Rules

Article 1: Organization

Ice Swim in Morocco is an event organized by the Moroccan Association Sport et Nature and IISA Morocco. The 9th edition will take place on January 24 2026 at Lake Aguelmam Azegza – Khénifra – Morocco.

Email: contact@swiminmorocco.com

Article 2: General Rules

Participants commit conscientiously. They accept the terms of the agreement defined by the organization without restriction. Each participant must be at least 16 years old (with parental authorization if minor) and sign the liability waiver before starting their participation in the event. Each participant must have an official IISA medical certificate (to be downloaded at https://internationaliceswimming.com/medical-assessment-form/ duly signed and stamped by a sports doctor or cardiologist).

Article 3: Participation Conditions

The competition is open to all participants (amateur or professional) holding a medical certificate (see the above link for the official 3-page “medical form” of the International Ice Swimming Association). For distances equal to or greater than 500m, an ECG (electrocardiogram) less than 6 months old is required.

To swim the 1000m, participants must prove they have swum 500m previously in an edition of Ice Swim in Morocco, or submit their request to the organizing committee by writing to contact@swiminmorocco.com

Registrations open from Monday, September 29, 2025 on the website and via bank transfer (please contact us at +212 679 58 95 53 or at contact@swiminmorocco.com for more information on how to make the transfer).

Registrations will close on Friday, January 9, 2026 in the evening or when we reach 200 registered participants. This event aims to be friendly and festive where each participant is valued and highlighted, hence the limited number of slots (to ensure the safety of each swimmer).

Article 4: Registration Fees

Registration fees depend on the number of races in which you participate and the date of registration.

- Cold Pack: 500 dirhams / 50 Dollars / 50 € per swimmer

• Access to the competition (Package for 1 start, distance between 50m and 500m)

- Frozen Pack: 650 dirhams / 65 Dollars / 65 € per swimmer

• Access to the competition (Package for 2 starts, distance between 50m and 500m)

- Ice Pack: 800 dirhams / 80 Dollars / 80 € per swimmer

• Access to the competition (Package for 3 starts, distance between 50m and 500m)

- Master Pack: 950 dirhams / 95 Dollars / 95 € per swimmer

• Access to the competition (Package for 4 starts, distance between 50m and 500m)

For Cold, Frozen, Ice and Master packs:

* Registration does not include meals, transfers or accommodation, only participation in the race.

* Registration fees are non-refundable.

In addition to access to the chosen competition, each pack grants:

- 1 Swim Cap

- Finisher T-shirt

- Post-swim refreshment

- Technical assistance during the event.

- Water safety during events (kayaks and motorized boats).

- Medical assistance (emergency doctors and intervention divers).

NO REGISTRATION CAN BE DONE ON SITE ON THE DAY OF THE RACE.

It is possible to book a full accommodation package for 2 or 3 nights (Participation + Accommodation + Dinners) by visiting the page https://www.swiminmorocco.com/fr/hebergement and contacting us by email at contact@swiminmorocco.com
Article 5: Program and Swimming Distances

5.1 Distances in the program

Freestyle: 50 m, 100 m, 250 m, 500 m, 1000 m

Breaststroke: 50 m, 100 m

Backstroke: 50 m

Butterfly: 50 m

5.2 Preliminary program details

Friday, January 23, 2026

• 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Check-in and race pack
• 6:00 PM: Event briefing (location to be confirmed)

Saturday, January 24, 2026

• 9:00 – 10:00: 1000 m and 250 m
• 10:15 – 11:15: 50 m Breaststroke and 50 m Backstroke
• 11:15 – 12:30: 50 m Freestyle
• 12:30 – 14:00: Lunch break
• 14:00 – 15:00: 500 m and 50 m Butterfly
• 16:00 – 17:00: Awards ceremony

5.3 Time limits

For safety reasons, endurance events have a time limit. Once this time is exceeded, any swimmer who has not completed the full distance of the event will be stopped at the discretion of the chief referee.

1000 m: 25 minutes

500 m: 15 minutes

250 m: 8 minutes

Article 6: Categories and Awards

- Each participant will receive a medal and a souvenir T-shirt.

- Awards will be given to the podium of the general ranking of both female and male categories only.

Article 7: Event Conduct and Technical Rules

7.1 General information

Swimmers must wear the official event swim cap at all times, clearly displaying their assigned number.

Any unsportsmanlike behavior will be sanctioned by the referees.

It is the responsibility of each swimmer to know the event rules and the specifics of ice swimming as well as the dangers this practice involves. If a specific point in the rules is unclear, it must be requested from the organizers (this is the responsibility of each participant).

Any verbal or written instructions via email during the briefing by the race director or organizing team will complement this regulation available on the website.

To be awarded, competitors agree to wear the official Ice Swim in Morocco T-shirt for podium photos and videos.

Any unsportsmanlike attitude is grounds for exclusion from the event for one year or permanent exclusion from future events, depending on the severity of the act (as determined by the race director).

