Leucothea - International Swim & Save Program

International Federation of Swimming Teachers' Association (IFSTA)

The International Federation of Swimming Teachers' Association (IFSTA) was established in 1976 to connect independent swimming-teaching bodies and raise standards in swimming instruction, qualifications, and water-safety education worldwide. Its current public materials emphasize high-quality teacher development, international collaboration, and the idea that swimming should be treated as an essential life skill for everyone. IFSTA's site currently presents a network of 16 member organisations, representing more than 14,000 swimming teachers and more than 1,000,000 swimmers taught each year. That makes it both a professional federation and a capacity-building platform for swimming teachers, instructors, and affiliated national bodies.

International Life Saving Federation (ILS)

The International Life Saving Federation (ILS) traces its official founding date to 27 March 1910 through the earlier FIS tradition, while the modern ILS was formed through the FIS-WLS merger agreed in 1993 and formally constituted in Cardiff in 1994. Its scope is global: drowning prevention, water safety, lifesaving, lifeguarding, and competitive lifesaving. The ILS is the world body of lifesaving and leads the global effort to reduce injury and death in, on, or around the water. It is the only federation that is recognized by both the International Olympic Committee and the World Health Organisation.

International Life Saving Federation of Europe (ILSE)

The International Life Saving Federation of Europe (ILSE) is the European regional branch of ILS and was founded in 1994 in connection with the establishment of the wider ILS structure. Its purpose is to coordinate member federations in Europe, support national development, expand lifesaving where needed, and strengthen drowning prevention, lifesaving services, and lifesaving sport across the continent. ILSE states that its members represent more than 5 million lifesavers and lifeguards across Europe.

International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF)

The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) was established in 1965 as a nonprofit organisation and is recognised as the Official Repository for Aquatic History. Its scope covers the preservation, celebration, and interpretation of aquatic heritage across swimming, diving, artistic swimming, water polo, open-water and masters aquatics, and related fields. Its aims are not only commemorative but also educational: ISHOF preserves memorabilia, honours outstanding contributors to aquatics, and uses programmes such as Every Child A Swimmer to promote safety and swimming participation.

Lifesaving Network (LiNe)

The Lifesaving Network is a newer European collaborative initiative. It is a drowning-prevention and organisational-capacity project that boosts aquatic-safety education and promotes lifesaving sport values. The project was launched in 2023 and is presented as Erasmus+ supported. Its stated aim is to foster synergy and build a European network of organisations working on drowning prevention and lifesaving sport promotion.

Mediterranean Lifesaving Confederation (MLC)

The Mediterranean Lifesaving Confederation (MLC) was founded in 2022, with its constitution signed on 26 September 2022 in Riccione, Italy. Its scope is regional and strategic: it seeks to develop a common vision for lifesaving sport, water safety, and drowning prevention among countries of the Mediterranean basin. Its aims include organizing Mediterranean lifesaving championships and working toward inclusion of lifesaving sport in the Mediterranean Games.

Greek Lifesaving Sports Association (GLSA)

The Greek Lifesaving Sports Association was founded in 2020 in loving memory of three relatives that lost their lives at sea. It is a non-profit organisation registered at the Athens Court of First Instance and approved sport recreation/sport leisure organisation from the General Secretariat of Sport - Ministry of Sports. It is a member of the ILS, ILSE, MLC and allied organisations of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation and the International Swimming Hall of Fame. It aims to advance water safety and lifesaving sport through various activities (books, research, films, magazine, conferences, championships, educational programs). It is the powerhouse of lifesaving sport in Greece.