World Aquatic Babies Congress http://www.waterbabies.org

Three Finnish Baby Swimming Pioneers Honored

St. Petersburg, Florida USA -- The World Aquatic Babies Congress (WABC), an international organization that promotes aquatic programs for babies, today announced recognition of three Finnish baby swimming specialists.

They are Kenneth Karlsson, Mrs. Pirkko KArvonen and Dr. Ilona Autti-Ramo. Each made a unique contribution towards the introduction and development of baby swimming programs to Finland begun some 20 years ago. Instructional baby swimming programs are now very popular in Finland and in many other countries around the world.

The recognition announcement comes on the eve of an educational seminar held in celebration of 20 Years of Finnish Baby Swimming. The event will be held in Helsinki, Finland 18-20 January 2002 under the direction of the Finnish Association for Swimming Instruction and Lifesaving

World Aquatic Babies Congress president Steve Graves said "It is with great pleasure that we praise and give recognition to Karlsson, KArvonen and Dr. Autti-Ramo. They have been a guiding-light to those involved in baby swimming in Finland, in Scandinavia and beyond. Professional baby swimming instructors and many students and parents have benefited from the work of these three fine people."

Each honoree will receive special awards from WABC and be featured permanently on their web site ( https://wabcswim.com ) as "Outstanding Baby Swimming Teachers and Developers of the 20th Century."

WABC was founded in 1993 by American - Virginia Hunt Newman - an internationally recognized baby swimming program pioneer (1950) and author (1967) from Los Angeles. Newman is the Chairman of WABC and extended her congratulations to the Finnish baby swimming specialists.