Swimming and gym wristbands for special groups
Processing of new applications suspended until further notice
The Sports and Wellbeing Committee discussed the renewal of swimming and gym wristbands for special groups at its meeting on 25 September, 2025, but referred the matter back for further preparation.
However, Sports Services will suspend the processing of applications for swimming and gym wristbands for special groups and the granting of decisions from September 25, 2025, until the matter is reviewed again at the next committee meeting on November 27, 2025. Applications posted by September 25, 2025, at the latest will be processed.
Valid approved applications and other acceptable cards/codes can still be used to redeem passes in accordance with current criteria and practices.
Swimming wristband for special groups
Price EUR 41,50/year from January 1 2025 (price EUR 40 until 31.12.2024).
The wristband is valid at the City of Espoo’s swimming pools for one year from the date of purchase. After that, the wristband can be topped up. You can buy a wristband at a swimming pool cash desk. The wristband is only available to Espoo residents.
The following cards/codes entitle you to buy a wristband for special groups at a swimming pool cash desk:
- EU Disability Card(external link, opens in a new window)
- Visual impairment card
- KELA card:
- Asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), Kela card code 203
- Diabetes, Kela card code 103
- Epilepsy (diagnosis G40), Kela card code 111
- Multiple sclerosis (diagnosis G35), Kela card code 109 or 303
- Parkinson’s disease, Kela card code 110
- Psychiatric disorders, Kela card code 112 or 188
- Rheumatic disease, Kela card code 202
- Coronary artery disease, Kela card code 206
Sports and Exercise Services’ criteria for granting swimming wristbands for special groups:
- ADHD (diagnosis F90 or F82), medical certificate
- Cerebral palsy (diagnosis G80), medical certificate
- Dysphasia (diagnosis F80.1 or F80.2), medical certificate
- Dystonia, medical certificate
- Organ transplant patients, medical certificate
- Progressive central nervous system diseases (diagnosis G10–G13), medical certificate
- Fibromyalgia, medical certificate
- Persons with disabilities whose degree of disability is at least 50% or disability category at least 11, medical certificate
- Persons with intellectual disabilities, medical certificate or statement of the Disability Services unit
- Muscle diseases (diagnosis G70–G73), medical certificate
- Hip or knee prosthesis, medical certificate
- Multiple sclerosis (diagnosis G35), medical certificate
- Polio after-effects, medical certificate
- Psychiatric disorders, pension decision OR medical statement B due to psychiatric reasons
- Morbid obesity BMI 40+ (applied for through exercise counselling, granted for 2 years)
- Children with heart disease, medical certificate
- Cancer (diagnosis made within the past 5 years), medical certificate
- Sleep apnoea, medical certificate
- Children with disabilities, medical certificate
- Obesity BMI 35+ (under 18-year-olds, applied for through exercise counselling, granted for 2 years)
You can also apply for a wristband based on medical documentation (medical certificate, epicrisis). In this case, you must submit the documents to Sports and Exercise Services.
The decision on a wristband applied for on the basis of medical documentation will be sent to your home address. If your application is accepted, you can buy your wristband at a swimming pool cash desk.
The documents required for the swimming wristband must be submitted to Sports and Exercise Services every five years.
Send the application to:
Sports and Exercise Services / Seasonal wristbands for special groups
P.O. Box 34
02070 City of Espoo
The application will be processed within approximately 2–4 weeks.
It is possible to get an assistant code for the swimming wristband for special groups so that an adult assistant can accompany the wristband holder free of charge to city-run swimming pools. The assistant helps the wristband holder with getting dressed, washing and getting around throughout the visit. The following persons are entitled to the assistant code:
- Persons with intellectual disabilities
- Persons with cerebral palsy
- The visually impaired
- Epileptics
- Persons with dysphasia
- Persons with ADHD
- Children under the age of 10 who meet the criteria. If the child is, for example, 8 years old, the assistant code is only granted for two years.
- Other cases may also be considered if a person’s illness or disability so requires.
The assistant code will be added to the swimming wristband for special groups when you buy your wristband at the swimming pool cash desk. You must present your Kela card code 111, visual impairment card, or EU Disability Card with an A symbol. You can also apply for the assistant code if you apply for the wristband from Sports and Exercise Services.
An Espoo resident using a wristband for special groups or a +68 sports wristband may take a swimming friend or gym friend with them free of charge to Espoo’s swimming pools and gyms.
The friend can be any adult, for example, a grown-up child, another relative or a friend. The friend can also join the wristband holder even if they have an assistant code and are accompanied by an assistant.
The benefit does not apply to guided activities at swimming pools or gyms.
Gym wristband for special groups
You can top up your wristband as follows:
- 1 month EUR 15
- 6 months EUR 50
- 12 months EUR 90
The wristband is valid at the City of Espoo’s gyms during their hours reserved for independent training. The decision to grant the wristband is valid for one year from the date of issue.
- EU Disability Card(external link, opens in a new window)
- Diabetes, Kela card code 103
- Epilepsy (diagnosis G40), Kela card code 111 or medical certificate (you can apply for an assistant code from Sports and Exercise Services)
- Psychiatric disorders, Kela card code 112 or 188 or pension decision / medical statement B due to psychiatric reasons
- Multiple sclerosis and comparable medical conditions (G35), Kela card code 109 or 303 or medical certificate
- Visual impairment, visual impairment card
- Parkinson’s disease, Kela card code 110 or medical certificate
- Rheumatic disease, Kela card code 202
- Fibromyalgia, medical certificate
- Cerebral palsy (G80), medical certificate
- Dystonia, medical certificate
- Progressive central nervous system diseases (G10–G13), medical certificate
Persons with disabilities whose degree of disability is at least 50% or disability category at least 11, medical certificate - Persons with intellectual disabilities, medical certificate or statement of the Disability Services unit
- Muscle diseases (G70–G73), medical certificate
- Morbid obesity BMI 40+, applied for through exercise counselling
- Hip or knee prosthesis, medical certificate
- Obesity BMI 35+ (under 18-year-olds, applied for through exercise counselling)
Gym wristbands for special groups are available to those who turn 15 during the year of issue or are older. The wristband is only available to Espoo residents.
If you use a gym at a swimming pool, you must pay the entrance fee for the swimming pool separately.
You can buy the gym wristband for special groups at a City of Espoo Service Point or a swimming pool cash desk by presenting your Kela card, EU Disability Card or visual impairment card that meets the criteria.
If you apply for a wristband based on medical documentation (medical certificate, epicrisis), submit the required documents to Sports and Exercise Services.
Send the application to:
Sports and Exercise Services / Seasonal wristbands for special groups
P.O. Box 34
02070 City of Espoo
The application will be processed within approximately 2–4 weeks. We will not process applications in July.
Persons with intellectual disabilities or cerebral palsy, the visually impaired, epileptics and holders of an EU Disability Card with an A symbol are granted a wristband which entitles the holder to be accompanied by an adult assistant free of charge. The assistant helps the wristband holder with getting dressed, washing and getting around throughout the visit. This benefit may also be granted to other individuals whose illness or disability so requires.