The Board of the Mediterranean Lifesaving Confederation
President: Dott Giorgio QUINTAVALLE (Italy)
Giorgio Quintavalle was always linked with the world of swimming and rescue. Graduated in Political Science and then with postgraduate studies in Philosophy and Law, already in 1992 he founded the Sports Association which, over the years, became the basis on which to build the successes of the Red Frogs; the team that was 6 times world champions in the pool (2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018) and composed by the best athletes ever. His path within the Italian Swimming Federation started long time ago. He is a member of the regional sport commission in 1998, a member of the Italian National Sport Commission in 2008, a Team Manager of the Italian National Team in 2011, the Italian Lifesaving National Coordinator in 2018 and President of the Italian Lifesaving Section in 2021. Even outside the borders of his country, Georgio’s commitment has grown over time. He is a member of the ILSE Sport Commission since 2010 and of the ILS Sport Commission since 2012. Giorgio is also an ILSE and ILS Board Member since 2012 and the European Vice President since 2021
Giorgio Quintavalle was always linked with the world of swimming and rescue. Graduated in Political Science and then with postgraduate studies in Philosophy and Law, already in 1992 he founded the Sports Association which, over the years, became the basis on which to build the successes of the Red Frogs; the team that was 6 times world champions in the pool (2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018) and composed by the best athletes ever. His path within the Italian Swimming Federation started long time ago. He is a member of the regional sport commission in 1998, a member of the Italian National Sport Commission in 2008, a Team Manager of the Italian National Team in 2011, the Italian Lifesaving National Coordinator in 2018 and President of the Italian Lifesaving Section in 2021. Even outside the borders of his country, Georgio’s commitment has grown over time. He is a member of the ILSE Sport Commission since 2010 and of the ILS Sport Commission since 2012. Giorgio is also an ILSE and ILS Board Member since 2012 and the European Vice President since 2021
Secretary General: Dr. Stathis AVRAMIDIS PhD (Greece)
Stathis Avramidis PhD studied physical education, sports and
public health. He is a Teacher of Applied Lifeguarding and Lifesaving Sport at
the School of Sports Science and Physical Education (Athens University), Officer
of the National Public Health Organization, President of the Greek Lifesaving
Sports Association, former Board Member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame and
the International Federation of Swimming Teachers’ Association, Secretary
General of the Mediterranean Lifesaving Confederation and a Business Commission
Member of the International Life Saving Federation. He was a Lecturer/Visiting
Research Fellow of Aquatics (Leeds Metropolitan University), creator of
national drowning prevention programs and chairman of 6 conferences/film
festivals. With dozens of rescues, hundreds of certifications in
10 countries, 29 books, and dozens of research studies, he
is one of the most prolific advocates in the world. He is national water polo
champion and the “father” of Greek lifesaving sport. His athletes won 18 medals
in international university, european and world lifesaving championships. He
was honored by the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the International Life
Saving Federation.
Vice President Europe: Isabella GARCIA (Spain)
Stathis Avramidis PhD studied physical education, sports and
public health. He is a Teacher of Applied Lifeguarding and Lifesaving Sport at
the School of Sports Science and Physical Education (Athens University), Officer
of the National Public Health Organization, President of the Greek Lifesaving
Sports Association, former Board Member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame and
the International Federation of Swimming Teachers’ Association, Secretary
General of the Mediterranean Lifesaving Confederation and a Business Commission
Member of the International Life Saving Federation. He was a Lecturer/Visiting
Research Fellow of Aquatics (Leeds Metropolitan University), creator of
national drowning prevention programs and chairman of 6 conferences/film
festivals. With dozens of rescues, hundreds of certifications in
10 countries, 29 books, and dozens of research studies, he
is one of the most prolific advocates in the world. He is national water polo
champion and the “father” of Greek lifesaving sport. His athletes won 18 medals
in international university, european and world lifesaving championships. He
was honored by the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the International Life
Saving Federation.
Isabel Garcia Sanz is the president of the Royal Spanish Lifesaving Federation (RFESS) since 2004 and also the Latino-American Lifesaving Federation (FLASS) since 2005. She was the first woman to reach the vice presidency of the International Life Saving Federation of Europe (ILSE) in 2016 and is also part of the executive committee of the Spanish Olympic Committee since 2013. She’s part of the board of the International Life Saving Federation (ILS) since 2012. She’s been in touch with federated lifesaving since 1993 and she’s received a multitude of national and international awards because of it, like the ILS Order of Lifesaving, as she was the seventh woman out of 89 people they had in 2020. She has a teaching degree for primary school by the Universidad de Valladolid (1996) and a master in coaching and athletic leadership by the Universidad de Barcelona (2014). She’s a civil servant in the Junta de Castilla y León (Regional government in the centre of Spain).
Vice President Africa: Abdelkader CHEKROUN (Algeria)
Kader Chekroun has graduated from various Military Schools in Georgia, Russia, and France. He has served the society through the Ministries of National Defense, of Water Resources, of Transport, of Culture, of Justice and of Youth and Sports. He is the President of the Algerian Federation of Rescue, First Aid and Underwater Activities. Through the federation, his tasks involve the development of aquatic sports, the training of sports and professional divers, the participation in national and international sports championships and activities of public interest. He is a Board Member of the International Life Saving Federation, the Mediterranean Lifesaving Confederation and Vice President of the African Rescue Academy. He has been awarded with the National Medal of Honor, the National Merit Medal, and the Military Medal.
Vice President Asia: Ali El MOKDAD (Lebanon)
Ali Mokdad has a degree in law and studied diving and marine biology. He is an International SCUBA diving Instructor. He survived from drowning at the age of 13. With fellow swimmers, he created a professional alien team in 1987 to clean the beach and prevent drowning. Until 1991, they recorded zero drownings. Ali carried out activities to guide people from the dangers of drowning, using the Marine Corniche as a headquarters for distributing his leaflets. He joined the Headquarters of the Lebanese Union of Professional Divers in 2003 in addition to operate his own academy to teach diving. He is the President of the Lebanese Diving and Rescue Federation since 2019. He is involved in many associations including the Blue Beach Association, Greenpeace and projects of the European Union.
Director: Sameh Nabil EL-SHAZLY (Egypt)
Sameh holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Alexandria
University. He is the President of the Egyptian Diving and Lifesaving
Federation (2008-), the President of the Arab Diving and Lifesaving Federation
(2015-) and a Sport Committee Member of the International Life Saving
Federation (2000-). He serves as a Board Member the ILS Africa (2004-), the CMAS
(2009-), the CMAS Fin Swimming
Committee (2001 – 2009). He was also the General Manager in Egypt
Air.
Director: Alexandre TADEIA (Portugal)
