympics swimming test event cancelled over water quality fears

The cancellations this weekend pose a new challenge to the Paris Olympics organisers and the city’s ambitions to reopen the iconic river to public swimming after the Games.

France

Migrants in France learn to swim, and overcome their crossing trauma

Those who survived dangerous crossings often fear the water but are now being given lessons to tackle this head on.

Italy

'Sexist' remarks land Italian swim commentators in hot water

"Dutch divers are big," said one commentator about a female contestant, while another compared her to an Italian entrant. "Whatever, they're all equally tall in bed," he added.

Culture news

Culture Re-View: A short history on the invention of the bikini

5 July 1946: The birth of the bikini

No Comment

WATCH: Iffland becomes cliff diving champion in Polignano a Mare Italy

WATCH: Australia's Rhiannan Iffland takes top prize in cliff the world cliff diving in Italy

Travel News

Both men and women can swim topless in this part of Spain

The Catalan government has reminded public swimming pools that they can’t ban women from going topless.