Outstanding Italian Organisation and Re-election of President Gianni Gola

Leveraging its long-standing experience with the organisation of major CISM events (two editions of the Military World Games and two General Assembly meetings as well as countless championships and Board of Directors meetings), the Italian delegation spared no effort or means to ensure that this General Assembly enjoyed all the glitter it deserved.
The professionalism of the “Guardia di Finanza” – President Gola’s corps – must be underscored, as well as the conspicuous company of Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola, Chief of the General Staff of the Italian Armed Forces, who honoured the meeting with his presence.

The steadfast support and unfailing presence of Italy in our organisation have undoubtedly helped General Gola in his successful bid for a third consecutive term as President of CISM.

Marathon Week!!!

The Rome General Assembly meeting provided our organisation with an opportunity to further substantiate its ambitions while giving itself the means of delivering on them.

This week of tireless work also contributed to a reinforcement of existing structures and allowed our organisation to plan its – ever growing and diversified range of – future activities.

Athletes Rewarded

Set in the magnificent Hotel Ergife – which already welcomed CISM for the first edition of the Military World Games back in 1995 – and further enhanced by the powerful and moving performance of the “Guardia di Finanzia Band”, the Opening Ceremony featured a large medal ceremony during which a number of authorities and athletes were rewarded.

The presence of many students and civilian partners at the Opening Ceremony provided CISM with an opportunity to share its values with the civilian world and enhance it visibility.

Guided by Openness and Enthusiasm!

The collective enthusiasm of our brothers in arms from the 86 attending member nations could not escape the President of the Organising Committee. In this context, Lieutenant General Rocco Pannunzi invited us in his welcome address to further endorse the spirit of tolerance and openness that animates us as a necessary condition of disseminating the message of peace promoted by CISM.

In his activity report, CISM Secretary General Colonel Michel Van Meurs stressed how pleased he has been with the results achieved by his team. The entire staff has risen to the challenges of their tasks with renewed dynamism, in particular in areas including daily business management, improved championship quality, enforcement of the discipline code and contacts with all stakeholders.

The Role of Sport in Society and its Active Contribution to Peace

The various interventions of prominent speakers during the opening session of the Congress, including Major General Sauro Baistrocchi (ITA), representing the EU Military Committee, Mr David Winiger, representing Mr Adolf Ogi – who needs no further introduction – as well as Brigadier General Dwayne Lucas, Vice-President of CISM for the Americas, enlightened the audience on a wide variety of interrelated issues connected with the contribution of sport to peace and its role in society, two themes that are especially dear to our hearts.

Also discussed and studied in detail later on were the actual setting up of the CISM Africa Development Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, the organisation of seminars on Sport and Peace as well as the intensification of the fight against doping in coordination with WADA.

The noble aims of our military sport organisation were tirelessly promoted throughout the General Assembly meeting.

CISM Intensifies its Ambitious and Active Diplomatic Efforts

According to our President, the challenge consists in strengthening and promoting the place of CISM not only in the world of sport but also in particular in ensuring the recognition of CISM as a solid and reliable partner by the highest international military authorities working to promote peace. In this context, there is a need to reflect upon CISM’s relations with international sport organisations.
But building capacity also means looking further ahead and making stronger commitments: investing in ever bigger projects and demonstrating the sizeable positive contribution of a more visible CISM for our partners and organisers. A realm of new opportunities are opening up for us!

Very recently, President Gola went to Switzerland to meet with Mr Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee. The issues discussed during these talks included IOC support for CISM partnership, sponsorship and media initiatives.

On the occasion of the World Sport for All Congress to be held in Havana in November 2006, President Gola fully intends to meet with the Cuban authorities to deliver Cuba as a new member for our proud institution.

Objective: 2007 Military World Games!

The report on the preparatory visit to Hyderabad, India, within the framework of the next edition of the Military World Games in 2007 received a lot of attention. Indeed, with its firm intention of welcoming delegations of athletes from over 100 member nations, the Indian Delegation has demonstrated that it fully intends for this major sports rendezvous to be momentous in terms of both its magnitude and visibility. In this context, an Indian airline may be called upon to facilitate transport of athletes from the all corners of the world to the Indian subcontinent.

The Beijing Olympics Will Accommodate CISM

Under the aegis of the Chinese delegation and our President, the highest Chinese military authorities have approved the presence of a “CISM Village” at the XXIXth Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008.
In practice, the amenities of the Chinese Armed Forces Physical Education Centre will be put at the disposal of the authorities of CISM. Accommodation, transport, sports halls and meeting rooms will also be available to our authorities throughout the Summer Olympics. As far as the accreditation of CISM authorities is concerned, an official request will be submitted to the relevant IOC officers.

On to the 2011 Military World Games!

It is an open secret that for the first time in its history, CISM will have a choice of two candidates to host the fifth edition of the Military World Games to be held in 2011!
And where there is choice, there is a need for evaluation reports and ultimately a decision. So, the applications will be submitted to exploratory missions conducted by a committee set up for this very purpose. The two candidate countries – Brazil and Turkey – will welcome inspection teams that will look into their respective arrangements for hosting this momentous event. The final decision will be taken by the General Assembly at its next meeting.

A Full Complement for the Board of Directors

The General Assembly meeting was the occasion to restore the Board of Directors to its full complement of members. Congratulations to its newly-elected members!

For Africa:
Colonel Major Mohamed Kamel Bouhaouala (Tunisia)
Colonel Eduardo Nicola Berardinelli (Angola)
For Asia:
General Naif Serhal (Lebanon)
General Ali Sabour (Iran)
For Europe:
Colonel Bengt Nylander (Sweden)
Colonel Jean-Jacques Joss (Switzerland).

Stronger Links between the General Secretariat, the Vice-Presidents and the Liaison Offices

The meeting of the Chiefs of Liaisons Offices and CISM Vice-Presidents in the presence of the Secretary General provided the scene for efficient consultation aimed at improving decentralisation and intercontinental coordination to promote the smooth flow of information and communication about expressed assistance needs.

All Roads Lead to Rome!

It is obviously impossible to capture the history and beauty of the city of Rome in the single tourism and cultural day scheduled at the end of the General Assembly meeting.
However, the organisers were kind enough to offer many of the participants a choice of three sightseeing tours featuring visits of famous sights including Saint-Peter’s Square, Castel S. Angelo, the Coliseum and the Imperial Fortress.

Goodbye Rome, See You in Ouagadougou!

The Closing Ceremony and banquet were marked by the award of many medals and an exchange of gifts.
On his birthday, President Gola was awarded the title of Commander of the Order of Merit of CISM. This is well-deserved recognition of his long years of service characterised by the development and implementation of many major dynamic projects geared toward the advancement of international military sport.

Thanks to excellent working conditions and mature discussions, the 61st General Assembly and Congress of CISM set a very high standard indeed and can be considered a success for the great family of military sport.

See you in May 2007 at the 62nd CISM General Assembly and Congress in Ouagadougou, capital city of Burkina Faso (“the country of honest men”) in Western Africa!

Capitaine Dorah-Mamby Koïta