Instructions

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE WINTER SWIMMING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

1. Post-registration
Post-registration for Young Seals, Seals and Polar Bears Series can be made in the competition office. Post-registration fee will be included in the registration fee. Post-registration is not possible in the World Championships Competition series.

2. Confirming your entry
All participants of the Competition, Young Seals, Seals and Polar Bears series must confirm their entry in the competition office. As far as the Competition series are concerned, confirmation must be made no later than one (1) hour before the starting time of the preliminary competition. Those qualified who will not swim in the finals must inform the organisers of this no later than 30 minutes after the preliminary ground. Confirmation of the participation in the finals must be made no later than at 16.30 on Saturday. Those in the 11th and 12th place after the preliminary competition can be qualified to swim in the finals, in case of absences. Final Competition timetable can be found below.

When you register in the competition office, you will get Competition Instructions together with your COMPETITION PASS, Programme and Participation Certification. Please, keep your Competition Pass hanging around your neck until the start of your swimming performance.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS MEDAL

All participants who have registered and paid their entry fees by the 10th of February are entitled to receive the World Championships Medal. These participants are awarded this medal after their swimming performance, while enjoying a warm drink. If the registration reaches the organisers after the 10th of February, the price of the medal is 5 euros, which has to be paid upon post-registration.

DIRECTIONS FOR COMPETITION SERIES

All the relevant information concerning your swimming performance can be found on your Competition Pass:
Time and place for pre-competition assembly
Personal heat, lane, time of the preliminary competition, time of the possible final

1. Dressing rooms
Participants are allowed to go to the dressing rooms no earlier than 15 minutes before the scheduled pre-competition assembly time (see your Competition Pass). There are no lockable wardrobes in the dressing rooms. Each participant is responsible for their own belongings. Saunas and showers will be available. The competitors are expected to change into their swimming suits and warm-ups in the dressing rooms.

2. Directions for the pre-competition assembly
The pre-competition assembly will take place in the marked assembly area, from which each participant will be directed to their specific area. There will be a row of chairs in the assembly area for each heat. Competitors should take a seat in the correct row to wait for transportation. You need to be there no later than at the assembly time specified on your Competition Pass.

3. Directions for the START
At the starter’s command "RIISUKAA VAATTEET" ("Disrobe"), the competitors will take off their warm-up clothes and place them in a basket. At the command "VETEEN" ("To the water"), the competitors will immediately go down the stairs to the pool and the shoulders must be under the water surface. The competitors then get ready for the start with one hand holding the rail. Behind each lane there is an official who keeps a red flag up until the corresponding competitor is correctly placed in the water, with his/her shoulders under the water surface. If needed, the official may ask the competitor to step further down. When all the red flags are down, the Competition Director raises his/her hand up as a sign for the Race Starter. After the command "PAIKOILLENNE" ("On your marks"), the swimmers must be still. The start command will be sounded (a beep) immediately after the "paikoillenne" command. False starts will not be called back. A blatant false start will result in disqualification, and a slight false start will result in a 5-second time addition to the final time. The Starter and the Competition Director will make the decisions regarding false starts.

4. Competition performance
The competitors must use breaststroke throughout the performance, holding head (top of head) above the surface of the water at all times.

5. Directions for the FINISH
To finish, the competitors must touch with hand the board with the corresponding lane number at the end of the lane.

6. After the competition performance
After the competition performance, participants get out of the pool, take their clothes from the basket and go back to the dressing rooms without a guide. If desired, competitors can take a warm dip in a barrel or a sauna bath at the beach.

7. Finals
In case a competitor qualified for the A or B finals is not going to take part in the finals, he/she must inform the competition office of this in writing. Those competitors who qualify for the finals also have to confirm their participation no later than at 16:30 in the competition office. If six or less competitors have signed up for a class, there will be no preliminary heats in the morning. In this case all competitors will swim directly in the final. First, the B final determines places 6 through 10, after which the A final determines places 1 through 5.

8. Award Ceremony
The Award Ceremony takes place on Saturday evening in connection with the Evening Party.

RESULTS
The results of all competitions can be found both at the competition site and in the competition office. Final results can be viewed on the Ice Pool Swimming World Championships web site after each final. You can also buy printed results, sheets for one series cost one euro (1 €). Swimming clubs can pick up a copy of all results at the competition office starting on Saturday, 4th of March from 19:00 onwards against a club representative’s signature. The Award Ceremony of the World Championships Team Swim takes place on Sunday, 5th of March from 13:00 onwards. Results can be viewed on the Internet from Saturday onwards.

DIRECTIONS FOR POLAR BEARS AND SEALS SERIES

1. Confirming your entry/post-registration
All participants are expected to confirm their entry by registering at the competition office. This is when each participant receives a personal SWIMMING PASS, which is required to gain access to the dressing rooms and the shower/sauna facilities before and after the performance. The swimming pass shows the exact time of its holder’s performance. Post-registration takes place at the competition office as well.

