There are some organisations that are more unique than others.
Because they have a vision.
Because they change the facts.
Because they save lives.
An organisation like this is SWS.
The unfair loss of a child (And what loss of a small child isn’t unfair?) was the foundation for the creation of Safe Water Sports. SWS is a non-profit organisation that aims to inform us about safety in the water.
The numbers
-Greece has approximately 2,500 islands, and is ranked 11th on the list of the world’s longest coastlines.
-Every year drowning is the 2nd biggest killer of babies and children, with more than 5,000 deaths annually.
-Greece is ranked No. 1 in drownings
-Greece is ranked No. 1 in drowning deaths and accidents at sea.
The campaign of SWS
We were all talking with the person who is behind this great organisation: Panagiotis Paschalakis. And out of the blue, a difficult but brilliant idea popped up, and we all knew that we wanted to realise it.
That’s how everything started.
Safe Water Sports for its 2016 campaign chose as ambassadors 5 top Greek Olympic medalists and champions.
The central message of the campaign was preparation, determination and inspiration in order to achieve safety at sea. The athletes shared their personal views and opinions before and after they dive into the water.
The Safe Water Sports with the campaign #thinksafe proves that the sea, the water and the 15,000 km of Greek coastline can be sources of joy and pleasure if everybody keeps safety in mind.
SWS took advantage of the magnificent setting and the light of the Aegean, together with the blue and white of Greece, and hopes that this campaign with the Greek Olympic medalists and champions will be the basis of inspiration and hope for everybody.
Click here to watch the videos.
The Ambassadors:
Nikos Kaklamanakis: Olympic Gold & Silver Medallist in Windsurfing
Angeliki Karapataki: Olympic Silver Medallist in Water Polo
Sofia Papadopoulou: Olympic Bronze Medallist in Sailing
Christos Afroudakis: Olympic winner, Captain of the Hellenic National Water Polo Team
Nikolas Plytas: Waterski Champion
SWS project leader: Panagiotis Paschalakis
Director- Cameraman: Stamos Birsim
Producer-scriptwriter: Eftychia Fragou
Technical Manager & Sound: Fanis Gkountinakis
Editing: Sam Mooderey
Location Manager- Assistant Producer: Pari Chrysanthou
Colour Correction: George Telis
Xenia Loukopoulou: Photographer
Diver/ underwater camera: Giorgos Delveroudis
Drone/ aerial shors: Konstantinos Gdontakis
Extra drone/ aerial shots: Nikos Lountzis
Voice over recordings: Giorgos Simatos
Copyright: SWS, ôlyvon
The “Son of the Wind”; Nikos Kaklamanakis as he the winds (photo from his personal page on Facebook).
Christos Afroudaki while recording at the studio.
Angeliki Karapataki narrates her own personal story.
…Scripta manent
Sofia Papadopoulou is always a winner…
The blue of the Aegean sea mingles perfectly with the blue of the Greek sun (SWS photo)
Follow SWS:
SWS also created an application that offers a modern and specialised service for all the tourists that are visiting the Greek beaches.
– With this app you can find out more about 3,000 beaches in the country.
– You can get information on all the licensed water sports companies. (waterski, scuba diving, tubes, kitesurf etc.)
– Plus, you can get more info about rental boats, and everything you need to know about the safety rules for every single activity at the water.
Download the app:
