73^rd CISM Congress and General Assembly – Punta Cana (DOM) – Day 2 – PCSC Meeting and Opening Ceremony

PUNTA CANA (DOM) – The second day of the 73^rd CISM General Assembly and Congress, that is taking place from 16 to 23 April 2018, started with the PCSC Meeting in the morning. The meeting was led by Lieutenant-Colonel Walter Borghino, CISM Sports Commission President, Colonel Carlos Eduardo, CISM Sports Department Director and Lieutenant-Colonel Rafael Pinheiro, Sports Director Deputy and Sports Committee Manager.

In the afternoon, a CISM delegation, led by the CISM Acting President Colonel Dirk Schwede and CISM Secretary General Colonel Dorah Mamby met a delegation of High authorities of the Dominican Republic composed of Lieutenant General Doctor Ruben Paulino Sem - Minister of Defense of Dominican Republic; Major-General Braulio A. Alcántara López - General Commander of the Dominican Republic Army; Vice Admiral Miguel E. Peña Acosta - General Commander of the Dominican Republic Navy; Major General Lui Napoleón Payán Díaz – General Commander of the Dominican Republic Air Forces; Major-General Ing. Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte, P.N., General Director of the National Police.

The Opening Ceremony started at 18.0 in the Convention Center of the Palladium Hotel Group. The following guests of Honor attended the event: Colonel Dirk Schwede - CISM Acting President; Colonel Dorah Mamby Koita - CISM Secretary General; Major General Dr. Gianni Gola - CISM Honorary President; the Board of Directors Members; Lieutenant General Doctor Ruben Paulino Sem - Minister of Defense of Dominican Republic; Major-General José E. Matos de la Cruz – Vice-Minister of Defense of Military Affairs; Vice-Admiral Félix Alburquerque Compres – Vice-Minister of Defense of Naval and Coastal Affairs; Major-General Elvis M. Feliz Pérez – Vice-Minister of Defense of Aerial and Special Affairs; Major-General Pedro Ant. Cáceres Chestaro - Terrestrial, naval and aerial military advisor for executive power; Mayor-General Julio C. Souffront Velásquez – General Inspector of the Armed Forces; Vice-Almirante Martin L. Medina Ogando - Chief of Delegation of Dominican Republic to CISM; CISM delegates and some International Authorities; the high authorities previously named; Mr. Luis Mejia Oviedo – President of the National Olympic Committee; and international and local authorities…

Vice-Almirante Martin L. Medina Ogando - Chief of Delegation of Dominican Republic to CISM and Colonel Dirk Schwede, CISM Acting President, successively took the floor for their welcome speeches.

“2018 is a very important year for the International Military Sports Council. Two months ago, we celebrated the 70th Anniversary of its creation”, declared Colonel Schwede. He also added: “The Dominican Republic has always been a very active country within CISM and has, over the last 38 years, organized several military sports events on its soil. I am convinced that the International Military Sports Council must take advantage of the central role played by the Dominican Republic within CISM to reinforce its image and attract the countries of the Caribbean region and its surroundings!”

CISM President Colonel Dirk Schwede then awarded the CISM Order of Merit to the following personalities for exceptional service to the cause of CISM :  

• Lieutenant General Doctor Ruben Paulino Sem - Minister of Defense of Dominican Republic – Grand Officer of the CISM Order of Merit

• Major-General Braulio A. Alcántara López - General Commander of the Dominican Republic Army – Officer of the CISM Order of Merit

• Vice Admiral Miguel E. Peña Acosta - General Commander of the Dominican Republic Navy – Officer of the CISM Order of Merit

• Major General Lui Napoleón Payán Díaz – General Commander of the Dominican Republic Air Forces – Officer of the CISM Order of Merit

• Major-General Ing. Ney Aldrin Bautista Almonte, P.N., General Director of the National Police – Officer of the CISM Order of Merit

Sergeant Margarita Manzueta and Sergeant Yon Soriano were then awarded the Medal of Merit as they demonstrated excellence in the CISM championships and fidelity to the ideals of CISM

The Lieutenant General Doctor Ruben Paulino Sem, Minister of Defense of Dominican Republic, had then the pleasure to declare the 73^rd General Assembly and Congress officially open.

In the evening, all the participants of this 73^rd CISM General Assembly and Congress attended an Opening Cocktail.

Tomorrow schedule will feature the continental meetings while, in the afternoon, the CISM delegates will have the opportunity to play a football tournament confronting the four continents.

All the pictures are available on the CISM Flickr.

(Source: David Vandenplas, CISM Media and Communication Department)

(Pictures: Maxime Morlet, CISM Media and Communication Assistant)