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Lifesaving merits to become Olympic sport, international symposium reveals



Lifesaving merits to become Olympic sport,

international symposium reveals


Greece 20-21/05/2023. In the motherland of the Olympic Games and the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC), the Greek Lifesaving Sports Association (GLSA) organized the “International Experts Symposium on Lifesaving as Olympic Sport”, where 39 experts and 30 notable organizations from 18 nations, highlighted the importance of lifesaving sport as an innovative drowning prevention means that corresponds with the ideals of the Olympic Games.

 

 

HISTORY

Lifesaving sport is over 100 years old. Lifesaving Championships take place all over the world at National, Commonwealth, Regional (Europe, Africa, Americas), World, World Games, World Master Games, World Military and university level. It is a sport that has 37 events that are based on swimming, running, paddling, rescuing in the water and administering first aid on land, pool and ocean.

Lifesaving has been somehow part of the Olympic Games. In the Paris 1900 Olympics, Obstacle Swimming was included in the Siene River as a swimming race (today it is modified and became part of lifesaving sport). During these championships, lifesaving took place as “exhibition sport” and a parallel World Lifesaving Championships took place by humanitarian organizations of 11 countries.

As explained above, the concept of raising lifesaving into the highest international sporting stage of the Summer Olympic Games is old. Several initiatives have taken place around the globe, mainly by the world authority of the International Life Saving Federation (ILS) for that goal. The ILS is a unique organization mainly because it is approved not only by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) but also by the World Health Organization (WHO). It has over 170 national member-organizations in over 120 countries. In that effort, three ILS individuals have played a major role over the last decades; the lifelong Secretary General, Dr. Harald Vervaecke, PhD, the Event Manager and European Vice President John Martin MBE and the President, Graham Ford AM.

In 2022, the GLSA published the book “Lifesaving as Olympic Sport”. Authored by Dr. Stathis Avramidis, Dr. Ioanna Mastora and John Dimakopoulos, it addressed the history, Olympic aspiration, the opportunities and challenges of this noble endeavor.

In 2023, on behalf of the GLSA, the President Dr. Stathis Avramidis and Honorary President Lucas Bistarakis, decided to organize a major event that would internationalize the concept of lifesaving’s Olympic perspective as means of drowning prevention. Thanks to the kind endorsement and hospitality of the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC), led by Spyros Capralos (HOC President, IOC Member) and Emmanuel Kolympades (HOC Secretary General), the International Experts Symposium on Lifesaving as Olympic Sport was realized.

 

THE SYMPOSIUM IN NUMBERS

The symposium aimed to raise awareness about the Olympic aspiration of lifesaving sport as an effective and innovative means of drowning prevention. Overall, 39 experts contributed and supported this event onsite or remotely. The 30 organizations that endorsed the symposium serve the society on culture, public health, disability, physical education and sports, lifesaving, first aid, drowning prevention, higher education and Olympism. The experts and the organizations were originated from 18 countries (Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Ireland, India, Italy, Monaco, Netherlands, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, UK, USA). Their activities benefit millions of people in over 120 countries across all the continents. The event included 21 salutations, 8 oral presentations, 2 round tables and 9 award presentations.

 



ENDORSEMENTS

The symposium was endorsed by the following 30 organizations (alphabetically): 

  1. Association of Highly Distinguished Greek Athletes
  2. Every Child A Swimmer
  3. Giuseppe Sciacca Foundation
  4. Greek Lifesaving Sports Association
  5. Haitian Lifesaving Federation
  6. Haitian Swimming Federation
  7. Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports - General Secretariat of Sports
  8. Hellenic Olympians Association
  9. Hellenic Olympic Academy
  10. Hellenic Olympic Committee
  11. Hellenic Olympic Winners Association
  12. Hellenic Sports Federation for Persons with Disabilities
  13. International Awards Giuseppe Sciacca
  14. International Drowning Researchers’ Alliance
  15. International Federation of Swimming Teachers’ Association
  16. International Life Saving Federation
  17. International Life Saving Federation of Africa
  18. International Life Saving Federation of Europe
  19. International Olympic Academy
  20. International Olympic Academy Participants Association
  21. International Olympic Truce Centre
  22. International Pierre De Coubertin Committee
  23. International Society of Olympic Historians
  24. International Swimming Hall of Fame
  25. Mediterranean Lifesaving Confederation
  26. Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation
  27. Rashtriya Life Saving Society India
  28. School of Sport Science-Physical Education- University of Athens
  29. The Lifesaving Foundation
  30. The Lifesaving Network

