Helsinki’s Swimming Stadium to be open through next autumn

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By Marja Salmela
     
      How do you fancy the idea of swimming in the outdoor pool behind the Helsinki Olympic Stadium on New Year’s Eve, watching the early fireworks and the starry night sky?
      Absolute nonsense - just idle dreams, snorts the Helsinki resident.
     
Not at all. A new experience will be available for all next year, as the Swimming Stadium, the outdoor 50-metre swimming pool behind the Olympic Stadium, will be open for residents until the end of 2009.
      The information is based on a decision made by the City of Helsinki Sports Department in order to celebrate its 90th anniversary.
      The water temperature in the 50-metre pool will be kept at slightly over 20°C.
      ”It is true that the operation will consume a lot of energy”, admits Head of Division Petteri Huurre from the Sports Department.
     
If the outdoor temperatures remain above -5 Celsius, as in the past two autumns, there will be no real heating problems, Huurre says confidently. The Sports Department has also considered covering the pool for the night.
      In addition, some wooden poolside tubs with cold water will be offered for winter "polar bear" swimmers.
      Furthermore, tent saunas, similar to the field saunas used by the Finnish army, will possibly also be tested at the Swimming Stadium.
     
When it is dark, the diving towers will be lighted, and a number of small lamps will be placed in various parts of the stadium. Outdoor fires will contribute to the atmosphere.
      ”We are not trying to create a spa similar to those on board the ferries to Sweden; just an atmosphere where people can have a quiet time and enjoy relaxing. No rock ’n’ roll”, throws in consultant Marianne Mäkelä from the Finnish advertising agency Image Match.
      Mäkelä believes that employees from various offices as well as groups of friends are sure to become interested in the new alternative, as the stadium will also provide a gym downstairs and possibly even some treatments, including massage.
      Further plans also include meals, but alcohol is not to be served at the stadium.
     
No decisions on the opening hours nor on the size of the admission fee have been made yet, but a sum of EUR 5.00 has been suggested.
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 19.12.2008


Links:
  City of Helsinki Sports Department
  Details of Helsinki Olympic Swimming Stadium
  Helsinki Swimming Stadium (Wikipedia)
  A few words on winter swimming (of the "hole-in-the-ice" variety)

MARJA SALMELA / Helsingin Sanomat
marja.salmela@hs.fi