ILS was officially constituted in 1994 and will celebrate in 2004 its first ten years.

We wish ILS already a happy tenth anniversary and many more decades to come.

In reflection moments, it is nice to look back at our organisation and of what has been achieved the last ten years. I am happy to report that ILS went successfully through the merging process of FIS and WLS and I notice with joy that the will to succeed was and is always present. ILS can be proud to announce that over 95 % of the planned activities have been achieved in the last ten years.

All this was not possible without the help of the many thousands of volunteers that contributed to the growth of ILS. I thank you all cordially for that. I sincerely thank the ILS Patrons, Grand Knights and Grand Dames, Knights and Dames and Members for their ongoing support. I forward a special thank to my fellow ILS Board of Directors Members and to the ILS Commission Members for their endless contribution and dedication to the cause of our World Wide Movement. I finally thank the ILS Secretary General and the ILS staff for their excellent work.

2004 is waiting for us in Sharm El Sheikh and in Viareggio and I invite all of you to join us in the 2004 Lifesaving World Championships – Rescue 2004.

Alan B. Whelpton