Helsinki unwilling to take stand for or against vexed bikini issue

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The City of Helsinki is unwilling to take a direct stand on whether or not adults are allowed to wear a bikini in the capital’s children’s play parks.
     
The heated bikini & strings debate was launched in July when Helsingin Sanomat reported that a mother, sunbathing on a blanket by the pool, was asked to cover up in the Tapuli residential park in Helsinki’s suburb of Tapaninkylä.
      The city's Social Services Department issued a written statement, saying that ”In children’s play parks people are advised to wear clothes which comply with the general norms and the situation”.
      Paula Kokkonen (National Coalition Party), the Deputy Mayor in charge of social affairs and public health, admits that the statement is not unambiguous, and can be interpreted in any number of ways in the ear of the hearer.
      However, she also suggested that an adult should not wear a bikini in a children's play park.
      ”I’d like to call for common sense”, Kokkonen noted.
     
She was also content as the issue was not under debate at the Council meeting on Wednesday, where Councillor Antti Vuorela (SDP) - who introduced the matter - had to be content with a written answer.
      ”This is a 'silly season' subject. Fortunately, the Council did not start a worthless debate on it”, Kokkonen concluded.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Helsinki City Council to participate in string bikini debate in September (5.8.2008)

Helsingin Sanomat