CISM strengthens ties with academic and community sports initiatives

BRUSSELS (BEL) - CISM had the pleasure of hosting Professor Laura Capranica and Mr. Andrea Carletti at its headquarters on March 17. They were warmly welcomed by CISM Secretary General Navy Captain Roberto Recchia and Academic Director Lieutenant-Commander Florentia Sfakianou for a productive exchange on the intersections of sport, education, and community development.

Professor Capranica is the President of the "European Athlete as Student" (EAS) network, a distinguished initiative founded with the support of the European Commission. The EAS network is dedicated to helping European athletes successfully combine high-performance sport with academic pursuits, ensuring their personal and professional growth beyond their athletic careers.

Mr. Carletti represents "Sport 4 Impact," a dynamic forum focused on harnessing the power of sport to build stronger, more inclusive communities at the local level. The initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by promoting sport as a tool for social change, integration, and well-being.

During their visit, CISM provided an in-depth presentation on its mission, values, and ongoing academic and scientific initiatives. The discussions centered around potential areas of collaboration, including ways to integrate CISM’s global network into projects that foster education through sport and social impact initiatives.

Key topics included:

• Synergies between military sports and dual-career programs for high-performance athletes, aligning with EAS’s mission.

• Potential joint initiatives in research, knowledge-sharing, and athlete development.

• Community engagement strategies leveraging sports to promote resilience, leadership, and international cooperation.

The visit reinforced CISM’s commitment to fostering international cooperation in academic, scientific, and educational sports initiatives. By establishing connections with organizations such as EAS and Sport 4 Impact, CISM continues to position itself as a key player in the global sports ecosystem, bridging the gap between elite sports performance, education, and social development.

(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department)