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The ILS honors Capralos, Avramidis, Bistarakis
Chalandri, Greece 20.05.2023. The
International Life Saving Federation honored Avramidis, Capralos and Bistarakis
with the Citation of Merit for their contributions to the International Experts
Symposium on Lifesaving as Olympic Sport.
The Secretary General of the International Life Saving Federation, Dr. Harald Vervaecke and the Vice President of the International Life Saving Federation of Europe, John Martin MBE, presented the Citation of Merit to 3 Greeks for their input to this symposium. Dr. Stathis Avramidis and Lucas Bistarakis, President and Honorary President respectively of the Greek Lifesaving Sports Association, along with Spyros Capralos, President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) and Member of the International Olympic Committee, were honored. Due to professional demands, Mr. Capralos was represented by the HOC Emmanouil Kolympadis.
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The symposium was impressive, informative and of a historical significance because it highlighted the importance of the inclusion of lifesaving sport into the Olympic Games as means to prevent drowning across the world. It was well received by 39 experts and 30 (inter)national organizations in 18 countries.
The awarding ceremony was touching. Bistarakis surprised Vervaecke, when he gave him a Golden Owl, a gift that that he aimed to present decades ago to the U.S.A. President Ronald Reagan for his lifeguard rescues, but presented to him a marble with an ancient Greek depiction. Photos: Julia Dunitz.