FINA rules regarding swimming styles apply, except for specific arrangements related to ice swimming in the International Ice Swimming Association regulations (available at: https://internationaliceswimming.com/iisa-rules/)

7.2 Competition conduct

- The competition will take place at Lake Aguelmam Azegza – Khénifra Province.

- Referees and officials from the Royal Moroccan Swimming Federation will manage timing and race starts.

- All participants are required to report to the referee call area at the time announced during the briefing according to their start waves.

- Swimmers will then be invited to the call room and follow referee instructions for the start.

- After the race, each swimmer may warm up in heated tents set up for the occasion.

7.3 Entering the water

- The swimmer must not be assisted from the start to the finish of the race. The chief referee must immediately disqualify any swimmer violating this rule.

- Diving into the water is not allowed in competition. For safety reasons, entry into the water must be done feet first, by walking or gradually immersing. The race director will determine the safest entry method depending on the starting point configuration and will require swimmers to comply.

7.4 The start

- When swimmers are behind the start line, the starter’s orders are:

• "Remove your clothing"
• "Enter the water" (5 seconds) "On your marks" (3 seconds)
• When swimmers are in the water, the starting whistle will be given by the referees.

7.5 Conduct of the race

- The race must be continuous; no prolonged stop due to a technical element (buoy, kayak, zodiac, etc.) or natural element (rock, wood, ice, etc.) is allowed.

- The swimmer is not allowed to touch the bottom of the lake with their feet once the start has been given.

- The swimmer may push floating objects in their path provided it does not give them an advantage.

- No feeding is allowed during the race.

- No swimming assistance is allowed.

- It is at the discretion of the chief referee, without appeal, to end a swimmer’s race early if deterioration of their body language and/or swimming movements is observed. The swimmer must accept the decision and exit the water as soon as possible, with assistance if necessary.

- The race ends once the total distance is completed, when the swimmer crosses the line between the last buoys.

- The time recorded during the race will be the final time.

7.6 Access to the swimming zone

1. Access to the competition swimming zone is strictly reserved for officials, rescue teams, and swimmers (and their "chaperone" for the 500m and 1000m events).
2. Media may be allowed access to the competition pool area for a limited time under permission from the race director.

Article 8: Event Village Setup

The Ice Swim in Morocco village includes a changing area for participants (separate for men and women), a WC area, a medical area, an organization area, a zone reserved for Royal Moroccan Swimming Federation officials, a call room, a refreshment area, and heated tents for post-swim warming.

Article 9: Refreshments

The organization will provide a post-swim refreshment point, consisting of water, other drinks, and solid food.

Article 10: Medical Assistance and Decision

No medical decision can be contested by competitors.

No technical assistance other than that provided by the organization will be allowed during the different swims. Only chaperones of the 500m and 1000m swimmers may intervene with the agreement of the chief medical officer of the event.

Chaperones:

Each 500m and 1000m swimmer must be accompanied by a chaperone for out-of-water assistance; otherwise, they will not be allowed to start. The chaperone must be 18 years or older on the event date. Their role is to monitor the swimmer before the race (changing rooms, call room), during the event, upon exiting the water, and until the end of the warming protocol. The chaperone must be informed by organizers of their duties and be familiar with safety rules and protocols specific to winter swimming.

The accompanying person must be able to: know the swimmer’s capacity to continue or stop swimming; take charge of the swimmer upon exiting the water; react in case of hypothermia; remain present until the swimmer regains an ideal temperature allowing them to fully recover physically and mentally.

Article 11: Swimmer Equipment

The swimmer is allowed to wear:

• One standard approved swimsuit, which cannot extend below the knees. For women, the swimsuit must not cover arms or neck, and must not extend beyond the shoulders.
• One pair of goggles. Mask goggles are allowed provided they cover only the eyes.
• One standard silicone or latex swim cap.
• Earplugs and a nose clip.
• For safety reasons, the race director may require all 500m and 1000m participants to wear a safety buoy and may decide to impose buoys for shorter distances.
• No equipment other than those mentioned above is allowed.
• Use of connected (or not) devices to measure distance swum or water temperature is not allowed.

Article 12: Insurance

Civil liability: As required by law, organizers have taken out civil liability insurance for the day of the race. Participants may, if they wish, take out additional individual insurance for their stay in Morocco.

Article 13: Sanctions

Behavior: any behavior contrary to sportsmanship will be sanctioned by swimmer disqualification.

Cases: respect for the organization and competitors, respect for the environment, and all cases that could damage the event’s image and ethics.

Article 14: Image Rights

Participants agree to grant the right to use their images taken during the event by IISA Morocco and the Moroccan Association Sport and Nature for any promotional purposes, free of charge.

Article 15: Complaints and Claims

IISA Morocco and the Moroccan Association Sport and Nature reserve the right to modify these rules, including in cases of force majeure or other reasons.