Pirkanmaa swimming pools allow swimwear in saunas

The main swimming pools in Pirkanmaa region are introducing a new operating model allowing the use of swimwear in the sauna with the view to increase accessibility of swimimg among the people, said the City of Tampere in a press release on Monday.

The new rule will be introduced on trial basis in the swimming pools in Tampere, Nokia, Ylöjärvi, Lempäälä and Valkeakoski , although the Finnish tradition of nudity has been the norm in saunas at public swimming pools for long.

The new rule will continue until further notice.

Sports Managers of Tampere City Hanna Murotie and Ylöjärvi municipality Sini Aalto said that wearing a swimsuit in the sauna is an option and everyone can choose their own way to use the sauna, with or without a swimsuit.

Similar rule has been introduced at the swimming pools in Lohja and Lempäälä where the number of customers increased significantly, said Pasi Kolu of Lempäälä.

The authorities will monitor customers feedback and the effects in the atmosphere of swimming pools, quality of water and number of users during the trial period.

The aim of the operating model is to increase the social accessibility of swimming pools and enable more people to visit the pools, said the authorities, adding that the change will support equality and lowers the threshold for using swimming pool facilities.