 

SALUTATIONS

The symposium was saluted by several prestigious personalities. The President of the Symposium and the GLSA, Dr. Stathis AVRAMIDIS, said: “Τhe symposium sounds Greek to you, but its scope is universal!”

The “father” of Greek professional lifeguarding and Honorary President of the Symposium, Lucas BISTARAKIS, said: “Welcome to the homeland of the Olympics for saving lives through sport.”

The Secretary General of Sports of the Hellenic Ministry of Sports, Dr. George MAVROTAS, said: “The inclusion of lifesaving sport in the Olympics deserves our attention.”

The ILS Secretary General, Dr. Harald VERVAECKE, said: “Drowning is a global problem and lifesaving in the Olympic Games may become its vaccine.”

The HOC Secretary General Emmanouil KOLYMPADIS, said: “Lifesaving is a virtious sport which promotes a great humanitarian goal; the saving of lives and these values should be widely recognized.”

The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, said: “A pioneering symposium that connects Olympism, lifesaving and drowning prevention innovatively for a humanitarian goal!”

The Secretary General of the International Giuseppe Sciacca Awards, Dr. Vicky BAFATAKI, said: “A symposium - beacon for the entire world in terms of culture, history, sport and public health.”




The President of the International Federation of Swimming Teachers’ Association, Leslie DONAVAN, wrote: “A historic event that demonstrates the impact on lifesaving and drowning prevention the Olympic stage might have.”

The CEO of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, Anne SCHMIDT, said: “A pioneering symposium that underlines the drowning problem and celebrates the Olympic value of lifesaving sport.”

The Chairman of the Board of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, Dr. Bill KENT, said: “Greece triumphs the Olympic values in the sport that trains us how to save lives in this historic symposium.”

The Secretary General of the International Life Saving Federation of Africa, Ingy EL SHAZLY, said: “The aim of this symposium is profound because in a planet covered 75% by water, we seek ways to be 100% water safe.”

The President of the European Olympic Academies, Prof. Manfred LAEMMER, wrote: “It is of great significance and symbolism that the initiative for this effort comes from the Lifesaving Sports Association in the country where the Olympic Games of both the ancient and modern times began.”

The Dean of the School of Sport Science and Physical Education of Athens University, Prof. Konstantinos KARTEROLIOTIS, wrote: “The promotion of lifesaving as Olympic sport with the aim to reduce drowning is an important topic for Greece and the entire world.”

The President of the International Olympic Academy Participants Association, Dr. Richard KOO, wrote: “I applaud this important initiative that discusses the importance of lifesaving as a means for combatting the public health problem of drowning.”

The Vice President of the International Life Saving Federation of Europe, Isabel GARCIA, said: “The reality of drowning, the contribution of lifesaving to save lives and the possibility of being included in the Olympic Games are relevant topics for which this symposium may find satisfactory solutions.”

The Dean of the International Olympic Academy, Prof. Konstantinos GEORGIADIS, said: “Lifesaving sport improves physical and mental skills, forming intersocial abilities and ethical values of the youth. The Olympic aspiration of lifesaving deserves our serious consideration!”

The President of the International Society of Olympic Historians, Dr. Christian WACKER, wrote: “The Olympic aspiration of lifesaving is a noble concept because it is 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 Dean of the School of Philosophy of Athens University, Prof. Achilleas CHALDAEAKES, said: “I have experienced the need to know how to save a life in the water. I am a warm supporter of including lifesaving in the Olympics. It is a necessity!”

The President of the International Olympic Academy, Isidoros KOUVELOS said: “The paths of the International Olympic Academy and every lifeguard support motive are in a sense parallel. The IOA educates the spirit of young people through international programs and lifesaving trains the body of those that will be called one day to save the life of fellow a human being.”

