Partnership of the World Sports Alliance, BRICS SPORT and IISA: a new stage in the development of extreme sports
Date of publication: June 9, 2026
The World Sports Alliance (WSA), BRICS SPORT and The International Ice Swimming Association (IISA) have announced the start of a strategic partnership. The aim of the cooperation is to popularize winter swimming as an extreme sport, develop infrastructure for cold swimming and organize international competitions in the BRICS countries.
Key areas of cooperation
The joint work will focus on:
- development and standardization of winter swimming rules at the international level;
- organization of international winter swimming tournaments and championships in the WORLD and BRICS countries;
- creation of a unified certification system for judges and coaches in winter swimming;
- popularization of winter swimming among young people through educational programs and workshops;
- development and implementation of safety standards for training and competition in cold water;
- to support the creation of specialized winter swimming venues in the countries of the WORLD and BRICS;
- promoting winter swimming for inclusion in the programs of multi-sport festivals and games.
Plans for 2026-2027
As part of the implementation of the agreement, the following are planned:
- The International Winter Swimming Championship is a competition that will bring together athletes from all countries of the association. Distances of 25 m, 50 m and 100 m in water up to +2 °C will be presented.
A series of training seminars for coaches and referees with the participation of IISA experts and national federations. The program includes:
- techniques for safe immersion in cold water;
- rules of first aid;
- features of athletes’ preparation for extreme conditions.
Creation of an international working group on standardization of rules and technical requirements for competitions.
Pilot project for the development of winter swimming in regions with a cold climate: Murmansk Region (Russia), Jilin Province (China), Himachal State‑Pradesh (India).
A joint information campaign in the media and social networks to promote winter swimming. The launch of a series of documentaries about ice swimmers and their training.
Development of a mobile application for monitoring training sessions, setting records and sharing experiences between athletes from the BRICS countries.
Quotes from participants
Representative of the World Sports Alliance:
«We see great potential in winter swimming as a discipline that combines extreme challenges and health promotion. The partnership with BRICS SPORT and IISA will take this sport to a new level and make it accessible to thousands of people in the BRICS countries.»
Head of BRICS SPORT:
«Cooperation with the WSA and IISA is fully consistent with the BRICS strategy for the development of mass sports and strengthening friendly ties between the countries. Winter swimming is not just a sport, but a philosophy of overcoming. We hope that it will become part of our joint sports programs.»
President of IISA:
«This partnership is an important step towards the global popularization of winter swimming. We are ready to share our international experience, help develop discipline in the BRICS countries, and support the organization of high-level competitions. Our goal is to show that extreme sports can be safe and inspiring.»
About partners
The World Sports Alliance (WSA) is an international organization that uses sport as a tool for sustainable development, youth education and strengthening international dialogue.
BRICS SPORT is a platform for sports cooperation between the BRICS countries, aimed at organizing joint tournaments, sharing experiences and popularizing mass sports.
The International Ice Swimming Association (IISA) is a leading international organization for the development of winter swimming, setting world records, safety standards and competition rules. IISA unites athletes and clubs from more than 30 countries.
Stay tuned — there are many interesting events ahead!
