CISM Leadership meets with IOC President Thomas Bach in Lausanne

LAUSANNE (SUI) - In a significant step towards reinforcing the collaboration between military sports and the Olympic movement, CISM President Colonel Nilton Rolim and Secretary General Navy Captain Roberto Recchia met with IOC President Thomas Bach at the International Olympic Committee House in Lausanne on Monday, November 25. The meeting, which highlighted the shared vision of promoting global peace and stability through sports, addressed several key topics on the agenda.

A central point of the discussion was the IOC's recognition of CISM’s pivotal role in the global military sports movement. Through its wide range of activities, including World Military Championships, Military World Games, symposiums, and solidarity programs, CISM has consistently demonstrated its commitment to fostering peace and understanding through sport, in particular in the framework of the current complex geopolitical crisis.

During the meeting, in recognition of the IOC unwavering support to the military sports movement, President Nilton Rolim extended an invitation to President Bach to attend the Closing Ceremony of the Military World Winter Games 2025.  This major CISM event will take place in Lucerne, Switzerland, from March 23 to 30, 2025 and is expected to feature 1,910 athletes from 43 nations, along with more than 80 para-athletes. The invitation highlighted the IOC’s unwavering support for the military sports movement.

As a gesture of goodwill, Colonel Nilton Rolim presented two historical CISM books, one for President Bach and the other for the IOC's historical studies department, symbolizing the enduring bond between the two organizations.

The meeting also brought a moment of reflection as President Bach recognized Colonel Nilton Rolim’s contributions to the Modern Pentathlon within the Olympic movement. This acknowledgment underscored the shared history and mutual respect between CISM and the IOC.

This high-level meeting further strengthens the relationship between CISM and the IOC, reaffirming their collective mission of using sport as a tool for peace and global unity.

(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department)