I. plavecký klub otužilců Praha warmly invites you to the 70th anniversary edition of the Alfred Nikodem Memorial, our Christmas swimming competition in the Vltava.
The oldest and best-known cold-water swimming event will take place on Monday 26 December 2016, St Stephen’s Day, at 11:00 in the Vltava beside Prague’s National Theatre.
Swimmers from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Belgium, England, Argentina, Russia, Austria and Germany will take part. The course crosses the Vltava between Střelecký and Slovanský islands, starting and finishing beside Slovanský Island. Distances are 100, 300 and 750 metres.
Alfred Nikodem was a Prague goldsmith who first swam publicly in the Vltava at Christmas in 1923. He is regarded as a pioneer of winter swimming. Christmas swimming gradually became a custom, and we continue that tradition with this annual competition, now celebrating its seventieth anniversary. A symbolic swim in winter water has grown into a genuine international sporting competition. Participation rises every year, and the organisers believe this edition could approach four hundred swimmers.
Conditions look likely to be more “favourable” for swimmers: we expect colder water than last year’s 6.9°C. On Tuesday 20 December 2016, the water at the start was measured at 4.0°C. Cold-water swimmers like to say: “The colder the water, the better!”
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”.
Further support comes from Mladá fronta a.s., SUPTel a.s., Etewa s.r.o., BYTOSTAV s.r.o., Fiskars, Agama Diving, Prague City Hall and the Prague 1 district, which co-organises the event.
For the fifth 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.
All awards will again be announced and presented in the ceremonial Small Hall of Žofín Palace, with Adéla Gondíková returning as our delightful host.
Further information, particularly for competitors, is in the regulations linked below:
Swimmers’ baptism: also come and watch the traditional cold-water swimmers’ baptism on Sunday 8 January 2017 at 10:30 in the Vltava channel beside the Kotva campsite in Prague-Braník (Nádraží Braník stop, trams 3 and 17).
Partners of the 70th Alfred Nikodem Memorial: