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‘Swimming pools are always so packed’: What you think of Copenhagen’s sports facilities

The Local Denmark
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‘Swimming pools are always so packed’: What you think of Copenhagen’s sports facilities
Skole OL på Østerbro Stadion i København, torsdag den 3. maj 2018. Skole OL er et landsdækkende atletikstævne for alle 4.-7. klasser, der i år afholdes for 10. gang. Under stævnet konkurrerer skoleklasser som hold i sportsgrenene atletik, bowling, bueskydning, roning og svømning.. (Foto: Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix)

We asked our readers in Denmark for their thoughts on the public sports facilities in Copenhagen.

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The Danish government on Wednesday proposed major spending on new public sports facilities in the Copenhagen area.

The Greater Copenhagen region does not have enough sports halls, football pitches or swimming pools relative to its number of residents, according to the government, which wants to allow local authorities to build new facilities.

In a new plan for city development presented on Wednesday, the government proposed giving the Copenhagen and Frederiksberg municipalities one billion kroner to invest on public sports facilities between 2022 and 2030.

READ ALSO: Copenhagen offered major investment in public sports facilities

We asked our readers whether you feel the capital lacks public sports facilities and how it compares with other cities or places you have lived. Thank you to all who got in touch.

Our responses were striking in that 100 percent of those who filled in our survey answered ‘yes’ to the question “Do you think Copenhagen has enough public sports facilities (such as sports halls, swimming pools and football pitches)?”

A range of different types of facility are somewhat lacking in the city, according to the readers who contacted us.

“More basketball and badminton courts would be good,” said Antony, a reader who is originally from India.

A better range of facilities would be a positive thing because “it allows more spontaneous use of facilities without having to book many days in advance - making it easier to have an active lifestyle,” he said.

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“It will also have positive effects on health levels and thereby reduce healthcare costs in the long term,” Antony added.

Compared to Australian city Melbourne, Copenhagen is lagging behind in terms of sports facilities, according to Martin Montes, who has lived in both conurbations.

Montes said the Danish capital would benefit from “more AstroTurf pitches to play outdoor during the winter, as well as more flat park space to play casual grass sports.”

“Also, dedicated halls where casual and amateur-elite competitions can be played regularly and are not necessarily bound to clubs,” he suggested. Clubs and associations are often a gateway to amateur sport in Denmark, a country with a strong cultural tradition for associations.

Another reader who contacted us, Gregory, said Copenhagen could do with more swimming pools as well as green areas for exercising. He was not the only one who cited swimming facilities as an area which could be improved.

“Copenhagen swimming pools are always so packed compare to other places and (have a) long waiting list,” wrote Bellins.

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Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
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