Governance

GLSA Governance

Dr. Stathis Avramidis
President

Teacher of Applied Lifeguarding & Lifesaving Sport (School of Sport Science and Physical Education, University of Athens). Officer, National Public Health Organization. President, Greek Lifesaving Sports Association. Acting Secretary General of the Mediterranean Lifesaving Confederation. Former Board Member of the International Federation of Swimming Teachers' Association and the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Author of 29 lifesaving books and about 300 publications/conference presentations. Instructor and Senior Tutor on lifesaving, water safety, first aid, lifeguarding, personal survival, sports leadership (ILS, STA, CLF, RLSS UK, RLSS Australia, SSTA, NUCO, Padi, SJA, ASA). He has been placed numerous times in the top three rankings of nationals and tournaments in water polo and lifesaving sport as athlete or coach. 6th place in European Lifesaving Championships 2023. "Father" of lifesaving sport in Greece. Stathis has been honored repeatedly for his contributions to lifesaving as author, film director and academic in many countries by the RLSS Commonwealth, the International Swimming Hall of Fame, the International Life Saving Federation etc. His life was portrayed in the documentary "Stathi" (more).

Eleftheria Avramidou

Vice President
BSc in Sport and Exercice Science (Leeds Metropolitan University, UK); Diploma of Specialization in Swimming (University of Athens, Greece); BSc of Physical Education (University of Athens, Greece). Long education and working experience on aquatics, water safety, first aid and personal training in swimming, aqua gym, weights and stretching. She has 21 years competitive athlete for 21 years; 25 times national champion in swimming and fin swimming; over 30 times placed in the top 3 rankings in national or international tournaments of sport lifesaving, speed and marathon swimming; 3 times Balkan Masters Champion Runner. She has been honored 21 times in 5 countries including the Diploma Award by the Royal Life Saving Society Commonwealth whose Patron is Queen Elisabeth (video). She has established a high reputation as a professional and have been interviewed several times in television. Her life was portrayed in the tribute video "GLORYne". 

Lucas Bistarakis
Honorary President (2020-2023)

Bistarakis, is the "father" of Greek professional lifeguarding. He learned swimming in a faucet where the goats drunk water. In 40 years he undertook several remarkable landmark water safety activities nationwide. He founded 17 lifesaving-scuba diving charities and organizations; he taught over 35.000 students on various aspects of aquatics and safety from over 30 nations; he organized 4 national or international scuba diving-lifesaving conferences and performed dozens of rescues. He established the first two legislations for pool and beach lifeguarding. He envisioned that one day Greece would be able to organize national lifesaving sport championships. Bistarakis developed a multidimensional social voluntary activity. He founded the School of Summer Camp Officers, the first Baby-Sitting School, the Union of Friends of the Military Air Force, organized public exhibitions, parties and festivals for raising awareness and money that were spent for humanitarian purposes. He got 18 awards and commendations for his water safety contributions in 9 countries. His activities were endorsed and highly commented by ministers, prime ministers, princes, kings, directors and governing officers, ambassadors, famous artists, prestigious academics and his students in Greece and abroad. Among the organizations he founded is the School of Lifeguarding and Scuba diving of the Hellenic Red Cross. The 2 times award-winning documentary "Ode to Lifesaving Joy" portrays his life.

Andy Pappas

General Manager Communications & Development 

Andy Anastasios Pappas is a senior physiotherapist/sports management consultant who has worked as a clinical physiotherapist for over 34 years. Together with his business partner they formed one of the first Australian Health Franchise companies called the Back Dr, and when he sold out to his partner, there were several clinics in Sydney. Andy has extensive experience in the provision of physiotherapy services throughout the community and in sports, such as having worked as the team physiotherapist for the S. African Netball Team (1996-8) and the S. Sydney Rugby League team in the early 80’s. He organized the first Greek Lifesaving Team to compete at a world lifesaving competition (Rescue 2000). He followed that up with the first ever life saving student exchange programme in 2001, where 15 Greek lifesavers completed their Bronze Medallion (Pambula Beach, Australia). He has lectured in Biomechanics of the Lower Limb in Australia, Greece and S. Africa (Vasyli Medical Company and the International College of Biomechanics) and has been involved in this specialization for over 30 years. Andy was the first physiotherapist ever, to be invited to speak at the symposium for the Greek Orthopeadic Doctor’s Association of the Lower Limb based in Maroussi (Greece 1998), on the topic of “Pre and Post Orthotics after Bunion Surgery”. He has worked as a business management consultant, helping an Athenian physiotherapist to systemize his three clinics, along the franchise model he created in Sydney. He lectures in physiotherapy/biomechanics and speaks as a guest to different community groups within Laconia, Greece with the support of the Hellenic Physiotherapy Association. Life Membership for 34 years of service as a community physiotherapist (Australian Physiotherapy Association). andy_physio@yahoo.com.au

