Page 81 - Olympism in Socialism

(according to choice and local facilities). Out of
the school-leavers of the 10th form about 97 per
cent are swimmers; in regard to school leavers of
the 12th form the figure is as high as 99 percent.
In the GDR, in the words of GutsMuths,
swimming has long become a fashion.
Where is swimming done? Only a few schools
have their own swimming pools. One hundred
and fifty three indoor swimming halls (1976),
however, and a large number of outdoor
swimming pools are used for such lessons. The
National Five-Year Plan for the year 1976-1980
envisaged the construction of another 60 indoor
swimming pools. Every sizable town already has
several popular swimming halls and in a large
number of smaller towns they also belong to the
sports facilities available. These are usually
model buildings which combine suitability with
economy. Many of these halls also offer a pool for
children and non-swimmers as well as a sauna.
The halls are open from 6 o’clock in the
morning to 10 o’clock at night and naturally they
are used by many schools for swimming lessons.
The hall at the Friedrichshain Park in Berlin, for
instance, is used by 31 schools. Besides the
schoolchildren, an average of about 270,000
swimmers per year come there.
Kindergarten children also start learning
swimming here.
Whoever is interested in becoming a
spartakiad winner or even an Olympic winner,
should join in the hustle of such a swimming hail.
For an hour of swimming he has to pay only one
mark. Children, apprentices and students pay
0.50 marks, outside the free school swimming. A
monthly ticket costs only 10 marks and can be
used as often as one likes.
Swimming has been in fashion in the GDR

70