On Saturday, June 7th at 11 a.m., the organization Surfrider Foundation Europe invites people present for the UNOC to gather on the public beach of Blue Beach in Nice for a collective swim. This peaceful action will take place on the eve of the United Nations Ocean Conference’s opening.
The meeting point is set: Saturday morning, in the heart of the Promenade des Anglais, with feet in the water. Surfrider Foundation Europe is organizing the “Universal Big Swim,” an open swim for everyone. Despite the temporary ban on swimming during the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), the prefecture has granted an exemption for this peaceful action.
The objective is clear: to show citizens’ commitment to the ocean and remind everyone that its protection is a matter for all generations. The choice of date is not coincidental. The Big Swim is held on the eve of the official opening of the UNOC and within the framework of World Ocean Day.
“We want to make the voice of civil society heard in the upcoming international discussions,” explain the organizers. The event notably precedes negotiations on the global treaty against plastic pollution, which will be held in August 2025 in Geneva.
For one hour, between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m., participants are invited to enter the sea together. The idea is simple yet powerful: a united gesture to remind that defending the oceans can no longer wait. Speeches will be given before the swim.
A Signal from the Sea
More than just a swim, the event aims to be a message addressed to delegations from around the world. It brings together swimmers, associations, public figures, athletes, artists, and volunteers. Together, they will form a united group to raise awareness about the environmental urgency.
For a few hours, the city of Nice becomes a rallying point. Surfrider Foundation also mobilizes nautical clubs, local collectives, and committed organizations. The organization has been present since June 2nd at the civil society pavilion, at La Baleine, with its “Next Generation Ocean Basecamp” space.
The Big Swim doesn’t aim to change the world in one morning. Rather, it seeks to create a moment of cohesion, both festive and committed. A way to remind that solutions will also come from citizens.
This Saturday, the sea will therefore become a place of expression. And each swimmer, a voice for the ocean.
