Team China (front) hug with team Norway during the awarding ceremony of the women's team of aeronautical pentathlon at the 7th CISM Military World Games in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, Oct. 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
Military World Games in Wuhan can be summarized by two key words - "historical" and "peace".
WUHAN, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The 7th Military World Games will mark the history of military competitions, said International Military Sports Council (CISM) President Herve Piccirillo here on Friday, lauding its material and spiritual legacy to the host city Wuhan and the world.
"These are games that will mark the history of military competitions and develop new practices in the future," said Piccirillo in an interview with Xinhua. "Because the quality of infrastructure is high, the public is present to mobilize athletes, and also because we find in these games an organization that is international".
Gold medalists team China (C), silver medalists team Brazil (L) and bronze medalists team Norway attend the awarding ceremony of the women's team of aeronautical pentathlon at the 7th CISM Military World Games in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, Oct. 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
According to Piccirillo, a total of 82 records of CISM affiliated events have been rewritten in the 2019 Games.
The president described the Wuhan Games with the key words of "historical" and "peace".
Piccirillo picked the word historical because it is the first time for the Games to have over 9,000 participants from 109 countries. Besides, the investment for games organization, including the infrastructure, the mobilization of volunteers and the passion from Chinese people have also set a new record.
Herve Piccirillo, president of International Military Sports Council (CISM) poses to take picture with women's soccer players of DPR Korea and South Korea before the semifinal match at Military World Games. (Xinhua/He Changshan)
Explaining the word peace, he said, "because the message that is carried by a whole people, because beyond the games, it is all the Chinese people who are speading this message of solidarity and peace, which corresponds to 'friendship through sport', the motto of the CISM, " said the president.
The 35 sports arenas for the 2019 Games, as most of which are located near residential areas or at universities, will be open to citizens and students after the games.
Olga Rypakova (R) of Kazakhstan celebrates with Ottavia Cestonaro of Italy after the women's triple jump final of track and field at the 7th CISM Military World Games in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, Oct. 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
"Sports facilities will be used by the young citizens of Wuhan. And around these games there has been a mobilization and an energy that has developed and will continue, particularly with respect to the younger generations," he said.
"At the same time, it is an opportunity to pass messages of friendship and peace, which will be relayed in these 109 countries, even elsewhere," Piccirillo added. "So, it's an intangible heritage, about values, about how we will think games tomorrow, which will certainly inspire us from what has been done for the Wuhan Games. "
WUHAN, Oct. 25, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Anton Evsikov of Russia reacts after the men's 5km of open water at the 7th CISM Military World Games in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, Oct. 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
"We also have about 20 military world championships a year, and we are constantly looking for cities to organize these championships, so we always hope to come back in Wuhan for our military world championships," added CISM secretary general Mamby Koita. ■