Happy Birthday Dr Harald Vervaecke
World 22.05.2025. The International Life Saving Federation, the International Life Saving Federation of Europe, the Mediterranean Lifesaving Confederation and the Greek Lifesaving Sports Association, wish "happy birthday" to Dr Harald Vervaecke.
Dr Vervaecke, has been a pillar of lifesaving at national, regional, Mediterranean and world level. For over 50 years, his contributions as scholar, administrator, pioneer, organizer, motivator, mentor, instructor are endless. We wish him many more years of health, creativity.
As Secretary General of the International
Lifesaving Federation (ILS) for decades, Harald has dedicated his life to the
mission of preventing drowning and promoting lifesaving sport across the globe.
Born in Belgium, Harald combined his academic
expertise, organizational skill, and passion for lifesaving to unify national
organizations under a common vision. Through his tireless leadership, ILS has
grown into the world’s leading authority on water safety, influencing policies,
training programs, and rescue standards in over 130 countries. His work has
saved countless lives, both directly through education and indirectly through
the global networks he has built.
Harald’s triumphs are measured in the hope and
skills passed on to generations of lifesavers. He has championed collaboration
over competition, proving that saving lives knows no borders. His career
reminds us that vision, consistency, and compassion can create lasting change.
Today, we honor Dr Harald Vervaecke for his
relentless dedication, his wisdom in guiding the lifesaving community, and his
unwavering belief that every person, everywhere, deserves the knowledge and
chance to survive in water.
Dott Giorgio Quintavalle Dr Stathis Avramidis
MLC President MLC Secretary General
