Finland’s new national swimming centre opens with ex-minister’s namesake waterslide

Finland’s first national swimming and training centre has opened in Kuortane, featuring advanced technology and a waterslide humorously named after a former minister, Yle reports.

The €17.5 million facility, completed on schedule, will serve as a training hub for elite swimmers and introduce cutting-edge biomechanical analysis systems rarely seen in Europe. The centre’s 50-metre Olympic pool—one of only three in Finland—is designed to optimise speed, with hydrodynamic features that reduce drag and turbulence.

The waterslide, dubbed “Kurvinen” (Finnish for “curvy”), references a 2019 funding controversy involving then-Sports Minister Antti Kurvinen, who was accused of favouring his home district for the project’s €4 million state grant. The playful name, proposed by MP Ben Zyskowicz during a parliamentary visit, received cross-party support.

“At morning coffee, he told us the idea had been discussed in the parliamentary café—and naming the slide after Kurvinen got backing across party lines,” recalled Jaakko Niiranen, the centre’s CEO.

The facility, operated under a 10-year agreement with the Finnish Swimming Association, will host its first international teams next week. While prioritising domestic athletes, it also aims to attract foreign squads. Local access remains a priority: youth under 16 enter free, and seniors pay €2.

“Swimming is an environment-dependent sport,” said Mika Hormalainen, head of coaching at Kuortane Sports Institute. “World-class facilities like this can elevate performance—and inspire the next generation.”

Tags: swimming, sports facilities, finland