Helsinki offers free swimming for elderly people

People aged 68 and over can swim for free on weekdays at the City of Helsinki's swimming halls starting from January 2, said the city in a press release on Friday.

People of the stipulated age will be able to use the swimming halls free of charge on weekdays from 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.

The opportunity is not only available for Helsinki residents, but also applicable for non-residents and tourists.

After the entry people may stay in the hall for the normal swimming time, which is two hours.

Regular clients can make their visits easier by procuring a customer card, which can be topped up with the free swimming privileges for one year at a time.

The first time to top up the card, clients need to present an identity document (passport, ID card or driving licence), Kela card or reception centre client card to verify their age.

The City Council decided on free swimming for older people when it approved the new Helsinki City Strategy.

"Free swimming is one of the many measures that the City of Helsinki is taking to reduce wellbeing inequalities and promote physically active lifestyles. Free swimming for older people has been requested for a long time. Hopefully this will encourage not only the existing customer of swimming halls to swim more, but also new people to take up swimming,” said Deputy Mayor for Culture and Leisure Paavo Arhinmäki.

The City's own swimming halls at which older people can now more easily enjoy the benefits of aquatic exercise are the Itäkeskus, Jakomäki, Pirkkola and Yrjönkatu swimming halls.

But free swimming is not available at Helsinki's outdoor swimming pools, sports halls and Urheiluhallit Oy's swimming halls.