64th CISM General Assembly & Congress in Paramaribo (Suriname) - 2008

The 64th General Assembly and Congress of the Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM) ended in Suriname with major decisions:

• CISM will organize the first CISM Winter Military World Games in Val d’Aoste (Italy) from 20 to 24 March

  2010. This first edition of the CISM Winter Military World Games will be the opportunity to gather under our Motto “Friendship through Sport !” the best military winter athletes,just a few days after the conclusion

  of the Winter Olympics of Vancouver. Usually, some 25 % of the medals at the Winter Olympics are won by military athletes…Another high level CISM competition it will be !!!

• CISM created a working group to study the revision of its statutes and regulations in order to update these texts with an international sports movement in constant evolution.

• CISM Elected Colonel Alexandre Morisod (SUI) as its new Secretary General.

• CISM will collaborate with the German company PLAZAMEDIA to develop a new policy of mediatisation and advertising.

• The second edition of the African military Games will be held in Abuja, Nigeria, from 21 to 31 September 2009. These African military Games are open to the best military athletes of the CISM Member Nations from Africa. Some 1000 participants are expected in the capital city of Nigeria to compete in friendship through sport in 13 different sports: (Athletics, Basketball, Badminton, Boxing, Golf, Hand Ball, Football, Volley-ball, Shooting, Judo, Taekwondo, Swimming, Table Tennis).

The President of the Republic of Suriname, HE. Dr Venetiaan offered a large support to CISM throughout the duration of the General Assembly and Congress. He gave an audience to the Board of Directors, offered a cocktail to all the participants and decorated our President with the highest decoration of the Surinamese Chancellery. He accepted to be decorated as Grand Cordon of the CISM Meritorious Order.

The opening Ceremony was a fantastic event gathering our delegates and the highest sports, political and military authorities of Surinam. This Opening Ceremony was organized in the Largest square of Paramaribo and thousands of schools students had been invited to discover and cheer the military sports Prestigious ceremony. This was also the moment chosen to pay a fully-served tribute to Lt-Col. Robbie Hussainali, the former Chief of the Surinam Delegation to CISM, who had suddenly passed away during the preparation of the General Assembly 2009. His widow and children delivered an emotionally moving speech to a quiet and respectful audience.

85 CISM Member Nations attended the General Assembly and Congress in Paramaribo and contributed to reinforce our message of Peace through Sport in this area of the world.