It took more than eighty years to revive one of the most historic clubs in Piraeus, the Swimming Club. Piraeus. Rooted in the 19th century, connected with the sea baths of Neos Faliros and drawing inspiration from the first organization of the modern Olympic Games, the leaders of the KOP seem to be determined to further develop swimming in Piraeus, initially and then other types of athletics. An obstacle to this vision is the lack of pools in the Piraeus region.

Piraeus Swimming Club was founded in 1899 and was one of the founding members of the Hellenic Swimming Federation. His goal was to “build bathhouses”. The 1896 Olympic Games left their sporting imprint on the people of Athens, while in the area of ​​Neos Faliros and Piraeus baths for the “folk baths” flourished. At that time, many sports associations were founded, including the KOP. The club has gradually turned into one of the protagonists of Greek swimming. In fact, in 1936 he also won the championship. After the Second World War, he was unable to recover.

Until 2019, the history of the Club was known only to lovers of water sports. In the same year, the first talks about its re-creation began, and in the fall of last year the Club began working with three athletes. A year later, more than 100 children wear his cap. “If we continue like this, we will more than double our world, and this gives us strength and fills us with responsibility. Of course, there is a big problem with space, because, as we all know, there is not enough space to be able to grow even more, and this is vital. Greek associations are blood donors for Greek sports. The fact is that we, the coaches, must produce athletes who will surpass the already existing greats. But this does not happen when 12 and 14 children swim on the same course. That is why we ask you to take care not only of the private sector, but also of the state and the General Secretariat of Sports. We already have one route in Papastratio, we asked for a few extra hours, we were denied due to lack of space and time. Olympiakos has four, Ethnikos has three, and we have one route until 21.15. We have repeatedly sent a letter to EAKN Agios Kosmas, who owns the pool,” said head swimming coach Nikos Sideris.

With the vision of building a swimming pool

The few swimming pools that operate in Piraeus are not sufficient to meet the needs of the clubs operating in the area. Thus, the dream of the management of the Club is the construction of a swimming pool for the athletes of the Piraeus Swimming Club.

“For our part, together with some of my fellow engineers, we have already prepared a study to create a swimming center. Swimming pool, sports center for the team. There is a study, there are architectural plans, we are ready to implement them and are looking for a place for this. The whole team is ready to do it. We are waiting for answers. We immediately turn to the state for help, we have a mood, an appetite, we have money, but we “eat up the doors” … I think that serious work is being done in our association, we are growing rapidly and we will continue to do so, “- President KOPI Apostolos Boukouvalas stressed.