COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, October 19. THE Institute of International Sport has named USA Swimming as one of its 15 Most Influential Sports Education Teams. The institute conducted a three-year study to determine which individuals or groups best used sports as an educational tool and to develop positive values. The study honored 100 individuals and 15 organizations.
More than 1,500 nominations were sent to the Institute of International Sport when the project was unveiled in 2004. Eventually, the list was reduced to 200 individual contenders and 30 team finalists. A committee of coaches, athletic administrators, journalists and academics formed the panel that selected the winners.
The institute indicated that USA Swimming was honored because it had "a focus on programs and services that benefit the grassroots base of the sport, with a particular focus on reaching out to youngsters who would otherwise not have the opportunity to engage in competitive swimming."
One of the programs that shined for USA Swimming was its Make a Splash campaign in which water safety is the main focus. USA Swimming has tried to educate children and offer swim lessons to thousands of youngsters each year who wouldn't otherwise get the chance to learn to swim. The idea behind the project is the prevention of drowning.
"Being included on this distinguished list of organizations is truly an honor. Education is a very high priority for USA Swimming and The USA Swimming Foundation," said Chuck Wielgus, executive director of USA Swimming. "Through multiple on-going programs, we strive to educate not only our membership, but also children in underserved communities who stand to benefit from the sport of swimming, especially in the areas of fitness and safety and through exposure to the values that our sport can instill."