Bahrain is set to take part in a global attempt to create a record breaking swimming lesson. Thousands are expected to participate in the World's Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL) on Tuesday.

It is being staged to help aquatic facilities and regional, national and international water safety organisations highlight the importance of teaching children to swim.

Last year 3,971 participants around the world set the record at the first WLSL attempt in the Guinness World Records.

Swimmers across five countries and three continents took part in the same swimming lesson simultaneously.

The Lost Paradise of Dilmun Water Park (LPOD) will host the Bahrain leg of this year's event, as long as at least 25 swimmers register to participate.

LPOD's team of lifeguards and trainers will be on hand during the event to ensure safety at all times, park officials told the GDN.

Entry and registration is free to swimmers of all ages and abilities and a maximum of 250 can participate. The park's other facilities will remain closed on that day.

The deadline to register is 1pm on June 13. It will take place at 6pm, but participants must be at the venue by 5pm.

'It is so important to draw attention to this issue, particularly at the beginning of the summer season,' said LPOD marketing and public relations head Adam Page.

'The WLSL is a perfect way to bring the message to life for children and parents.'

The WLSL programme works to promote drowning prevention through education by focusing the energy of thousands of participants on a clear and specific message, said organisers.

Disney's Typhoon Lagoon water park in Florida has been designated the official headquarters for the event for the second year.

American Olympic gold medallists Rowdy Gaines and Janet Evans have backed the drive for the second year running to convey the message that drownings can be prevented through awareness and training.

Gaines, an 11-time world record holder, will be master of ceremonies for the WLSL event at Typhoon Lagoon.

'I'm thrilled to be working with the World's Largest Swimming Lesson for the second year to help spread the word that swimming lessons save lives,' he said.

'Learning to swim and the exposure to the water safety messages that swimming lessons offer provide a fundamental first step in drowning prevention.'

According to reports, drowning is the second biggest cause of unintended, injury-related death of children aged between one and 14 in the US.-TradeArabia News Service