I. plavecký klub otužilců Praha warmly invites you to the 69th Alfred Nikodem Memorial, our Christmas swimming competition in the Vltava.
The oldest and best-known cold-water swimming event will take place on Saturday 26 December 2015, St Stephen’s Day, at 11:00 in the Vltava beside Prague’s National Theatre.
The first African participant in the event’s history shows that it really is open to anyone with courage — and a medical certificate.
A few weeks ago, the organising club welcomed the ever-cheerful André Gabriel De Brito. Originally from Angola and now a naturalised Czech citizen, he is hardly someone people would imagine to have cold-water swimming “in his blood”. Yet he began entering the Vltava with determination and enthusiasm, and now comfortably completes six-minute training swims in the cold river.
The Alfred Nikodem Memorial will therefore bring together swimmers from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, the USA, Russia, Austria, Germany and Angola. The course crosses the Vltava between Střelecký and Slovanský islands, with the start and finish beside Slovanský Island.
This year’s main partner is Oborová zdravotní pojišťovna, the health insurer for employees in banking, insurance and construction.
“Oborová zdravotní pojišťovna stands by its clients in heat and frost. It cares about how people look after their health and has therefore partnered with the memorial for the third time. OZP has been here for more than twenty years and wishes all friends of healthy exercise the best of success.”
Once again, the event is part of the Czech Union of Sport project “Sportuj s námi” — “Play Sport with Us”, the largest sporting initiative ever held in the Czech Republic. The organising club greatly values its inclusion.
Further support comes from Mladá fronta a.s., SUPTel a.s., Etewa s.r.o., BYTOSTAV s.r.o., Agama Diving, Prague City Hall and the Prague 1 district, which co-organises the event.
For the fourth time, the programme includes the Prague 1 Mayor’s Cup, awarded to the team comprising the three best-placed swimmers from each participating club. Prague 1 Mayor Ing. Oldřich Lomecký will present the trophy in person.
Following last year’s successful debut, all awards will again be announced and presented in the ceremonial Small Hall of Žofín Palace.
Further information, particularly for competitors, is in the regulations linked below:
Partners of the 69th Alfred Nikodem Memorial: