NEWS

Robust contingency plans in place for Great London Swim

In 2013, participants in the Great London Swim received a text message two days before the swim. 

It read: “Urgent: Great London Swim has been moved to Millwall Dock due to water-quality issues.” Despite the last-minute change of venue, prompted by temporary Crossrail works that caused water issues, the event went ahead as if it was always planned to take place at Millwall.

Fast-forward to 2014. Again, the Great London Swim was beset by water quality issues. This time though the problems only manifested themselves the day before the event. It was too late to change venue and the swim was cancelled.
This year the Great London Swim returns to Royal Victoria Dock. And robust contingency plans are in place to prevent a repeat of 2014. Says Craig Barber of Great Swim: “We have the option of rolling the event over to Sunday should we need to. And an alternative venue to use if necessary, should we have sufficient notice to move the infrastructure.”
Why not hold the event in the River Thames? The lack of currents in the Dock make it a safer and less challenging swim for novice open water swimmers. And the choice of Royal Victoria Dock reflects Great Swim’s aim to grow the Great London Swim into the largest open water swim event in London. The Dock has the size and infrastructure to enable them to fulfil that ambition. 
See also: Aqua Sphere extends commitment to Great Swim until 2018

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I created Outdoor Swimmer in 2011 (initially as H2Open Magazine) as an outlet for my passion for swimming outdoors. I've been a swimmer and outdoor swimmer for as long as I remember. Swimming has made a huge difference to my life and I want to share its joys and benefits with as many people as possible. I am also the author of Swim Wild & Free: A Practical Guide to Swimming Outdoors 365 a Year and I provide one-to-one support to swimmers through Swim Mentoring.