73rd CISM General Assembly and Congress – Punta Cana (DOM) – Continental Meetings and Congress

PUNTA CANA (DOM) – For the third day of the 73^rd CISM Congress and General Assembly, the continental meetings took place from 08.30 to 14.00. During those meetings, the delegates discussed the different issues related to their continent but also took some decisions regarding the compositions of the continents:

• Colonel Dirk Schwede (GER) was re-elected as Vice-President Europe

• Navy Captain Spyridon Andriopoulos (GRE) and Lieutenant-Colonel Jan-Henrik Back (SWE) were elected as Board of Directors Members for Europe

• Colonel Leonardo Olivieira (BRA) was co-opted for one year as Board of Directors Member for America

The day ended with a football tournament confronting the four CISM Continents that will continue today.

The first day of the Congress started this morning with the welcome speeches from the CISM Acting President Colonel Dirk Schwede and the delegate of the Dominican Republic Delegation to CISM Colonel Delio Rosario Colon. The first part of the Congress was dedicated to the CISM International Session 2018 with an allocution of the CISM Honorary President Major General Dottore Gianni Gola and Mr. Lui Mejía Oviedo, President of the Olympic Committee of Dominican Republic and representative of the President of the IOC, Mr. Thomas Bach.

After a first break, the CISM Acting President Colonel Dirk Schwede presented the CISM President Communication and was followed by the Report of the CISM Secretary General Colonel Dorah Mamby Koita, who updated the assembly with the activities of the CISM Headquarters.

The four Vice-Presidents in attendance of the four continents (Colonel David Kabré for Africa, Colonel Walter Jander for America, Brigadier-General Merh Ali Barancheshmesh for Asia and Colonel Dirk Schwede for Europe), had also the opportunity to present their reports of activities related to their continental organization. Colonel B.A.M. Walter Van Velthoven presented the CISM Finances and Budget report and discussed the Budget 2017, 2018 and 2019 while Brigadier-General Allen introduced the inputs of the CISM Finances and Budget Commission. Finally, Colonel Steven Rosso made a presentation of the proposals of modifications of the CISM Regulations. 

The day ended with the last games of the continental football tournament, which was won by the Asian Continent.

The second day of the Congress will start tomorrow morning, April 20, with the following speakers.

• Lieutenant-Colonel Borghino, Colonel Gagliardi and Colonel Carlos Eduardo for the CISM Sports Commission Inputs

• Chinese delegation to CISM and the City of Wuhan– Presentation of the 7^th CISM World Summer Games Wuhan 2019

• Russian Delegation to CISM – Presentation of the 3rd CISM World Cadet Games 2020

• Heiki Kyrolainen (FIN) & Commander Pinheiro – CISM Academy and CISM Sports Science reports

• Brigadier-General Allen – Report of the working group for the promotion of women in CISM and the gender equity

• David Vandenplas – Development of the CISM Communication

• CISMING (CISM Marketing Agency) – Marketing and CISM

In the evening, a CISM Delegation led by Colonel Dirk Schwede and Colonel Dorah Mamby Koita met the SUMOC representatives for an informal meeting regarding the 7^th CISM World Games in Wuhan 2019.

All the pictures are available on the CISM Flickr.

(Source: CISM Media and Communication Director)

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