The President of the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee, Prof. Stephan WASSONG, wrote: “The saving of lives through sport follows Coubertin’s educational leitmotifs to reinstate the Olympic Games and promote sports as a tool for character development, social change and transcultural respect. Our Olympic aspiration deserves serious consideration.”

 

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

The symposium included 8 oral presentation on various subjects related to drowning prevention, Olympism and lifesaving sport. The topics were the world burden of drowning (Dr. Joost BIERENS), the world history of lifesaving sport (Prof. Arturo ABRALDES), the lifesaving as the only humanitarian sport in the world (John MARTIN), the pedagogy and Olympic values (Dr. Ioanna MASTORA), the revival of Olympic Sports and the case of lifesaving as a sport (Dimitris REGALOS), the contribution of lifesaving to Olympism (Dr. Stathis AVRAMIDIS), the marketing of lifesaving as Olympic sport (Andy PAPPAS) and the opportunities and challenges of lifesaving as Olympic sport (Dr. Harald VERVAECKE).

 

ROUND TABLE ON DROWNING

The table was chaired by Prof. Joost Bierens who orchestrated 10 experts: Prof. Arturo ABRALDES, Dr. Stathis AVRAMIDIS, Dr. Chris GIANNOU, Pascal GRANERO, John LONG, Polis PALIKAROS, John MARTIN, Dr. Emmanuel VELONAKIS, Dr. Harald VERVAECKE, and Evenel MERVILUS. The experts discussed the magnitude of the problem worldwide and assessed which various organizations may be involved in the drowning prevention, rescue and treatment process and networking (e.g., universities, lifesaving, research, swimming, public health and sporting).

 



ROUND TABLE ON LIFESAVING AS OLYMPIC SPORT

The table was chaired by Dr. Harald Vervaecke who orchestrated 16 experts: Prof. Arturo ABRALDES, George ALIKAKOS, Dr. Stathis AVRAMIDIS, Lucas BISTARAKIS, Konstantinos FILIS, Rabea IATRIDOU, John LONG, John MARTIN, Evenel MERVILUS, Ioanna MASTORA, Andy PAPPAS, Dimitris REGALOS, Anestis VASILIOU, Voula ZYGOURI, Evangelos PROTOPAPADAKIS. The experts assessed if lifesaving meet the “citius, altius, fortius”, the Olympic values and fair play, if it deserves to be included in the Olympic Games and how various organizations may raise awareness about lifesaving sport.

 



AWARD CEREMONY

The Greek Lifesaving Sports Association inducted as an Honorary Member the Patron of the Rastriya Life Saving Society and Honorary President of the Royal Life Saving Society Commonwealth, Mr. John Long, for his outstanding contributions to water safety within the Commonwealth. Long has made a tremendous impact in our field for over half a century. The presentation was made by the President of the Haitian Lifesaving Federation, Dr. Evenel Mervilus.



The Greek Lifesaving Sports Association inducted Dr. Chris Giannou as an Honorary Member for outstanding contributions for saving countless human lives throughout his life in war zone. Dr. Giannou has made a legendary legacy within the International Movement of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent. The presentation was made by the Liaison of the International Olympic Academy Participants Association, Dimitris Regalos.



The GLSA Citation of Honor was presented to the Vice President of the International Life Saving Federation of Europe, John Martin, for his outstanding and long contributions to drowning prevention and lifesaving sport worldwide. Mr. Martin is one of the tireless and unsung heroes of global and European water safety. The presentation was made by the President of the Hellenic Olympic Winners Association and Olympian, Voula Zygouri and the GLSA President Dr. Stathis Avramidis.


The GLSA Citation of Honor was presented to the ILS Secretary General, Dr. Harald Vervaecke, for his outstanding and long contributions to drowning prevention and lifesaving sport worldwide. Dr. Vervaecke is the contemporary “father” and the most influential authority of the global lifesaving community. The presentation was made by the Secretary General of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, Emmanouil Kolympadis.


