Fourth Military World Games
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 2:00 pm
The Fourth Military World Games (MWG) are to be held in India this October.
No Guns, No Blood, No Victor, No Vanquished; Yet A World War
By: Col Rajesh Mishra
D day - 14 Oct 2007, battle ground-India, Hyderabad, Bombay(or Mumbai if you wish to call it so) and Goa to be precise. And the Armies of a whopping 90 nations to fight could mean a lot of blood bath. If the D day is known then the day of ceasefire is also known and on D plus seven, that is 21 Oct 2007, when all the hectic activities will come to a standstill, there will be jubilation in every camp as there will be no victor and no vanquished as in a war, though this too will be bitterly contested. Only bondage and friendship will triumph. In every respect, this will indeed be a unique war in which every thing will move to a clock work precision But no, as the organisers have already announced, no bullet will be fired, and of course, no blood shed either. Yes the toughest of the soldiers will indeed shed a lot of sweat. And the war that unfolds on 14 Oct 2007 in Hyderabad is a special event and so special it is that even 100 days prior to it, the cantonment are abuzz with frenetic activities through out the country, and the event is, 'Fourth Military World Games (MWG)'. Whilst in Nagaland, tree plantation, run for health and harmony was flagged off by Lt Gen MS Dadwal, Red Shield Division in Manipur along with IGAR(South) has also organised similar events in Manipur. Run for Fun, also attended by people from all walks of life, was flagged off by the GOC, Maj Gen TS Handa, SM, at Leimakhong on 08 Jul 07 along with planting of trees. Such activities were also held in the state where Army and Assam Rifle Units are located.
MWG are conducted under the aegis of the Consiel Internationale du Sport Militaire (CISM), an International Sports Association, which is open to the armed forces of all nations. India joined CISM in 1999 and has been actively involved in various activities of the organisation since then. With 127 member nations, CISM is the world's second largest sporting body after the International Olympic Committee.
Five founding nations - Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands- created CISM on 18 February 1948.Though there were very few members then, the founding fathers of this sporting body had some better plans Since its foundation in 1948, CISM's universality became increasingly real as the desire among the military to meet in sports arenas instead of battlegrounds was gradually growing. In 1919, 1500 athletes competed in 24 different sports in front of a large audience in Join Ville in the Paris suburbs
In 1951, it was the USA's turn to join. In 1952, Iraq, the Lebanon, Pakistan and Syria became members. And now the strength of the members is 127.
The MWG are a multi purpose sporting event organised every four years, one year before the Olympic games are held under the aegis of CISM. The event is based on CISM and Olympic spirit, without political, religious and racial discrimination. The first MWG were held in Rome from 04 to 16 September 1995 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the end of Second World War and ratification of UNO charter. CISM, by organising these games had given the most spectacular message of peace to the world. Those who seemed to be forever divided by political and ideological barriers came together under CISM flag in the name of friendship. The second edition of the games was held in 1999 in Zagreb, Croatia and the third was held in 2003 in Catania Sicily (Italy).
And the fourth edition is being held in India, for the first time in an Asian country for which 73 countries, about 4,500 athletes and around 1,560 officials have confirmed their participation thus far and the number might touch 5,000 competitors and about 100 participating countries. The largest contingent will be from host country. China and Germany have so far confirmed fielding 200 sportspersons each from their Armed Forces. Continent - wise, maximum participation will be from Europe, 34 out of the total of 38 nations of the continent will converge for the games which are also seen as a precursor to the Olympic Games. MWG will have 16 events, including Military pentathlon, shooting, Military Firing, Parachuting, Football, handball, Judo, Volleyball, athletics, Swimming, Sailing Triathlon, Boxing, Wrestling, hockey and Kabaddi. Several Olympic medal winners like World Judo Champion Sophie Mondiere, S Bibard (Shooting), 110 metres European hurdle champion Stamislavs Oijars and many like them will be seen in action.
Some quizzical eyebrows may be raised questioning the wisdom of yet another set of games when we already have Olympics, Commonwealth games, the Afro-Asian games and Asian games. But the MWG need to be seen in a slightly different perspective, a lot like the much vaunted track-two diplomacy which often has better pay offs. The MWG engages nations on a parallel sporting track while remaining low on organizational pressure for governments with outstanding pay off. Normally an international sporting meet of a size where about 100 countries are likely to participate would be unimaginable without plenty of grants and building mammoth infrastructure not to mention the usual organizational pain that accompanies such an exercise. However the Armed Forces, who are responsible for the conduct of the games, are approaching this event, which will be India's largest sporting extravaganza to date with usual quiet aplomb and self assurance which is an outcome of superb organizational acumen and the judicious use of resources at their disposal. It is for this reason alone that the magnitude of the impending event does not seem to have caused any trouble in their ranks.
It also needs to be appreciated that asking to host these games by a world body is a statement on the international confidence reposed in the country in general and in our Armed Forces in specific. The games are being hosted for the first time outside Europe and the organizational prowess displayed by our Armed Forces will certainly stand the country in good stead when bidding for future sporting event of similar magnitude. The games offer a wonderful opportunity for huge gains in image, diplomacy and generating good will without the attendant economic effort.
So count down has begun. Await with baited breath a fabulous sporting extravaganza, hitherto not seen in the country thus far. And as Maj Gen TS Handa, the GOC of Rd Shield Division had told some of the reporters' "Try and Be There".
