Sheikh Butti honoured at CISM meeting

Sheikh Butti bin Maktoum Al Maktoum inaugurated yesterday the 58th International Military Sports Council (CISM) General Assembly and Congress at Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

The event was attended by Saeed bin Mohammed Al Kindy, Federal National Council Speaker, Lt. General Dr. Mohammed bin Saeed Al Badi, Minister of Interior, Sultan Saqr Al Suwaidi, General Secretary of General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare, and top officials of the UAE Armed Forces and delegates from 80 member countries in the CISM.

Gianni Gola, the CISM President, honoured Sheikh Butti Al Maktoum, Lt. General Dr. Mohammed bin Saeed Al Badi, Lt. Major General (R) Abdullah Mohammed Al Nuaimi with the Senior Officer Medals during the opening ceremony. Col. Hasan Yousuf Al Nuaimi, Major (R) Mohammed Yousuf were honoured with the "Officer Medal".

Lt. Major General Khamis Salim bin Hashr Al Mehrizy, the organising committee chairman and UAE head of delegation to the CISM, welcomed the CISM members and the delegates from 80 countries.

He wished them a good stay and to hoped they will achieve the CISM goals to spread wide the military sports during the 58th General Assembly and Congress.

Col. Gianni Gola, the CISM President, said that it is with profound joy and immense satisfaction that the CISM is holding its General Assembly for the first time in the UAE and the Gulf.

Gola said: "On behalf of the CISM, I wish to thank the UAE for the warm welcome and fine hospitality we received. I can already assure you that our work can be successful in such a remarkable setting.

"This General Assembly will no doubt provide most of us with an opportunity to discover a country whose reputation is famous."

The organising committee held a dinner party for the CISM and delegation members at Jumeirah Beach. Folklore dances and heritage songs were played before the opening ceremony of the General Assembly and the dinner party.

The Congress of the International Military Sports Council (CISM) will start today at 10am at the Renaissance Hotel under the chairmanship of Col Gianni Gola.

The CISM President claimed that the members of each continent will meet together to discuss the subjects on the agenda.

The General Assembly and Congress will discuss the schedule of the coming tournaments and the hosting countries.

The most important event in the 2003 is the third Military Olympic Games, which will be held in Catania, Italy in September. The fourth Military Olympic Games will be held in India 2007.