The GLSA Lifetime Achievements Award 2023 was presented to Prof Joost Bierens, for outstanding contributions to advance drowning prevention, rescue and treatment worldwide. Bierens is the most prolific and influential advocate in the world as academic, scholar, event organiser and member of international organisations related to lifesaving. The presentation was made by the Honorary President of the Greek Lifesaving Sports Association, Lucas Bistarakis.


The GLSA Organization of the Year Award 2023 was presented to the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation for outstanding contributions to humanity that benefited 1 million people in 43 countries through water safety, swimming and sporting programs. The award was presented to the General Director of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, Mr. Pascal Granero by the GLSA President, Dr. Stathis Avramidis.



The ILS Citation of Merit was presented to the GLSA President Dr. Stathis Avramidis, the GLSA Honorary President Lucas Bistarakis and to the HOC President Spyros Capralos (received in his absence by the HOC Secretary General Emmanouil Kolympadis). The awards were presented by the ILS Secretary General Dr. Harald Vervaecke and the ILSE Vice President John Martin MBE.

 







RESULTS

The symposium came to the following conclusions:

  1. Drowning is a serious and multidimensional public health problem that its prevention requires collaborations among organizations related to sport, swimming, public health, lifesaving, lifeguarding, first aid, physical education, Olympians, Olympic winners, Higher Education, youth and persons with disabilities.
  2. Lifesaving demonstrates the Olympic values and offers spectacle and commercial opportunities.
  3. The only humanitarian sport of the world merits inclusion in the largest sporting event of the world!
  4. Unlike athletes of all sports that must excell on specific days and times to win, lifeguards must be always 100% ready to save a person in distress, because they don't know when an emergency will occur, and thus, their need high skills to be practiced through lifesaving sport.

 

HISTORY AND CULTURE

After the symposium, the experts made 2 visits that enlightened and entertained them in terms of history, sports, Olympics and culture. In the first, they visited the Athens Olympic Museum where they saw Olympic memorabilia from the ancient and modern Olympic Games. These included documents, photos, videos and the pioneers like Dimitrios Vikelas, Baron Piere De Coubertin and others.




In the second, they made a bus tour to Athens. Particularly, they visited Syntagma, Plaka, new Acropolis museum, the Acropolis and Parthenon, the temple of Zeus, the parliament, the national gardens, the 4 museums, the national gallery of Hilton and Caravel hotels, the ancient Olympic stadium, the parliament and the national gardens, the national library, the national archeological museum, the Omonia and Karaiskaki squares, Thession, Monastiraki and the Kotzia Square.



 

SUMMARY

The symposium was hugely successful from ever point of view. The experts had an everlasting experience, networked and created new friendships that would allow them to meet the constitutional goals of their organizations. Greece, as the motherland of the Olympic Games, paid its dues to History by proudly hosting an event with profound humanitarian scope based on the spirit of the Ancient Olympic Games and the founder of the Modern Olympic Games, Pier de Coubertin. Thanks to all the contributing experts and organizations, the GLSA met its constitutional aim to advance the Olympic aspiration of lifesaving.



What makes History? Is it what is engraved in monuments or what was written in the hearts of those we touched before we are gone? In 2022, Dr. Vervaecke gave a precious advice to Dr. Avramidis like fathers do to their sons: “At the openings of the ILS Board Meetings, we keep a 1 minute silence to honor those that served our cause and died recently. That silence usually lasts only 20 seconds. We do what we do not because of those 20 seconds but because we have lifesaving in our veins and love to serve the mankind!” In antiquity, Greeks gave birth to the Ancient Olympic Games. The entire world is grateful to them. In the last century, a visionary group of people, facilitated the birth of the Modern Olympic Games. They are still remembered. In the next century, this symposium may be remembered for having highlighted the Olympic virtues of  lifesaving, the world’s only humanitarian sport, as means of  saving lives from aquatic related injuries. This symposium became part of the History of lifesaving, public health and Olympic values! 

