FAI at the International Military Sports Council

FAI President Dr. John Grubbström and FAI Secretary General Susanne Schödel attended the 2016 CISM (International Military Sports Council) Annual Congress in Tartu, Estonia, to further develop the links between both organisations.

The Congress was very well attended from all over the world. It was noted there was a large contingency from many African countries.

The atmosphere was truly one of friendship and this Council has a clear mission called “Peace through Sports”.

Dr. Grubbström presented the FAI activities and air sports, including the FAI World Air Games Dubai 2015, to the attendees. He reaffirmed the Federation’s willingness to collaborate even more closely with CISM with which there already exists a Memorandum of Understanding.

The CISM plaque was handed over to Dr. Grubbström by the CISM President Colonel Hakim Al Shino (BHR) as a sign of recognition for the efforts to bring FAI and CISM closer together.

The collaboration between the two organisations is already well established in parachuting, particularly thanks to the fruitful relationship with Col Gernot Rittenschober, President of the CISM Committee for Parachuting. Furthermore, work is in progress to introduce new air sports within CISM and to support the development of an Aeronautical Pentathlon.

CISM is one of the largest multidisciplinary organisations in the world and recognised by the IOC (International Olympic Committee). It organises various sporting events for the armed forces of 133 member countries. Its ultimate goal is to contribute to world peace by uniting armed forces through sports. CISM has implemented projects organized in conjunction with the IOC and organisations such as United Nations and the European Community

CISM annually organises over twenty Military World Championships for different sports in which all member nations can take part. It also organises continental and regional competitions and every four years the Military World Games; the most recent event was the Winter Games. These are multisport events organized by CISM in conjunction with CISM member nations.

Altogether CISM includes 26 sports on world level, and several other sports on continental and regional level.

Photo credit: Dominique Einsweiler - CISM