Offering children and young people free swimming

The swimming pool at Seltjarnarnes.

The swimming pool at Seltjarnarnes. Photo/Seltjarnarnes

The innovation at Seltjarnarness Swimming Pool has been well received, offering free access to the pool to children and young people up to the age of 18. The Seltjarnarnes Municipal Council unanimously approved last year to abolish the fee for this group and this arrangement took effect at the turn of the year.

“This gives the kids the opportunity to go swimming whenever they want without having to worry about having money or a card in their pocket,” says Haukur Geirmundsson, the swimming pool’s director, in a review on the municipal website.

Similar or comparable services are offered elsewhere as well. Swimming pools in Reykjavík are free for children and young people up to the age of 15, and in Kópavogur it is free for children up to the age of 18, for example.

“This change will hopefully encourage the younger generation to visit the swimming pool more often. And it is not out of the question to encourage all Seltjarnarnes residents to come and swim. The swimming pool is such a health paradise where everyone can find something to suit them. Swimming is a great health benefit, a form of exercise that tests most of the body's muscles and at the same time strengthens ligaments and increases endurance. The swimming pool offers free swimming gymnastics 4 times a week, i.e. Mondays and Wednesdays at 18:30-19:00 and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:10-7:40," Geirmundsson is quoted as saying.

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