Reutlingen (dpa/lsw) - More than 4.1 million people visited the outdoor pools of the Baden-Württemberg Public Pools Working Group this year. "Despite the high number of visitors, there were no incidents worth mentioning, apart from a few local ones where young visitors messed with the staff," said the chairman of the working group and manager of the Reutlingen baths, Necdet Mantar, on Monday. After two years with limited corona operations, a “normal mode” was possible again.
The 26 members would not have considered extending the outdoor pool season (early May to mid-September) due to the energy crisis. To the chagrin and displeasure of the guests, many bathing establishments have reduced the temperatures in and outside the pools in order to meet the demands of the federal and state governments to save energy and to avoid forced closure.
According to the announcement, the working group regretted that the bathrooms were not systemically important from the point of view of politics. "This view should be reconsidered as soon as possible, because public baths serve the public interest and are a cultural asset that needs to be preserved." If pools were to close, school and club swimming, swimming courses and public swimming would no longer be possible.
