Games in Wuhan will usher in new era for military sport, says CISM president Herve PICCIRILLO (FRA)

WUHAN (CHN) - The Wuhan 2019 Military World Games are poised to usher in a new era for military sport, according to the president of the International Military Sports Council (CISM), Colonel Herve PICCIRILLO (FRA).

“With this event in China we will take a step forward because today there are almost 110 countries out of 140 CISM members that are present," he said.

 “This is a historic first in military sport because 9,000 participants are gathered for 10 days in Wuhan to exchange and share common values. This is due both to the history of the CISM but also to the involvement of the Chinese authorities, who have created a major event in terms of organisation and popular mobilisation."

The 52-year-old Frenchman, a father of four boys, was elected CISM president in April this year.

His background as a FIFA-qualified referee, together with 30 years’ experience in military strategy and operations, gives him a unique insight into heading a military-themed sporting organisation as well as knowing what makes a top athlete ‘tick’.

“I have never competed as a CISM athlete but I was lucky enough to be a top athlete anyway as I was, for years, a football referee at international level. This allowed me to know the life of a top athlete but also the international and national federations within the framework of the sports movement," he said.

As well as holding the CISM presidency, Colonel PICCIRILLO is in charge of the French National Sports Defence centre, based in Fontainebleau south of Paris.

Col PICCIRILLO believes Wuhan will deliver not only an exceptional games but that the input of China will help attract even more countries to join the military games ‘family’.

And while duty, discipline, honour, and physical and mental fitness are at the core of all military sports, there is another underlying theme to the Military World Games - compassion. This includes assisting injured soldiers, many wounded in combat, by enriching and improving their lives through sport.

As a result, many para-athletes are competing at Wuhan 2019.

“I was elected [to the presidency] on the basis of a programme that I presented to the general assembly in which there were different projects, strategies and objectives,” Col PICCIRILLO said.

His first aim was to ensure CISM maintained dialogue at the highest level with the world’s top civilian sporting organisations, such as the International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee.

“The second objective was to preserve the militarism of military sport at an international level. There are now 140 countries that are members of CISM and we want to maintain this military identity by organising events that make sense for the military - such as military pentathlons, for example,” he said.

Col PICCIRILLO’S third aim was to ensure CISM’s sport program offered increasing opportunities for para-athletes.

“Today, in this uncertain world, there are more and more physical and psychological injuries. It was important to integrate sport as a tool for rebuilding and rehabilitation of military wounded," he said.

The Colonel added that, while the CISM organisation dates back 70 years from its foundation after World War II and Military World Games have been held every four years since the inaugural edition in Rome in 1995, it will be Wuhan that puts the event ‘on the map’ internationally to a wider audience and hopefully attracts even more sports-loving countries, such as Australia or Great Britain, to join CISM.

“I refer to the motto of CISM - ‘friendship through sport’," he said. "Today, all continents are represented but obviously we would like to welcome countries that are not part of the CISM, like Australia, to join us. Or other countries in Africa and Asia. I think what is important is to create a platform for exchange so the dialogue is permanent.”

Colonel PICCIRILLO has no doubts Wuhan will deliver a spectacular games, from the Opening Ceremony to the 10 days of competition.

“We know that nothing is impossible," he explained. "I think we will be surprised to the end of the games because there is a huge investment and mobilisation by the Organising Committee and the city of Wuhan."

“I’m confident these games will be a huge success."

(Source: Norman Burns)