We're on a global mission to mainstream 'swimmability'.
Inspired by the Paris Olympics and the cleanup of the River Seine, the global Swimmable Cities initiative is working on the next frontier of urban liveability and climate resilience.
Since launching our Charter in July 2024, we've built an alliance across 137 cities and towns in 40 countries, united by the Right to Swim and the Rights of Nature.
To achieve our goal of supporting 300+ cities towards greater ‘swimmability’ by 2030, we offer practical tools, peer learning sessions, strategic advisory, high-level advocacy and events.
Join the Movement!
2027 GLOBAL SUMMIT
Swimmable Cities Summit
August 25-28 2027
Ottawa-Gatineau, Canada
EVENTS FOR CITIES
SC Community of Practice
2026/27
Online
EVENTS FOR ACTORS
SC Seasonal Events
2026/27
Online
Cities
Municipalities, Water Authorities & Agencies
We support cities to improve liveability and climate resilience through swimmability-led solutions. No matter at what stage in the journey you’re at, our team can support you to advance.
ACTIONS
1. Join our Community of Practice
Our quarterly sessions and bi-annual Mayors’ Roundtables can support your city on technical implementation, political engagement and decision-making.
2. Enquire about Strategic Advisory
Our experts can support your community with strategic planning and development advisory at national, regional, city and project scales.
3. Work towards signing our Swimmable Cities Charter
Our team can support your municipality through the steps of signing our Charter, and planning high-visibility announcements that put your city on the global map.
Actors
Non-Profits, Businesses, Community Groups & Individuals
We support a diverse range of organisations to become actors in the urban swimming movement, united by a vision of safe, healthy and swimmable urban waterways globally.
ACTIONS
1. Join our Alliance
Our team can support you through seasonal intakes of new signatories to the Swimmable Cities Charter.
2. Meet fellow Actors
Our team hosts seasonal online events designed to connect you with passionate leaders who are working on the same challenges and opportunities as you.
3. Organise a Roundtable
Our team has built a tailored toolkit to support you in bringing together stakeholders in your city to work on your next stage of ‘swimmability’.
Partners
Institutions, Businesses, Philanthropy & Non-Profits
We collaborate with a coalition of partners on our mission to mainstream ‘swimmability’; providing opportunities for visibility and access, while supporting growth and impact.
ACTIONS
1. 2030 Partnerships
Our team is ready to work with you to grow our global platform to support 300+ cities by 2030 on their journeys towards greater ‘swimmability’.
2. 2027 Summit Partnerships
Our team is ready to work with you through our second global Swimmable Cities Summit in Ottawa-Gatineau (Canada), August 25-28 2027.
3. Project Partnerships
Our team is ready to work with you to create new tools and initiatives that empower cities and communities to scale solutions and reclaim urban waterways.
Swimmability is recognised by decision-makers around the world as a catalyst for, and indicator of, health, liveability, social equity, climate resilience and economic prosperity.
A swimmable city is a place with safe, healthy and swimmable waterways for all people.
But too many urban waterways are unsafe, polluted and inaccessible for their communities.
By signing the Swimmable Cities Charter, you’re joining a movement that turns the tide!
Foundational Values
1. Right to Swim
2. Nature Rights (One Health)
3. Urban Swimming Culture
4. Water is Sacred
Enabling Conditions
5. Rewriting the Rules (Policy)
6. Democratic Participation in Swimming Places (Infrastructure)
7. Reconnection & Resilience
Sharing Benefits
8. New Economic Opportunities
9. Sharing Wellbeing Benefits, Culture & Knowledge
Next Generation
10. Stewardship for Today, Tomorrow & Future Generations
Our alliance is made of 287 diverse organisations across 137 cities and towns in 40 countries.
It takes a global village to grow a movement! Our signatories represent a diversity of stakeholders - from local activists and community swimming groups to municipalities, water authorities and government agencies, civil society organisations, businesses, universities and cultural institutions.
MUNICIPAL SIGNATORIES
Our alliance includes 24 municipalities which have signed the Swimmable Cities Charter.
City of Paris (FRA)
Ville de Lillle (FRA)
City of Rotterdam (NL)
City of Amsterdam (NL)
City of Utrecht (NL)
Canton of Basel-Stadt (CHE)
City of Budapest (HUN)
City of Vilnius (LTU)
Alsergrund District (Vienna, AUT)
City of Mechelen (BEL)
Mayor of London's Office (ENG)
Freetown City Council (SLE)
City of Ottawa (CAN)
Ville de Gatineau (CAN)
City of Portland (USA)
City of Milwaukee (USA)
City of Sheboygan (USA),
City of Annapolis (USA)
City of McCall (USA)
Guapimirim (BRA)
City of Melbourne (AUS)
City of Yarra (Melbourne, AUS)
Banyule City Council (Melbourne, AUS)
Moonee Valley City Council (Melbourne, AUS
Our alliance also includes a number of elite athletes:
Lewis Pugh (UN Patron of the Oceans), Toby Robinson OLY (SC Sports Ambassador), Katie Pumphrey (SC Sports Ambassador), Shane Gould (Australian Olympian), Andrew Donaldson (AUS), Sarah Dobbin (CAN), Town of Collingwood (CAN) and more.
Our Community of Practice is supporting municipalities and government agencies in 80+ cities across 5 continents to embed ‘swimmability’ in urban planning and water management.
Each quarterly session welcomes experts and facilitates peer learning across different stages of ‘swimmability’:
• Advocating for and Assessing a Swimmable City
• Planning and Designing a Swimmable City
• Funding and Building a Swimmable City
• Managing and Promoting a Swimmable City
These are underpinned by enabling conditions such as: policy, water health, infrastructure, investment, community and climate adaptation, water and swim literacy, and cooperation.
“Urban swimming in rivers is a major step forward in improving residents’ quality of life, offering cooling relief during heatwaves, and ensuring the preservation of biodiversity and the rights of nature.”
— Anne Hidalgo, Former Mayor of Paris
"Swimmable waterways are neighbourhood infrastructure. They cool our cities, restore nature, carry culture, and give every person, regardless of income, a place to belong."
— Anaclaudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat
Inspired by the Paris Olympics and the cleanup of the River Seine, we're on a global mission to mainstream 'swimmability' in urban planning and integrated water management.
Since launching our Charter in July 2024, we've built a multi-sectoral alliance across 137 cities and towns in 40 countries, and a Community of Practice supporting implementation with 80+ municipalities and government agencies across five continents. We've also delivered international events in Rotterdam, Stockholm, Rio, Baku, Basel and New York; along with advisory projects in Australia, British Columbia and the Great Lakes-St Lawrence watershed.
TECHNICAL ADVISORS
Arnhem, Netherlands
SC Co-Founder & Special Advisor - Swim Site Operations & Diplomacy
CO-FOUNDERS
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
— Margaret Mead
SC Co-Founders - Matt, Adriaan, Chris, Sibylle, Tim, (Ana absent) - at the inaugural Swimmable Cities Summit, Rotterdam, June 22 2025.