CISM & Peace Part 2: After 2000's

4 de abr. de 2018
3 min de leitura

Welcome to the second part of history between CISM & Peace.

CISM classified the 2000’s years as the years for new projects!

Fifteen years ago, United Nations stated that in order to encourage investments by governments in this area, in order for sport to promote improvements in education, health, development and peace processes, 2005 would be the International Year of Sports and Physical Education. And CISM contributed with various initiatives. Italy Delegation to CISM organized a seminar, in Mantova: “Preventing Conflicts and Maintaining Peace: The Role of Sport”, in April.

That was the first official step in the international sport for peace movement. And this help a lot CISM to be recognized as an important player in this field. Brigadier General Lucas, CISM Vice-President for Americas, stressed out the importance of participation of soldiers in the rehabilitation and working for humanitarian objectives, as missions cannot be restricted only to military purposes any more. These responsibilities would allow soldiers on peace keeping missions to work with local population.

The Mantova Seminar opened the possibilities of co-operation and partnership with other international organizations and signaled the readiness of CISM to act on Sport, Peace and Development fields. On 18 February 2006 the CISM Day Run was started. At the moment, it mobilizes for running in the name of “Friendship through Sport” over 600.000 soldiers. The event has been also opened for civilian participants.

Football is very special sport in Africa, it is played even at times of conflicts. In December 2006, during the 6th edition of the African Military Football Cup “CAMFOOT 6”, organized by the Cameroon Delegation to CISM, the peace message has been accepted very seriously in Africa. The stadium filled with thousands of spectators and in the presence of the President, banners with slogans, like “Military sports at the service of peace in Africa” and “YES to peace and NO to war”, were brought in by children.

In May 2007, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) organized the “Forum on Sport for Peace and the Olympic Truce” in Olympia, Greece. The recommendations of the Forum, directed to the IOC, National Olympic Committees and Non-governmental organizations, were summarized in ten points. Point 9 urge “to continue pursuing close relationships with CISM, other international sports organisations, and the IOTF/IOTC, in order to promote the cause of peace through traditional and innovative initiatives, especially at the 4th World Military Games in Hyderabad in October”.

And the next huge event devoted for peace, took place in India, Hyderabad, happening in October 2007, the 4th CISM Military World Games. For the first time in history it gathered on the sports field 6000 soldiers and representatives from 101 armed forces. The Games served as a perfect occasion for the organization of the International Forum on Sport for Peace, which produced the Hyderabad Declaration.

Without disregarding its other activities, CISM has been able to provide permanent support for the sport and peace related initiatives of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA). It recognized the potential of the Council. With financial support from FIFA, CISM invested in the “Open the Gates and Bring the Children in” projects.

One of the most successful post-conflict events organized by CISM took place in Serbia, Belgrade, 13-18 April 2009, when the CISM Serbian delegation organized the 1st CISM Futsal Cup for Peace in a close partnership with FIFA. In fact, the activity was a result of a long-lasting effort and resultant of the successful initiative undertaken in 2006 with the “Friendship Games”.

In 2010, CISM definitely confirmed its role in Sport and Peace movement by organizing the 1st CISM Winter Military World Games. Some 700 athletes, coaches and delegates from 40 nations. Also in 2010, it was created the CISM World Cadet Games, which are the international multi sports competition organized every two years and opened to the current military students/cadets of Land Force Academies, Naval Academies, Air Force Academies, and other Military Academies (Gendarmerie, etc).

The 5th World Military Games was held in Rio, from 16 to 24 Jul 2011. The motto of the Games was “The Peace Games” and all concerned activities embodied the sense and the spirit of peace through sports.

The most recent activity that strengthens the importance and the power of sport and peace message organized by CISM was the 6th World Military Games in Republic of Korea, from 9 to 12 Oct 2015. In keeping with the principles of CISM, the 6th WMG 2015 was designed to promote friendship amongst the world’s military personnel. The 6th WMG 2015 had the following vision: