58th WMC Boxing – Moscow (RUS) – Opening Ceremony
MOSCOW (RUS) - The opening ceremony of the 58th World Military Boxing Championship was held yesterday at the Patriot Exhibition and Convention Center in Moscow. In total, 231 boxers from 36 countries in ten weight categories for men and five for women will perform at the Moscow tournament and 216 fights will be conducted.
The opening ceremony of the 58th CISM World Military Boxing Championship, which was declared open by Deputy Defense Minister Army General Nikolai Pankov, took place in the Patriot Center and was attended by Colonel Hervé Piccirillo, CISM President ; Mr. Umar Kremlev, President of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) ; Colonel Jose Carlos Garcia-Verdugo Sanchez, Official CISM Representative of the event and BoD Member ; Colonel Dorah Mamby Koita, CISM Secretary General ; Kirill Shchekutyev, Secretary General of the Russian Boxing Federation ; Colonel Artem Gromov, PCSC Climbing and Head of the CSKA ; Colonel Alexander Lebzyak, Olympic Champion and CISM Military World Games Champion and Official Ambassador of the event as well as CISM missions with their chiefs, team captains, athletes, coaches, in addition to the Russian Federation guests such as military authorities and attaches, veterans and employees of the army club and the Russian Boxing Federation.
The start of the 58th WMC Boxing was given by the Secretary of State - Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Army General Nikolai Pankov, who read the welcome address of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Hero of Russia, Army General Sergei Shoigu.
"I am glad to welcome the participants and guests of the 58th CISM World Military Boxing Championship! Russia has deservedly become the host of such a high-level event. We have strong traditions of army sports, great experience in organizing representative international competitions, necessary modern infrastructure, and, of course, millions of ardent fans of this kind of martial arts. And what is especially important is that the Russian national team will be able to compete in the world championship under the state flag and national anthem. During several days the best military boxers from different countries will demonstrate in the ring not only their mastery of combat techniques, but also such important qualities for military men as courage, firmness of character, and tactical plan. I am confident that the competitions will be held in a fair fight and will contribute to the development of trust between our countries and strengthen military cooperation, and that stay in Moscow will bring a lot of vivid impressions and reliable friends. I wish good luck and all the best to everyone!"
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov noted that "Competitions held under the auspices of the International Military Sports Council provide an opportunity to exchange experience, and also make a significant contribution to the development and strengthening of military cooperation between states!"
"I wish all participants of the competitions unforgettable sports impressions and victories achieved in a fair fight. May the strongest win. I declare the 58th World Military Boxing Championship of the International Military Sports Council open!", - said Deputy Head of the Military Department Nikolai Pankov, while opening the 58th World Military Boxing Championship of the International Military Sports Council.
CISM President Colonel Hervé Piccirillo also declared: “I'm very happy to see you all and to be able to smile without a mask. This means that the sanitary situation is improving. First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Army General Sergei Shoigu for organizing the 58th World Military Boxing Championship. Boxing is a military sport. Boxing helps to educate each of us in the military, it is part of the training of every soldier. Boxing is a lifestyle, with strong military values. This sport is very popular with our youth all over the world. CISM has always paid attention to its development, and these values are closely tied to the values of civil sports."
Colonel Piccirillo also expressed his gratitude to all the delegations for coming to the World Championships in spite of travel restrictions: "By your presence, you demonstrate your affection for CISM and your desire to renew the path of military sports." and for AIBA support to CISM: "I thank AIBA President Umar Kremlev for this promising partnership between our two organizations. The Russian Armed Forces have taken responsibility for popularizing boxing by organizing this World Military Boxing Championship. It is a dream for all the military athletes to be here and participate in one of the most famous world competitions recognized by AIBA. It is an opportunity to exchange experiences, learn about the culture and heritage of this beautiful city, and spread the military values of CISM. Thanks to this great sporting event Russia contributes to the revival of the CISM after a pause for more than a year in its sporting activities", continued the CISM President.
The AIBA President Mr. Umar Kremlev also addressed those present:
"The military are patriots of their country. I am very happy that they not only defend their country but represent it in the ring. Our favorite sport of boxing is developing among the military. As AIBA president I will do my best, help, and cooperate to make this world championship among the military even bigger, better, and brighter. We will create conditions for athletes, coaches. I thank the CISM President and all his team for their contribution to the development of boxing. Thanks to all the countries that came and supported the championship. Special thanks to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation for the support and organization of the tournament at the highest level. Let all conflicts be solved in the ring. I congratulate everyone on the boxing holiday!" - said Umar Kremlev.
A ceremonial column of the aerobatic team of the Samara branch of CSKA appeared in the sky with a solemn passage over Zhukov Square on the legendary Mi-2 helicopters with the flags of the Russian Federation, the International Council of Military Sports, and the Central Sports Club of the Army. The aerobatic team includes recognized leaders of the world helicopter sport, absolute world champions, absolute champions of the World Air Games.
Also, the parachutists of the CSKA team showed their incredible skill in the sky. The strongest army athletes - winners of the World and European Championships, and World Championships among military personnel, participants in the landing of the Russian Armed Forces personnel to the North Pole - demonstrated figures of high parachute acrobatics.
The event ended with the performance of the Red Army Choir of Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of the Russian Army named after Alexander Alexandrov, led by the ensemble director and its artistic director - Honoured Artist of Russia, Colonel Gennady Sachenyuk. On the last chords, the piloted group "Swifts" appeared in the sky with a demonstration performance.
Olympic champion Alexander Lebzyak also declared: “I am happy to be present at the opening of the most important sporting event in the world, which is taking place in our large, fighting family. I am proud that the 58th World Military Boxing Championship is being held for the first time in my homeland – in Moscow. I would like to wish all the participants of the competition interesting fights and may the strongest win.”
The preliminary fights and semi-finals of the 58th World Military Championship in Moscow will be held at the CSKA Igrovoy Sports Complex from September 19 to 24 supervised by CSKA Deputy for sports work Colonel Oleg Parkhomenko and First Deputy Secretary-General of the Russian Boxing Federation, member of the Executive Committee of the Russian Boxing Federation, Mrs. Tatyana Kirienko, as well as members of CISM HQ.
The final rounds will take place at the Lev Yashin VTB Arena on September 25.⠀
(Source : CISM Media & Communication Department and AIBA)
