On Friday, April 17, 2026, a special event was held at OAKA by the non-profit organization Safe Water Sports, in collaboration with the Hellenic Swimming Federation (KOE), on the theme: “Swimming education for children and young people: cultivating a life skill from an early age.”

The event was hosted in the Press Room of the Indoor Swimming Pool, with the support of the Athens Olympic Athletic Centre (OAKA), and highlighted the importance of swimming education as a fundamental life skill, making a meaningful contribution to the safety, health, and overall development of children and young people.

Among those attending and delivering speeches were the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Mr. Vasilis Kikilias; the President of the Hellenic Swimming Federation (KOE), Mr. Kyriakos Giannopoulos; the Director of Physical Education at the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Mr. Dimitrios Kereres; the President of Safe Water Sports, Mr. Panagiotis-Michail Paschalakis; the Head Coach of the Greek Men’s National Water Polo Team, Mr. Thodoris Vlachos; Professor of the School of Physical Education and Sport Science (SEFAA), Mr. Argyris Toubekis; and distinguished swimmer Ms. Nora Drakou.

The Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Mr. Vasilis Kikilias, underlined the importance of educating children about the sea and the aquatic environment, noting that the development of a swimming culture from a very early age is a key factor in preventing drowning and strengthening safety. He also emphasized that sport, and especially contact with the water element, plays a decisive role in shaping children’s character, offering healthy role models and valuable life skills. At the same time, he reiterated the Ministry’s support for the initiatives of Safe Water Sports and the Hellenic Swimming Federation.

The President of the Hellenic Swimming Federation, Mr. Kyriakos Giannopoulos, stated that the goal is not only for children to become familiar with the sea and the swimming pool, but also to gain confidence, overcome fear of water, and, with proper guidance, be able to manage any challenges that may arise. He highlighted the importance of the collaboration with Safe Water Sports within the framework of the Safe Swimming Program, while stressing that children’s involvement in sport, regardless of the discipline, is an important means of education and socialization. He also made special reference to the dynamic growth of the Federation, noting that it is the only federation with such a high number of new registrations, reaching 9,052 children.

The President of Safe Water Sports, Mr. Panagiotis-Michail Paschalakis, pointed out that the national goal is to achieve 100% coverage of all children attending swimming lessons, so that they can develop basic swimming skills. He referred to the collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, aimed at addressing the gaps that still exist in the implementation of the course, through a swimming program that can be delivered within 10 available teaching hours. At the same time, he underlined the importance of creating a monitoring and evaluation mechanism for the implementation of the course in schools, following the model of the Accident Observatory that operates in cooperation with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy. He also placed particular emphasis on the need to include even one hour of theoretical education in schools, as well as on the use of solutions such as floating swimming pools in municipalities that do not have the appropriate infrastructure.

The Director of Physical Education at the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Mr. Dimitrios Kereres, noted that students are becoming increasingly familiar with swimming lessons in the 3rd and 4th grades of primary school, presenting encouraging participation figures. As he stated, 45,000 students were recorded in 2025, an increase of 10,000 compared to 2024. He stressed that swimming is an essential life skill for children, one that can be strengthened even further through the cooperation of all relevant stakeholders.

Professor of SEFAA, Mr. Argyris Toubekis, analyzed the contribution of the collaboration with Safe Water Sports to the design and development of the Safe Swimming Program, giving it, as he noted, a more pedagogical dimension. He emphasized that it is a valuable tool for Physical Education teachers, one that can give children across the country the opportunity to learn how to move safely in water, pointing out that safety in the aquatic environment goes beyond the simple ability to float.

The Head Coach of the Greek Men’s National Water Polo Team, Mr. Thodoris Vlachos, spoke about the value of children’s involvement in aquatic sports, both from his perspective as a coach and as a parent. As he noted, contact with water from an early age helps children overcome fears, develop self-confidence, cooperate, and follow rules, cultivating discipline, consistency, and respect — values that stay with them throughout their lives.

Swimmer Ms. Nora Drakou referred to the deep and lasting impact of sport on a person’s life, noting that involvement in swimming offers significant benefits both to mental well-being and to character development. She further emphasized that the goal is not to instill fear in children, but rather to cultivate a sense of comfort, familiarity, and safety in relation to water, both for the children themselves and for their parents.

At the end of the event, greetings were also delivered by partners of the Organization: the President of the Panhellenic Association of Physical Education Graduates (P.E.P.F.A.), Mr. Dimitrios Grigoriadis; Associate Professor at SEFAA, Ms. Aspasia Dania; Physical Education teacher and swimming coach, Ms. Iliana Teligiannidou; as well as Safe Water Sports Ambassador Ms. Angeliki Karapataki, silver Olympic medalist in water polo and owner/instructor of a model infant swimming center.

The event was moderated by journalist Antonis Katsaros.

Safe Water Sports remains firmly committed to its mission of informing, educating, and raising public awareness around safety in the aquatic environment, investing in strategic partnerships and initiatives with meaningful social impact that empower children with knowledge and life skills.