Salutation by the International Society of Olympic Historians
Herisau, April 6th 2023. Esteemed Dr. Avramidis, the International Society of Olympic Historians (ISOH) was founded to promote the study of the Olympic Movement and the Olympic Games through scholarly work and networking among Olympic historians. Having worked as an archaeologist at the excavation of ancient Olympia, Greece in the 1990s, I find fascinating the theme of the International Experts Symposium on Lifesaving as Olympic Sport and the fact that it will take place in the country of Greece where the Olympic spirit was born in antiquity and reborn in the modern times. As a historian, I appreciate the symbolism that this event bears.
The symposium raises 3 important issues in a pioneering way. It addresses drowning, as a serious and tragic public health problem. Lifesaving sport is an innovative humanitarian means. The Olympic aspiration of lifesaving is a noble concept because it a spectacular sport that saves lives from aquatic injuries. In other words, beneath the citius, altius, fortius component, lifesaving has an additional respectable humanitarian core orientation that corresponds profoundly with the Olympic ideals.
The ISOH is pleased to place under its auspice the symposium and allows the use of our logo in the symposium material. On behalf of the ISOH, I send our wishes for success to the Greek Lifesaving Sports Association as the organizer, the Hellenic Olympic Committee as the host and all the contributing organizations and experts. Your sincerely
Dr. Christian Wacker
President, International Society of Olympic Historians.