 

WHO IS WHO

The credentials of the experts and the representatives of the organizations that either supported or participated at the symposium are: 

  1. Arturo ABRALDES, PhD Professor, University of Murcia; Paragon Water Safety Award 2022, International Swimming Hall of Fame
  2. George ALIKAKOS President, Hellenic Olympic Academy
  3. Stathis AVRAMIDIS, PhD President, Greek Lifesaving Sports Association; Teacher of Lifeguarding - Lifesaving Sport, Athens University; Officer, National Public Health Organization; Board Member, International Swimming Hall of Fame; Board Member, Mediterranean Lifesaving Confederation; Board Member, International Federation of Swimming Teachers’ Association; Business Commission Member, International Life Saving Federation; Award recipient, International Swimming Hall of Fame
  4. Vicky BAFATAKI, PhD Secretary General, International Awards Giuseppe Sciacca; Secretary, Foundation Sciacca
  5. Joost BIERENS, PhD Founder, International Drowning Research Alliance; Dean, International Lifesaving Academy; Editor “Drowning: Prevention, Rescue, Treatment”; Award winner, International Swimming Hall of Fame; Knight in the Order of Lifesaving, International Life Saving Federation
  6. Lucas BISTARAKIS Honorary President, Greek Lifesaving Sports Association; Founder, SCUBA-Lifeguard School Hellenic Red Cross; “father” of Greek lifeguarding
  7. Spyros CAPRALOS OLY, ΜΒΑ, President, Hellenic Olympic Committee; Board Member, International Olympic Committee; President, European Olympic Committees at the Athens General Assembly; Chairman EOC Olympic Culture and Education Commission; Chairman of the Coordination Commission, 1st European Gaes “Baku 2015”; champion swimmer; 2-times Olympic water polo athlete
  8. Achilleas CHALDAEΑKES PhD Dean and Professor, School of Philosophy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  9. Leslie DONAVAN Lawyer; President, International Federation of Swimming Teachers’ Association, President/CEO, Starfish Aquatics; Brand Protection Manager, Winter Olympics 2002
  10. Ingy EL SHAZLY, BBA Secretary General, International Life Saving Federation of Africa
  11. Konstantinos FILIS, PhD Director, International Olympic Truce Centre; Board Member, Hellenic Olympic Committee
  12. Isabel GARCIA President, Royal Spanish Lifesaving Federation; Board Member, Spanish Olympic Committee; Vice-President, International Life Saving Federation of Europe; President, Latino-American Lifesaving Federation; Vice President, Mediterranean Lifesaving Confederation
  13. Konstantinos GEORGIADIS, PhD Professor of Sports Organization and Management, University of Peloponnese; Dean International Olympic Academy; Vice President, International Society of Olympic Historians; Member, IOC Culture and Olympic Education Commission; Executive Board Member of the Organizing Committee; Athens 2004 Olympics; Vikelas Plaque, International Society for Olympic Historians
  14. Chris GIANNOU, MD Former Head Surgeon, International Committee of the Red Cross; Form. Board Member, Hellenic Red Cross; Form. Board Member, Palestine Red Crescent Society; International Movement of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
  15. Bojan GOLUBOVIC Lifesaving Network Project Coordinator
  16. Pascal GRANERO General Manager, Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation
  17. Rabea IATRIDOU MSc, Representative, Highly Distinguished Greek Athletes; Fin Swimming World/European Champion
  18. Konstantinos KARTEROLIOTIS, PhD Professor of Research Methodology in Physical Education and Sports; Dean, School of Sports Science and Physical Education, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
  19. Bill KENT, PhD Chairman of the Board, International Swimming Hall of Fame; Chairman of the Board, Every Child A Swimmer
  20. Emmanuel KOLYMPADES Secretary General Hellenic Olympic Committee
  21. Richard KOO President, International Olympic Academy Participants Association
  22. Isidoros KOUVELOS President, International Olympic Academy; Board Member, Hellenic Olympic Committee; Head of the Greek Team at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games; former Secretary General, International Committee of the Mediterranean Games
