“Safety and Accessibility at Sea for All” event was successfully held on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at the premises of ELEPAP. The event was organized by Safe Water Sports, the non-profit organization dedicated to safety in the aquatic environment and the prevention of drownings, in collaboration with ELEPAP, the first charitable non-profit association in Greece that provides comprehensive support to children with physical disabilities and neurodevelopmental disorders.

The event highlighted the importance of safe and equal access to the sea, water and swimming, placing emphasis on prevention, awareness, accessibility and inclusion. The discussion focused on the need for targeted actions, appropriate infrastructure and meaningful partnerships, so that every person, regardless of age or disability, can enjoy the aquatic environment safely and with dignity.

The event was attended by the Minister of State, Mr. Akis Skertsos, the President of ELEPAP, Dr. Eleni N. Skouteli, the President of Safe Water Sports, Dr. Panagiotis Paschalakis, Olga Theodoratou, Assistant General Manager, Customer Experience & Simplification at Eurobank, as well as Antonis Tsapatakis, Paralympic swimmer and ambassador of Safe Water Sports and Eurobank.

The Minister of State, Mr. Akis Skertsos, referred to the importance of “small daily victories” that help create an environment in which disability ceases to be invisible. As he emphasized, a key goal for the next period is for every municipality to have its own accessible beach, as well as appropriate swimming facilities for people with disabilities. He also underlined that a national objective should be to create the necessary incentives and infrastructure so that all children have the opportunity to participate in swimming lessons.

The President of ELEPAP, Dr. Eleni N. Skouteli, referred to ELEPAP’s long-standing work, as the organization approaches 90 years of operation, and to the importance of holistic support for children with disabilities and their families. She pointed out that access to water and therapeutic swimming can serve as valuable tools for empowerment, autonomy and social inclusion, offering children new experiences, joy and meaningful development.

The President of Safe Water Sports, Dr. Panagiotis Paschalakis, highlighted the need to cultivate a new culture of safety in the aquatic environment in Greece, with emphasis on education, prevention and awareness from an early age. He stressed that the new collaboration with ELEPAP, as well as the ongoing collaboration with Eurobank, further strengthens the dimension of accessibility and inclusion, confirming that water safety must concern everyone, without exclusions.

Olga Theodoratou, Assistant General Manager, Customer Experience & Simplification at Eurobank, referred to the importance of corporate responsibility in initiatives with real social impact. Eurobank, as a supporter of Safe Water Sports in the field of accessibility, has contributed to the development of a dedicated section within the organization’s application and website, through which beaches with access for people with disabilities are mapped across Greece. This initiative provides practical and useful information for people with disabilities, families, companions and visitors to the country.

Antonis Tsapatakis, Paralympic swimmer, shared his personal experience and highlighted the power of swimming, perseverance and equal access to water. Through his remarks, he underlined the importance of changing mindsets, collective effort and the belief that, together, we can achieve meaningful change. He also emphasized the value of proper information and the creation of conditions that allow people with disabilities to enjoy the sea and sports activities with safety, dignity and confidence.

The event demonstrated that safety, prevention and accessibility are not separate concepts, but part of a shared effort to build a society that is more informed, fair, inclusive and safe for everyone.

Through the collaboration of Safe Water Sports, ELEPAP and Eurobank, the need for more accessible infrastructure, modern awareness tools and meaningful synergies was highlighted, so that access to water can become a true right for all.

The event was moderated by journalist Antonis Katsaros.

Watch here the video about the new Safe Water Sports section on accessible beaches, created with Antonis Tsapatakis and with the support of Eurobank.

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