The Ministry of Defense reported that representatives of more than 50 countries of the world are participating, and more than 25 countries will participate via video conference call from BrusselsMOSCOW, April 25.
/tass/. The opening ceremony of the 78th General Assembly and Congress of the International Council of Military Sports (CISM) took place on Tuesday at one of the venues in Moscow. 170 representatives from more than 50 countries are taking part in the Congress, and more than 25 countries will take part via video conference call from Brussels, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
The opening ceremony was attended by the State Secretary - Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Nikolay Pankov, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation Igor Levitin and the CISM management team, who arrived in Moscow - CISM Vice President from America Colonel Leonardo Perdigo de Oliveira (Brazil), CISM Vice President from Africa Major General Maikano Abdulahi (Nigeria), Vice President of CISM from Asia, Colonel Yang Wang (China). Acting President - Colonel Dirk Schwede (Germany) and Secretary General - Navy Captain Roberto Recchia (Italy) addressed the participants via videoconference from Brussels.
Pankov conveyed a welcoming speech from the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu. "During this time, the organization, which has united 140 countries, has done a lot to strengthen world peace, preserve impartiality in the field of sports, and promote the principle of solidarity. And this contribution to the normalization of international relations is invaluable. <...> I am sure that the potential of the Assembly will serve as a basis for strengthening friendly ties between the armies of the countries, increasing the effectiveness of mass sports work among military personnel and multiplying the achievements of army athletes," he said.
Pankov added that the participants of the Assembly and Congress in Moscow will discuss a wide range of topical issues of the development of the modern military sports movement and will elect a new president of the International Council of Military Sports.
Russia joined the CISM on May 11, 1991, the representative of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the leadership of the CISM is a member of the Board of Directors - Head of the Military Institute of Physical Culture, Major General Oleg Botsman, also the Russian Federation is represented in CISM by the head of the Russian delegation - Head of the Department of Physical Training and Sports of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Colonel Andrey Zykov, President of the CISM Sports Committee climbing - head of CSKA Colonel Artem Gromov, member of the CISM Athletics Committee - Deputy head of CSKA Colonel Oleg Parkhomenko.
In accordance with the organizational contract signed between the Russian Defense Ministry and the International Council of Military Sports, the 78th General Assembly and Congress of the International Council of Military Sports are being held on the territory of the Russian Federation for the first time.
About CISM and IOC sanctions against Russia
The International Council of Military Sports is the only international multi-sports organization in the world that refused to support the sanctions recommended by the IOC against Russia. At the same time, athletes of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will continue to take part in world championships and other international sporting events among military personnel under the flag of Russia. At the medal ceremony, the anthem of Russia will be played on the podium.
CISM is the largest sports organization in the world after the International Olympic Committee and the International University Sports Federation. The motto of CISM is "Friendship through sport". The main purpose of CISM is to promote the development of sports and physical education between the armed forces as a means of strengthening peace.
Since Russia joined CISM, it has participated in the World Military Summer Games seven times, and in the winter Games twice. In addition to sporting events, the military delegation of the Russian Federation took part in the International Scientific Symposium CISM in Ecuador (2019) and Greece (2021).
The Russian delegation initiated the Rugby-7 competitions in 2023, which were included in the CISM sports calendar and will be held in August 2023 in Moscow.
