World Aquatics Makes Progress on Five Pools in Africa
World Aquatics on Tuesday announced progress on five pools being built in Africa as part of its “Pools for All” program.
The governing body said that construction is underway on aquatics facilities in four nations: Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda and Lesotho. They are estimated to be finished in October.
An initial agreement has been signed with Cape Verde for a new pool, with a construction contract being finalized.
Three of those pools (Rwanda, Lesotho, Cape Verde) were announced in March 2025 at the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) summit in Algiers.
Each agreement is a collaboration between funding provided by World Aquatics and on-the-ground stakeholders, led by construction supplier Lokang. Management of the facilities will transfer to the responsibility of the countries’ member federations upon completion.
Pool construction was a cornerstone component for World Aquatics president Husain Al-Musallam in his quest to increase swimming access in underserved regions. The facilities serve first to expose people to water safety and reduce the risk of drowning, and then to develop athletes in the sport.
From the press release:
In Africa, where access to safe swimming facilities remains limited in many regions, these pools represent a transformative step, serving both as training environments for elite athletes and as community hubs where young people can learn to swim safely and develop a love of aquatics.
World Aquatics looks forward to the continued progress of these important facilities in Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda and Lesotho, and celebrating their completion later this year.
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with World Aquatics. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.