a) a sidewall sized and shaped to define a perimeter of the swimming pool;

b) a liner for covering the sidewall and a bottom of the swimming pool, the liner being made from a material suitable for creating a watertight cavity for receiving water, the liner including a light-transmitting portion, the light-transmitting portion being made of the material; and

c) a back-lighting apparatus connected to the sidewall and located behind the light-transmitting portion of the liner, the back-lighting apparatus being configured to transmit light through the light-transmitting portion of the liner to illuminate the swimming pool;

d) wherein the back-lighting apparatus comprises at least one housing connected to the sidewall behind the liner, the at least one housing having an opening positioned to register with the light-transmitting portion of the liner, at least one light source sized and shaped to fit within the housing for emitting light through the opening of the housing, and a light-transmitting cover shaped to cover the opening of the housing to protect the light source, wherein the light emitted from the light source is transmitted through the light-transmitting cover and the light-transmitting portion of the liner to illuminate the swimming pool; and

e) wherein the sidewall comprises a plurality of interconnected panels, each panel having a liner contact surface for engaging the liner and a recessed portion that defines the at least one housing.