Oulu plans dark pool floors despite swimmer safety concerns

Oulu’s swimming clubs oppose city plans to paint the floors of two new pools at the upcoming Raksila aquatics centre dark grey instead of the traditional white, Yle reports.

The €80 million facility is scheduled to open in 2029. Clubs say the darker colour reduces visibility for lifeguards and requires underwater lighting that disrupts competitive artistic swimming and diving.

Hannu Saikanmäki, chair of the swimming section at Haukipudas Heitto, said clubs had agreed on white floors but were now being told grey was intended for the artistic and diving pools. Similar grey floors are also planned for a new pool in Kemi.

At Oulu’s Linnanmaa pool, which opened in February 2025 with a grey floor and underwater lights, lifeguards have already reported visibility problems, according to swimming instructor Antti Janisaro. He said clear sightlines for both cameras and poolside staff are essential, and that white floors have proven effective.

Pasi Salonen, chair of the Finnish Swimming Federation, warned that the required lighting creates glare that impairs athletes’ ability to judge direction, rhythm, position, and synchronisation underwater, affecting both control and expression.

Yle was unable to reach a city official for comment.