(With inputs from PIB (Defense Wing)
No Guns, No Blood, No Victor, No Vanquished; Yet A World War
By: Col Rajesh Mishra
D day - 14 Oct 2007, battle ground-India, Hyderabad, Bombay(or Mumbai if you wish to call it so) and Goa to be precise. And the Armies of a whopping 90 nations to fight could mean a lot of blood bath. If the D day is known then the day of ceasefire is also known and on D plus seven, that is 21 Oct 2007, when all the hectic activities will come to a standstill, there will be jubilation in every camp as there will be no victor and no vanquished as in a war, though this too will be bitterly contested. Only bondage and friendship will triumph. In every respect, this will indeed be a unique war in which every thing will move to a clock work precision But no, as the organisers have already announced, no bullet will be fired, and of course, no blood shed either. Yes the toughest of the soldiers will indeed shed a lot of sweat. And the war that unfolds on 14 Oct 2007 in Hyderabad is a special event and so special it is that even 100 days prior to it, the cantonment are abuzz with frenetic activities through out the country, and the event is, 'Fourth Military World Games (MWG)'. Whilst in Nagaland, tree plantation, run for health and harmony was flagged off by Lt Gen MS Dadwal, Red Shield Division in Manipur along with IGAR(South) has also organised similar events in Manipur. Run for Fun, also attended by people from all walks of life, was flagged off by the GOC, Maj Gen TS Handa, SM, at Leimakhong on 08 Jul 07 along with planting of trees. Such activities were also held in the state where Army and Assam Rifle Units are located.
MWG are conducted under the aegis of the Consiel Internationale du Sport Militaire (CISM), an International Sports Association, which is open to the armed forces of all nations. India joined CISM in 1999 and has been actively involved in various activities of the organisation since then. With 127 member nations, CISM is the world's second largest sporting body after the International Olympic Committee.
Five founding nations - Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands- created CISM on 18 February 1948.Though there were very few members then, the founding fathers of this sporting body had some better plans Since its foundation in 1948, CISM's universality became increasingly real as the desire among the military to meet in sports arenas instead of battlegrounds was gradually growing. In 1919, 1500 athletes competed in 24 different sports in front of a large audience in Join Ville in the Paris suburbs
In 1951, it was the USA's turn to join. In 1952, Iraq, the Lebanon, Pakistan and Syria became members. And now the strength of the members is 127.
The MWG are a multi purpose sporting event organised every four years, one year before the Olympic games are held under the aegis of CISM. The event is based on CISM and Olympic spirit, without political, religious and racial discrimination. The first MWG were held in Rome from 04 to 16 September 1995 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the end of Second World War and ratification of UNO charter. CISM, by organising these games had given the most spectacular message of peace to the world. Those who seemed to be forever divided by political and ideological barriers came together under CISM flag in the name of friendship. The second edition of the games was held in 1999 in Zagreb, Croatia and the third was held in 2003 in Catania Sicily (Italy).
And the fourth edition is being held in India, for the first time in an Asian country for which 73 countries, about 4,500 athletes and around 1,560 officials have confirmed their participation thus far and the number might touch 5,000 competitors and about 100 participating countries. The largest contingent will be from host country. China and Germany have so far confirmed fielding 200 sportspersons each from their Armed Forces. Continent - wise, maximum participation will be from Europe, 34 out of the total of 38 nations of the continent will converge for the games which are also seen as a precursor to the Olympic Games. MWG will have 16 events, including Military pentathlon, shooting, Military Firing, Parachuting, Football, handball, Judo, Volleyball, athletics, Swimming, Sailing Triathlon, Boxing, Wrestling, hockey and Kabaddi. Several Olympic medal winners like World Judo Champion Sophie Mondiere, S Bibard (Shooting), 110 metres European hurdle champion Stamislavs Oijars and many like them will be seen in action.
Some quizzical eyebrows may be raised questioning the wisdom of yet another set of games when we already have Olympics, Commonwealth games, the Afro-Asian games and Asian games. But the MWG need to be seen in a slightly different perspective, a lot like the much vaunted track-two diplomacy which often has better pay offs. The MWG engages nations on a parallel sporting track while remaining low on organizational pressure for governments with outstanding pay off. Normally an international sporting meet of a size where about 100 countries are likely to participate would be unimaginable without plenty of grants and building mammoth infrastructure not to mention the usual organizational pain that accompanies such an exercise. However the Armed Forces, who are responsible for the conduct of the games, are approaching this event, which will be India's largest sporting extravaganza to date with usual quiet aplomb and self assurance which is an outcome of superb organizational acumen and the judicious use of resources at their disposal. It is for this reason alone that the magnitude of the impending event does not seem to have caused any trouble in their ranks.
It also needs to be appreciated that asking to host these games by a world body is a statement on the international confidence reposed in the country in general and in our Armed Forces in specific. The games are being hosted for the first time outside Europe and the organizational prowess displayed by our Armed Forces will certainly stand the country in good stead when bidding for future sporting event of similar magnitude. The games offer a wonderful opportunity for huge gains in image, diplomacy and generating good will without the attendant economic effort.
So count down has begun. Await with baited breath a fabulous sporting extravaganza, hitherto not seen in the country thus far. And as Maj Gen TS Handa, the GOC of Rd Shield Division had told some of the reporters' "Try and Be There".
(With inputs from PIB (Defense Wing)
