SWITZERLAND: HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN FANCY DRESS BRAVE THE FREEZING TEMPERATURES OF GENEVA'S LAKE LEMAN TO TAKE PART IN THE 67TH CHRISTMAS CUP

Record ID: 278021

  • Title: SWITZERLAND: HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN FANCY DRESS BRAVE THE FREEZING TEMPERATURES OF GENEVA'S LAKE LEMAN TO TAKE PART IN THE 67TH CHRISTMAS CUP
  • Date: 12th December 2004
  • Summary: (L!1) GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (DECEMBER 12, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) PEOPLE DRESSED AS HAWAIIANS RUNNING WITH PALM TREE VARIOUS: OF HAWAIIANS AND THEIR PALM TREE RAFT TAKING TO THE WATER (5 SHOTS) WS: SPECTATORS WATCHING PEOPLE DRESSED AS PRISONERS POURING BUCKETS OF WATER ON THEMSELVES AND JUMPING INTO LAKE (2 SHOTS) VARIOUS: OF PEOPLE DRESSED AS YELLOW PANTHERS, GETTING
  • Embargoed: 27th December 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Entertainment,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA69EKLTJTOBQ08WG33ZBJ3K6PB
  • Story Text: Hundreds of people plunge into the icy waters of Geneva's Lake Leman to participate in the 67th Christmas Cup.
    Geneva's citizens celebrated the arrival of the Christmas season on Sunday (December 12) in a freezing but funny way.
    The city is a gateway to the Alpine ski slopes, but is also known for other winter sports -- like extreme swimming.
    For sixty-seven years people from around the world have gathered on the second weekend of December to participate at the Coupe de Noel, an annual swimming race in Lake Leman, open to all competitors over the age of 13.
    Some 600 swimmers of all ages braved the cold and plunged into the lake's 6-degree celsius (42 degrees Fahrenheit), with an air temperature of 0.5-degree Celsius. Some were dressed as yellow panthers, others as prisoners and ballet dancers as if jumping into a freezing cold lake wasn't silly enough.
    "They are very courageous, that's for sure. I wouldn't go, but I would like to say a great bravo to those participating and braving this cold" said a spectator wearing a fur coat.
    Santa Claus made an appearance at the lake, but there was no sign of his reindeer.
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