Łódź Aquapark Faces Backlash for Child-Free Event

The news in Polish

1. ogłaszać
   podawać oficjalnie do wiadomości publicznej ↩︎
2. wydarzenie (n.)
   coś, co się wydarzyło lub będzie miało miejsce ↩︎
3. wzbudzać
   spowodować pojawienie się emocji lub zainteresowania ↩︎
4. kontrowersja (f.)
   sytuacja wywołująca różne opinie i sprzeciw ↩︎
5. wizerunek (m.)
   sposób, w jaki coś jest postrzegane ↩︎
6. wzywać
   prosić kogoś o przyjście lub podjęcie działania ↩︎

Translation

Text Comprehension

Question: What type of event did Fala Aquapark in Łódź announce?

Question: Who is calling for the advertisement to be withdrawn?

Vocabulary

Polish	English
ogłaszać	announce
wydarzenie (n.)	event
wzbudzać	arouse
kontrowersja (f.)	controversy
wizerunek (m.)	image
wzywać	call upon

Read the full story

The Fala Aquapark in the city of Łódź, Poland, has recently come under scrutiny after announcing a special event allowing entry only to adults. The event, scheduled for 19th October, was promoted through social media with advertisements that featured a crying child crossed out and the phrase “Entry Prohibited for Children.” The tagline suggested a day at the pool without “splashing, squealing, and slide queues,” triggering widespread criticism.

The Łódź city authorities, responsible for the municipal company operating the aquapark, justified the decision by stating that it is in line with customer needs and preferences. They highlighted the aquapark’s financial success as evidence of its effective service offerings.

However, the move has sparked a considerable backlash online. The promotional post attracted over 3,000 comments, many of which were from people expressing outrage at the idea of a “child-free day.” Critics argue that it perpetuates a negative view of children in public spaces.

Monika Horna-Cieślak, the Children’s Rights Commissioner in Poland, has expressed her concern, noting that such marketing approaches are exclusionary and detrimental to the perception of children’s participation in public life. In her formal communication to the Mayor of Łódź and the president of Fala Aquapark, she emphasized that creating “child-free zones” contradicts efforts to foster an inclusive civic society that respects the rights of all, irrespective of age.

The Commissioner also highlighted the broader implications of this initiative, cautioning against establishing segregated zones based on various demographics, which might lead to inequality and unwarranted discrimination. She called for the retraction of the controversial advertisement, advocating for universal access to the facility.

In response to this controversy, local officials and aquapark management have yet to issue a public statement addressing the Commissioner’s concerns or the public backlash. The discussion continues, reflecting broader societal debates on public space accessibility and inclusivity for children and other demographic groups.

 

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