Copenhagen bars two swimming clubs after access refusal

Two swimming associations have lost access to Copenhagen’s municipal swimming pools after refusing entry to a male city employee during an inspection, DR reports. The decision takes effect immediately.

The inspection was intended to check whether associations offering gender-segregated swimming comply with equal treatment regulations. Municipal representatives must be allowed to enter facilities to carry out their work, regardless of their gender.

Copenhagen’s culture, leisure and citizen services mayor, Christopher Røhl of the Social Liberal Party, said the municipality began inspections after receiving indications before the summer that some associations might not be complying. Visits to associations offering gender-segregated swimming began in September and were conducted in person.

Swimming sessions for one gender are permitted, provided they meet certain conditions. If spectators or parents can attend, access must be open to both genders, and municipal staff must be allowed into the facilities to perform their duties.

The municipality initially knew of seven associations offering gender-segregated sessions, but inspections identified 13 more. Røhl said the city was working to map all swimming associations and check whether they follow the rules when using municipal facilities.

Christian Bülow, a Copenhagen City Council member for the Danish People’s Party, called it “deeply unacceptable” that the city administration had not had a better overview of what was happening in municipal pools. He said his party would ban gender-segregated swimming.

Copenhagen’s 2027 budget agreement allocates funding for unannounced inspections of associations offering gender-segregated swimming four times a year from 2027 to 2030. The two associations will be able to submit responses before the administration decides whether to restore their access to municipal pools.