2. Dressing rooms
Before the performance, each participant may go to the dressing rooms and the shower/sauna facilities (a personal swimming pass is required). There are no lockable wardrobes in the dressing rooms, so you should not bring any valuables there. Each participant is responsible for their own belongings. Saunas and showers are available. The participants are expected to change into their swimming suits and warm-ups in the dressing rooms.

3. Directions for the pre-performance assembly
The pre-performance assembly for the participants of the Polar Bears and Seals series will take place in the assembly area indicated in the pass. From this area each participant will be directed to the pool area in order of entrance.

4. Swimming performance
The participants of the Seals series swim 25 meters, while the participants of the Polar Bears series swim 50 meters – without timing. In these series, the performance can be made on Saturday at 10:00-15:30 and on Sunday at 10:00-11:00, when the Seal Lane is free.

5. After the performance
After the performance, participants get out of the pool, take their clothes from the basket, have a warm drink, receive their participation medals and go back to the dressing rooms without a guide. It is desirable that each participant takes his/her shower/sauna bath as quickly as possible.

EXCELLENT – PERFORMANCE COMPLETED – CONGRATULATIONS!

DIRECTIONS FOR YOUNG SEALS SERIES

1. Confirming your entry/post-registration
Each participant is expected to confirm his/her entry by registering at the competition office. This is when each participant receives a personal SWIMMING PASS, which is required to gain access to the dressing rooms and the shower/sauna facilities before and after the performance. The swimming pass shows the exact time of its holder’s performance. Post-registration takes place at the competition office as well.

4. Dipping performance
Participants take off their warm-up clothes, place them in a basket and go to the Young Seal Lane for dipping without a guide.

5. After the performance
After the performance, participants get out of the pool, take their clothes from the basket and go back to the dressing rooms without a guide. It is desirable that each participant takes his/hers shower/sauna bath as quickly as possible.

EXCELLENT – PERFORMANCE COMPLETED – CONGRATULATIONS!

Competition Rules

Breaststroke is the only allowed technique. The crown of the head must be above the surface of the water at all times. If the crown goes under water, the performance will be disqualified.

The start of the swimming performance takes place from the stairs, with shoulders under the surface of the water. In the start position competitors must hold the handle attached to the rail. All participants are expected to go to the water with no delay.

Swimmers are not allowed to use any internal or external substances that preserve body heat. Finnish antidoping regulations are applicable. It is forbidden to swim under the influence of alcohol.

Swimsuits must be morally and professionally appropriate, and they must be non-transparent. It is forbidden to use any devices to improve the performance. It is also forbidden to wear any extra clothing, such as gloves or footwear. However, headwear and goggles are allowed. Competition Director has the right to disqualify any competitor whose swimsuit is not in accordance with the rules.

A competitor may represent his/her home country, national swimming federation, association, home swimming place (ice pool), company, organization or hometown. The competitor must be a citizen of the country he/she represents, or a member of the corresponding association.

As far as Finnish competitors are concerned, only those who participated in the Finnish Winter Swimming Championships either in 2005 or 2006 are allowed to take part in the competition series of the World Championships. However, Young Seals, Seals, Polar Bears and Team Swim series are open to everyone.

In case a qualified competitor does not want to take part in the final, he/she must inform the organisers of this within 30 minutes. The first two swimmers not to qualify for the B final must be ready to take part in the B final in case of possible absences. Those who fail to follow the competition rules will be disqualified. All swimmers taking part in the World Championships have the responsibility to familiarize themselves with these competition rules and the starting lists.

COMPETITION RULES: TEAM SWIM

The size of a team is 3-20 swimmers. Participants may use the swimming suit of their choice, and they are allowed to use such devices that are powered by the swimmers themselves. It is not necessary that all the members of a team actually swim, but at least three team members must swim during the performance. Diving is allowed, provided one does not dive under the ice or a pier. The minimum duration of a team swim performance is 2 minutes, while the maximum duration is 5 minutes. The jury awards points for the following categories: originality, technical quality and artistic impression. The team with the highest total points wins the contest.

PROTESTS
Protests can be made against a decision of the Competition Director or 1) if the organiser fails to comply with the competition rules or 2) if the conditions are such that the competition or the competitors are in danger. Protests in any cases must be based on facts. Furthermore, protests may not be made against such technical decisions made by a qualified official that concern placements or disqualifications. All protests must be in writing, and they must be delivered to the Competition Director. Protest fee is 40 €. Protests must be made within 10 minutes from the time the corresponding heat has ended. At the same time, the protest fee must be paid. If the cause of the protest is discovered before the competition, it must be made prior to the heat. Protests will be decided by the Competition Director. In case the protest is turned down, the decision must be substantiated. In this case the protest fee will not be refunded. On the other hand, if the protest is accepted, the protest fee will be refunded.

REMEMBER TO CHECK YOUR START TIME ON THE START LIST! IF YOU MISS YOUR START, YOU CAN’T BE GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE! IT IS FORBIDDEN TO SWIM UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL!