73rd CISM General Assembly and Congress – Punta Cana (DOM) – Congress and General Assembly
PUNTA CANA (DOM) – Yesterday, the CISM Acting President, the CISM Board of Directors Members, the CISM Secretary General and all the Member Nations in attendance gathered for the fourth day of the 73rd CISM General Assembly and Congress, which is taking place in Punta Cana in Dominican Republic.
The last session of the Congress started with the reports of the CISM Sports Commission President Lieutenant-Colonel Walter Borghino, of Colonel Pedro Gagliardi with the CISM Athlete of the year project and of Colonel Carlos Eduardo with the CISM World Events Calendars and the presentation of the host Nations.
The Chinese Delegation to CISM and representatives of the SUMOC then took the floor to present the 7th CISM World Games which will take place in Wuhan, China, in 2019.
It was then the turn of Colonel Oleg Botsman, Head of Delegation of Russia to CISM, to present the CISM World Cadet Games 2020 in Saint Petersburg.
Professor Heiki Kyrolainen, who introduced the CISM Academy Report 2017-2018 as well as the fina report of the ICSPP Seminar 2017 in Melbourne, addressed the part related to the CISM Academy & CISM Sports Science. The Ecuadorian delegation also presented the CISM Symposium 2019, which will be hosted in Ecuador.
Brigadier Rashid Mahboob Al-Dosari, Delegate of the Qatari Delegation, presented the Report of the WMC Shooting 2016 that took place in Doha in November 2016.
Brigadier-General Allen made her report of the working group for the promotion of women in CISM as well as the promotion of gender equity in military sports activities in the CISM Member Nations.
Finally, Mr. David Vandenplas, the CISM Media and Communication Director, presented the development of the CISM Communication tools and the results of the CISM Day Run for Peace 2018 Video Contest. He was followed by a presentation by CISMING, the CISM Communication Agency, about the updates related to the marketing.
The General Assembly started today, April 21, with the welcome address of the CISM Acting President Colonel Dirk Schwede and the presentation of all the new members and officials.
The delegates were then asked to vote the decision files, the application of Nepal and Turkmenistan as new CISM Member Nations and the candidatures of Colonel Hervé Piccirillo as CISM President an Colonel Dorah Mamby Koita as CISM Secretary General. All the decisions files were approved and both nations were accepted by the General Assembly and joined the CISM Family that now counts 138 Member Nations while Colonel Hervé Piccirillo was elected by the General Assembly as the new CISM President!
“This result delighted me and at the same time gave me a great responsibility for the next four years of my term. Rest assured that I would make every effort, in collaboration with the Board of Directors Members, the CISM Member Nations, the PCSCs and the CISM Headquarters, to allow CISM to continue its development while remaining faithful to the values of our noble institution”, declared the new President. He also added: “I would also like to thank my predecessor, Colonel Abdulhakim Alshino, for all the efforts he has made throughout his mandate to promote CISM worldwide as well as friendship and peace through sport.”
In the meantime, Colonel Dorah Mamby Koita was also re-elected for a second mandate of your years!
Then, the Delegation of Vietnam gave an overview of the 74th CISM General and Congress that will take place in Vietnam in 2019.
During the Closing Ceremony, the new CISM President Colonel Hervé Piccirillo awarded the CISM Order of Merit Medals to the following persons who rendered exceptional service to the cause of CISM: Colonel Dorah Mamby Koita (GUI) - Commander; Colonel Dirk Schwede (GER) – Officer; Colonel Ioan Armanu (ROU) – Grand Knight; Lieutenant-Colonel Ard Vermeulen (NED) – Grand Knight; Navy Captain Ansar Mahmood (PAK) – Grand Knight; Major Mashari Adbulwahab Alhanafi (BRN) – Knight; 1st Lieutenant Gregorio Ramirez Wilmore (DOM) – Knight; Police Sergeant Sofia Andriopoulou (GRE) – Officer; Major Jan Henrik Back (SWE) – Officer; Commander Michas Athanasios (GRE) – Knight; Sergeant Joel Mejia (DOM) - Knight
The Vice-Almirante Martin L. Medina Ogando - Chief of Delegation of Dominican Republic to CISM took the floor for his welcome speech and was followed by the new CISM President Speech, Colonel Hervé Piccirillo. “I want to extend my warmest thanks to the Organizing Committee and the CISM Headquarters Members, which have done everything possible to make sure you have a busy week of meetings and work sessions in ideal conditions and in an idyllic setting.” He also added: “Finally, this 73rd CISM General Assembly and Congress was truly the affirmation of the unity and strength of the CISM family gathered here.” The CISM President then officially declared the 73rd CISM General Assembly and Congress closed.
In the evening, just after the traditional Gift Exchange, all the delegates attended the Closing Banquet offered by the Dominican Republic Delegation to CISM!
Thank you Dominican Republic and see you next year in Vietnam for the 74th edition of the General Assembly and Congress!
All the pictures are available on the CISM Flickr.
(Source: CISM Media and Communication Department)
(Pictures: Maxime Morlet, CISM Media and Communication Assistant and Photographer)