Taxiarchis Rellias

Head of Scientific Advisors

Taxiarchis Rellias has born and lives in Lamia, Greece. He is a graduate of the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) with postgraduate studies in Quality of Services in Sport. He has attended a Diploma in Management and Leadership (EEDE-CMI) and a Professional Training Program of Executive Coach and Management (University of the Aegean). He has a wealth of research work, presentations in scientific conferences and journals of sports and also in newspapers. He has worked as a Store Manager for a multinational sports marketing company, as a medical advisor for a multinational pharmaceutical company, in gyms, municipalities, sports clubs as a trainer and coach. He worked as a physical educator and lifeguard at children's camps in Northern Greece, Epirus, and poolside health stores (1996-2004). He works as a swimming coach at Lamia and surrounding sports clubs (2006-) and as a lifeguard at Lamia’s Municipal Swimming Pool (2019-). Since 2000 he is a certified Lifeguard Instructor and has trained lifeguards in Lamia. Since 2015 he is an EFR First Aid Instructor. He is a frequent invited water safety expert in the media of Central Greece discussing drowning cases and problems of the lifeguard profession. He attempts interventions in municipalities, regional offices, port authorities and Members of Greek Parliament. In the framework of the School Safety and Hygiene Program, he makes lifesaving / water safety presentations for the students. takisrellias@gmail.com

Efraim Chalkias

Head of Volunteers

Efraim Chalkias, is a student in the School of Sport Science and Physical Education at the University of Athens. He has a member of clubs in swimming and other sports. Since he was in the High School he participates in theatrical games. He is animateur for children and teenagers. He is a certified and professional beach and pool lifeguard as well as lifeguard instructor and lifesaving sport referee. He has participated as athlete in numerous swimming and lifesaving sport activities including exhibitions, Pan-Hellenic Lifesaving Championships, Greek and British University Championships. He teaches water safety, first aid and lifesaving the last few years. Efraim has attended the modules of "applied lifeguarding" and "lifesaving sport" in the University of Athens. He is a regular and loyal volunteer in numerous  activities that require water safety, lifesaving sport, first aid and lifeguard cover or education. efraimxalkias@gmail.com

Roula Karydopoulou
Head of Judges

Hellenic Coast Guard Officer. Certified Referee in Swimming and Fin Swimming (Greek Swimming Federation), Lifesaving Sport (EOYDA) and Volleyball (SYSYSPEDAP Pireaus). She has a long experience as National Referee in national championships of swimming, lifesaving sport, Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, Special Olympics, all the championships that take place by clubs of the American College, military sports games in Athens, Tripoli, Thessalonica since 2002 for all age groups. In 2004 she was honored by Syros Municipality for organizing a swimming competition in the island. She is Head of Lifesaving Sport Judges (EOYDA 2017-2018). 

xaroumenimera@yahoo.gr.xaroumenimera@yahoo.gr.

Nikos Tsoltos

Head of Coaches

Graduate of Sports Science and Physical Education specialized in Swimming (University of Athens). Master in Medicine and PhD research in Medicine (University of Athens). Certified Coach and Judge in Lifesaving Sport (EOYDA). He has worked 10 years as swimming coach in programs of the General Secretariat of Sports. He worked as Physical Educator in private schools. He started his carrier as pool supervisor in Kalogeropoulos Schools. He was swimmer and coach of Olympiakos Team and later on 4 more swimmign teams. Since 2013 he is a member of the coaching team of American College of Greece "Deree". Former Head of Lifesaving Sport Coaches in EOYDA. nkstsolt@gmail.com

