Belgrade, 23 January 2026 — The SWIMSAFE project — Safe Return of Swimmers to Nature — was officially launched at its kick-off meeting in Belgrade, bringing together partners from Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia for the first time around one shared mission: safer, smarter open water swimming across the region.
Hosted by the Serbian Swimming Federation (Plivački Savez Srbije), the meeting gathered representatives of the Croatian Swimming Federation (HPS) and the Swimming Federation of Slovenia (PZS) who used the day to align on goals, agree timelines, divide responsibilities and confirm the next steps for the months ahead.
Open water swimming is growing in popularity across the region — but lakes, rivers and the sea also carry real risks that pools do not. Over the next 12 months, SWIMSAFE will help swimmers, coaches and clubs return to natural waters safely and responsibly by delivering:
- Open Water Safety Guidelines covering risk awareness, self-rescue techniques and environmental responsibility;
- Digital learning resources for swimmers and coaches, available in English and adapted into the partners’ national languages;
- Practical capacity-building workshops in Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia, training coaches and instructors to lead safer sessions;
- Community actions supporting cleaner, safer open water swimming spots.
The project aims to reach 150+ participants and 30 trainers across the partner countries, building a shared culture of safety, responsibility and respect for nature.
Next up on the SWIMSAFE roadmap: the Open Water Safety Guidelines, followed by digital learning modules and the first regional workshops.
Swim Safe. Respect Nature.