Filenews 21 February 2022 - by Dora Christodoulou
Winter swimming is an activity that as time goes by becomes more popular in the city of Paphos. This is also demonstrated by the numbers, since the initial group of 20-25 people who founded the association of winter swimmers of the city is supported in practice on a daily basis by another 100–150 members, while registered members on its website are 3,000 lovers of the water element.
The Association of Winter Swimmers of Pafos "Vrysouthkia Kelleptris", has for some time now a new leadership, under the chairmanship of Andreas Grigoriadis. Speaking to "F", the new president of the association, points out that in 2007 a group of 20-25 people who were friends with each other and were bound by love for the sea and daily swimming all year round, decided to found the first club of winter swimmers.
"The name was inspired by the two toponyms of the area located near the Municipal Banies and for their logo they chose the kyrtamos, a shoot that is found in abundance in the surrounding rocks of the area, near the sea", he stresses. "Among the first founders were the former mayor, the late Andreas Ataliotis, the late Zeno Chrysostomou, former regional director of EAC, who then served as the first presidents of the association, as well as the well-known lawyer of our city, Takis Georgiadis, who until today his law office offers his legal services to the association free of charge."
The Winter Swimmers, stresses its president, is a healthy and active part of this city with a large number of members that operates in the area of Municipal Baths daily, in an award-winning beach with Blue Flag and aims at the prosperity and safety of their members, but also of all swimmers who use the space located in the heart of the tourist area and is a point of reference for locals and foreigners.
"The association today has a very large number of members that exceeds 250, although the restrictions of the pandemic have limited their active participation to many," says Andreas Grigoriadis. "Every day, however, there are more than 150 people of all ages who swim or play sports in the Municipal Baths, starting in groups from 5:00 to 10:00 o'clock in the morning. Some prefer afternoon swimming. People of the third age over the age of 80 are present and swim at this time, whenever the ripple of the sea allows them to do so. People with mobility problems also find daily swimming as their best physiotherapy. And here we must observe that there is a lack of infrastructure for safe access of people with disabilities to the Municipal Baths. The Municipal Baths are the ideal place for them because the depth of the sea and the fact that they enter directly into the water without having to move to a sandy beach is like a natural pool for them.
The club over the years has developed significant action on various issues, it stresses, such as sports activities and competitions at sea, swimming marathons, water polo competitions, Easter games, New Year's celebration and cutting of vasilopita in the water. Cleaning of the seabed and beaches, tree plantings, blood donations, lectures on health, road safety, first aid and lifeguarding. There were also in the history of the city excursions and cruises and carnival dances, with the most characteristic event being the one called "August Moon" where an open-air party took place under the light of the full moon at the end of August.
The history and action of the Association of Himerini Kolymvites "Vrysouthkia Khelpetri", says its new president, leaves a heavy debt and a responsibility to every new Board of Directors.
"A uniquely important event from the previous Board of Directors, apart from the events, is that the association became known nationwide with its frequent interventions in the media", he points out.
The new Board of Directors, which took over only at the end of November 2021, chaired by Andreas Grigoriadis, was faced with three important issues.
Most importantly, that it had to be harmonized with the new legislation of the Unions Law of 2017 with a series of actions that had to be taken in previous years and were not done.
"Also, the announcement of the Municipality of Pafos for the renovation of the upgrading of the Municipal Baths, which while the project was given to a contractor from the end of October 2021 is still expected to start the works, resulting in winter swimmers being displaced from the site, is our second most important problem", he stresses. "And the difficulties that the new Board was called upon to face with the assumption of its duties are complemented by the health restrictions due to the pandemic since they prevent the organization of established anniversary events and actions."
The Board of Directors of the swimmers' union through a memorandum they gave last month to the Mayor of Pafos, Phaedon Phaedonos, pointed out the basic problems of the infrastructure of the site and asked to be taken into account in the planning for the expected execution of the upgrade works.
Andreas Grigoriadis briefly points out that the memorandum to the municipal authority concerned issues related to issues related to infrastructure, safety, health, cleanliness, equipment and accessibility of people with disabilities.
"As it was published on the swimmers' page in early February," he concluded, "a letter was given to the City Council by the board of the association expressing their concern about the unjustified and inexplicable stagnation and image of abandonment of upgrade projects for three months and asking for information on what will follow, on whether the basic problems are being solved by planning and when this will happen."