Andreas Intra

Head of Military Sport

Graduate of Sports Science and Physical Education (University of Athens). Graduate of English Literature (University of Athens). He speaks English, Spanish and French. Indra was a member of the National Teams of Modern Pentathlon (10 years), 3 times Member of the pre-Olympic Team (1996, 2000, 2004) and 5 times National Champion. He is a trainer in Modern Pentathlon and Triathlon, Nordic Walking Instructor and athlete in pentathlon, triathlon, long distance runner (from 5km to Marathons), swimming, shooting with many distinctions. Intra has also been national champion in lifesaving sport. He is a Coast Guard Officer and member of the Hellenic Rescue Corps of the Hellenic Red Cross for rescue and lifeguarding. He has acted as assistant instructor in courses that were delivered to the Coast Guard. He is certified lifesaving sport judge. He acted as EOYDA Development Officer of Lifesaving Sport in the Military Championship. idra_2000@yahoo.com

John Dimakopoulos

Head of Education

Ioannis (John) Dimakopoulos graduted from the AUTH University of Thessaloniki and the AUTH Theological School. He has a postgraduate degree in school humanitarian studies of the. He has been certified in public administration, history and ethnology. He is a certified Judge in lifesaving sport (EOYDA). He worked as football coach for children under the age of 12 (AS Farsala). He has worked as physical education teacher in primary education. For the past 6 years he has been a Principal in Elementary Schools. He teaches lifesaving sport, drowning prevention, and lifesaving in summer camps and cathedral schools in the Metropolis of Karditsa. He has participated in a research program at the University of Thessaly. He has participated in 20 national and international conferences on physical education and published 12 research papers. Dimakopoulos has to his credit 3 books on Olympism and local history and a chapter on a book about lifesaving sport. He takes pride by being useful to society and by participating actively in organizations whose focus is the advancement of our civilization. gianisdimako@gmail.com

Michalis Glynatsis

National Coach

Michalis holds a BSc on Sport Science and Physical Education and a Diploma on Swimming (School of Sport Science and Physical Education - Athens University) and a Swimming Diploma (General Secretariat of Sports - Ministry of Sports). He is a lifeguard and lifeguard instructor by the Pan-Hellenic Lifeguard School, fin-swimming coach, free diver, first aider, rescuer, member of the Civil Protection and Kalymnos Rescue Team. He coached swimmers since 2014 at the Kalymnos Nautical Club, Paleo Faliro Sports Club and the Panhellenic Gymnastic Association. In 2018 he founded Proteas Sports Nautical Club of Kalymnos, one of the most important clubs of Dodecanese and South Aegean and the most decorated lifesaving club in Greece. He is the head coach of the ROOF 1980 swimming club. In 2021, he was appointed as the National Coach of the Greek Lifesaving Sports’ Association. He coordinated/coached teams to BULSCA Championships (2022, 2023), World Rescue Cup (2022) and the European Masters Lifesaving Championships (2023). Nationally, he is 16 times winner at the Greek Lifesaving Cup as athlete and 129 times as a coach and he and his team have set 41 national records. Internationally, he is the first in the history of Greece that won bronze and silver medals in European Lifesaving Masters Championships, along with two 4th and three 5th places. The GLSA honored Michalis as Coach of the Year 2021 and as Athlete of the Years 2021 and 2023. michael-glynatsis@hotmail.gr 

Τμήματα - Divisions

Επιστημονικών Συμβούλων - Scientific Advisors 

Εθελοντισμού - Volunteers 

Τιμών - Honours 

Κριτών - Judges

Προπονητών - Coaches 

Στρατιωτικού Αθλητισμού - Military Sports

Εκπαίδευσης - Education 

Εθνικών Ομάδων - National Teams

Individual Member

Greeks and overseas citizens without borders that correspond with the founding principles, aims, objectives and means of the GLSA. To become a member, click here.

Club Members

Club members (non-profit organizations, societies, federations, gyms, lifeguard agencies, unions) whose purposes are relevant to sports, education, pedagogic, scientific, prevention, rescue, treatment, lifeguarding, recreation, public health, etc and they agree with the aims and objectives of the Greek Lifesaving Sports Association. To become a Club Member, click here. To see our Club Members, click here.