A Chinese delegation
participates in the opening ceremony of the Fourth Military World
Games, in Hyderabad, capital city of Andhra Pradesh state, India on
October 14, 2007.
On Sunday, India's President Pratibha Devisingh Patil declared
the week-long Fourth Military World Games opened. The event takes
place in Hyderabad, capital city of the state of Andhra
Pradesh.
Close to 6,000 athletes from 106 countries including Iran are
taking part in the sporting extravaganza, which boasts at total of
1,076 medals in different games and sports.
A total of 13 disciplines -- Pentathlon, Shooting, Parachuting,
Athletics, Triathlon, Swimming, Sailing, Boxing, Wresting, Judo,
Football, Handball and Volleyball -- are being held. Hockey and
kabaddi were cancelled due to 'lack of participation'.
Five countries are participating as observers in this event.
This is the first time the games are taking place outside of
Europe. The games are considered the second biggest sporting event
after the Olympics.
The Conseil International du Sport Militaire, or CISM, founded
in 1948, can be best described as the military equivalent of the
International Olympic Committee.
The CISM Military World Games debuted in Rome in 1995 and are
held every four years, a year prior to the Olympics. They were
hosted in 1999 by Zagreb, Croatia and in 2003 by Catania, Italy.
Brazil will host the next Games in 2011.
The 4th World Military Games in Hyderabad and Mumbai will
conclude on October 21.
A Chinese delegation
participates in the opening ceremony of the Fourth Military World
Games, in Hyderabad, capital city of Andhra Pradesh state, India on
October 14, 2007.
The aviation performance at
the opening ceremony of the Fourth Military World Games, in
Hyderabad, capital city of Andhra Pradesh state, India on October
14, 2007.
(CRI October 15, 2007)
