In pictures: in the pool with Princess Charlene for Water Safety Day
For many children, this morning marked their first introduction to water rescue © Michaël Alesi / Prince’s Palace
It was in the water, before stepping onto the pitch, that 108 young international rugby players had their first experience of water rescue alongside Princess Charlene.
On Thursday 19 March, the swimming pool at the Stade Louis-II hosted another edition of Water Safety Day organised by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation. In the presence of Princess Charlene, 108 children from the nine international teams taking part in the Sainte Dévote Rugby Tournament – representing South Africa, Argentina, Ecuador, India, Mauritius, the United States, Japan, Singapore and Zimbabwe – spent the morning learning the basics of water rescue.
Supervised by Pierre Frolla, four-time world record holder in freediving and ambassador for the Foundation, as well as by his team from the Monegasque Academy of the Sea, the participants alternated between water-based workshops and dry exercises.
A morning dedicated to learning life-saving skills
On the programme: cardiopulmonary resuscitation, water rescue using tube buoys, water polo, a pool obstacle course and diving board activities, all delivered through an approach designed to combine learning with fun.
Three land-based workshops rounded off the programme, led by the Monegasque Red Cross, the Monegasque Anti-Doping Committee and the Monegasque Association of Olympic Athletes (AMAO).
For many of these young athletes, it was their first encounter with water rescue techniques.
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Established in 2012, the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation works through its “Learn to Swim” and “Water Safety” programmes to reduce drowning accidents worldwide. This Water Safety Day is part of this ongoing effort, adding a unique sporting and intercultural dimension on the eve of an international rugby competition.