  23. Manfred LAEMMER, PhD Professor, History Department, German Sports University; President, European Olympic Academies; Editor, STADION International Journal of Sport History; Vice-Chairman, German Olympic Academy; Chairman, Jury of the Fair Play Prize of German Sport; Founder, German Sports-Olympic Museum; Annual Award, International Society for the History of Physical Education and Sport; Pierre de Coubertin Award, International Society of Olympic Historians; Honorary Member, European Fair Play Movement
  24. John LONG Honorary Vice President, Royal Life Saving Society Commonwealth; Director, The Lifesaving Foundation; Knight, International Life Saving Federation; Patron, Royal Life Saving Society India
  25. John MARTIN, MBE Event Director, International Life Saving Federation; Vice President, International Life Saving Federation of Europe
  26. Ioanna MASTORA, PhD Post-Doctoral Researcher in Bioethics, Athens University; Physical Education Teacher; Olympic Education, Fair Play and Curriculum Developer; former Administration Member, Hellenic Olympic Academy; Advisor, Greek Lifesaving Sports Association
  27. George MAVROTAS PhD Secretary General of Sports, Ministry of Culture-Sports; Associate Professor, National Technical University of Athens; President, National Sports Integrity Platform; 5-times participant in Olympic Games with the Greek Water Polo Team; National, European and World Cup Water Polo Champion
  28. Evenel MERVILUS, PhD President, Haitian Swimming Federation; President, Haitian Lifesaving Federation; Executive Member, Technical Committee for Central America and Caribbean Amateur Swimming; Former FINA Executive Member of Master Swimming; Former President of CAUCUS; Member of American Society, CCCAN, CARIFTA, COSONAT, Progressist Activist in USA, FINA, ILS, GLSA
  29. Polis PALIKAROS President, Cyprus Lifesaving Federation; former Board Member, International Life Saving Federation of Europe
  30. Andy PAPPAS, MSc Communications Manager, Greek Lifesaving Sports Association; Life Member, Australian Physiotherapy Association; Member, International Olympic Academy Participants Association; Member, International Biomechanics Association
  31. Evangelos PROTOPAPADAKIS, PhD Associate Professor of Applied Ethics, University of Athens; Director of the Applied Philosophy Research Laboratory, University of Athens; Head of the Greek Unit of the International Chair in Bioethics; Editor-in-Chief, Conatus – Journal of Philosophy
  32. Dimitris REGALOS, MSc Liaison, International Olympic Academy Participants Association; Coordinator for Educational Programs, International Olympic Academy; Senior Lecturer, City Unity College; Guest Lecturer, TransStadia University
  33. Anne SCHMIDT, BA CEO, International Swimming Hall of Fame; CEO, Swimming World Magazine
  34. Anestis VASILIOU, PhD Lifesaving Sport Curator, Cyprus Lifesaving Federation; Coach/Athlete, Cyprus National Lifesaving Team; Nurse Lecturer, CDA College;  Water Polo athlete, APOEL Club
  35. Emmanuel VELONAKIS, PhD CEO, Eurofins Athens Analytical Laboratories; Scientific Advisor for Water Microbiology, Greek Lifesaving Sports Association; former Deputy Scientific Director, National Public Health Laboratory; former Academic Staff, National School of Public Health
  36. Harald VERVAECKE, PhD Secretary General, International Life Saving Federation; Founder, Belgian Lifesaving Federation; ILS Grand Knight in the Order of Lifesaving; f. Professor in Sports Management and Biomechanics, Leuven University; f. Sport Director, International Military Sports Council; f. Royal Advisor, Emir of Qatar and Qatar Olympic Committee; Coordinator of World Drowning Prevention Conferences, World Lifesaving Championships; Master plan facilitator for several multi-sport games
  37. Christian WACKER, PhD President, International Society for Olympic Historians; Archaeologist and sports historian; Director, German Sports and Olympia Museum; Director, Qatar Olympic & Sports Museum
  38. Stephan WASSONG PhD. President, International Pierre De Coubertin Committee; Member, IOC Olympic Education Commission; Professor, German Sport University Cologne; Director, Olympic Studies Center of the Germany Sport University Cologne, Supervising Professor, International Olympic Academy; Guest and Adjunct Professor in 4 universities; awardee of numerous academic honors
  39. Voula ZYGOURI, OLY President, Hellenic Olympic Winners Association; Board Member Hellenic Olympic Academy; Member, Hellenic Olympians Association.

 

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