The First Winter Military World Games in Aosta Valley, like small Winter Olympics,
from 20th to 25th March 2010.

(VAL DI FIEMME, 09/01/2010). At the Motorhome FISI/Audi of Tesero, the top brass of military sport, the political and administrative chiefs of the Autonomous Region Aosta Valley and of the Organizing Committee have presented the First Winter Military World Games, taking place from 20th to 25th March, to the national and international press. The event, besides being a big revenge opportunity of the Olympics of Vancouver, is an important demonstration testifying the role of soldiers, who promote fraternity, peace and dialogue through sport.

After the greeting of the FISI President, Giovanni Morzenti, who has confirmed, on behalf of the Federation,  the whole support for the event, the President of the Organizing Committee  Dott. Luigi Roth, the CISM (International Military Sports Council) President Gen. Gianni Gola, the Armed Forces referee Col. Marco Mosso, and the President of the Autonomous Region Aosta Valley Augusto Rollandin have come in.

More than 900 athletes, representing about 40 Nations, are important numbers for the World Military Games: like small Olympics, they mean an involvment of  volunteers, military and civilian structures, and the chance for many athletes to win military world champion titles during this absolute first edition of the event. As military athletes are among the best ones in the world, in addition to the national teams of the Olympic sports, such as cross-country and alpine skiing, biathlon and short track, at the Military World Games of Aosta Valley there will be some novelties: ski-mountaineering, ski orienteering and indoor sport climbing will be the leading sports of a real high level competitive show. The competitions will take place in Brusson, Cogne, Courmayeur, Flassin, Gressoney-Saint-Jean and Pila.

As stated by the President of the Organizing Committee Dott. Luigi Roth: “Aosta Valley has an extraordinary relation with the military world and with sport. It will be a big chance for the land to organize an event relounching the region, has it happened in Val di Fiemme. It will be a demonstration where  the military values and the culture of the regional tourist welcome will complement each other.
The Organizing Committee has assembled the regional experiences and organization abilities with the proficiency of the Armed Forces, in order to make the First Winter Military World Games a good example for the future editions. Besides the sport competitions, we are also working for creating a programme of  side events, to involve a great number of spectators.”

The CISM President Gen. Gianni Gola has emphasized, as the Winter Military World Games: “Are a unique occasion. We have strongly wished this event. And I’m proud to announce today, that the Games have been awarded to us for our plan. For Aosta Valley it’s a glory and an incentive to host the World Military Games, strongly wished by the CISM, the military athletes organization  founded into 1948 and counting 131 member nations, and an event  that the IOC President Rogge asked to organize in Italy. We are doing our best to offer the chance of a participation as large as possible. Today we have received the entry from Afghanistan. It’s necessary to remember that, during Turin 2006, the military athletes were more than 40% and won one third of the medals. We are almost ready, we are working promptly and in keeping with each other, to create an unforgettable demonstration of sport and peace”.

The President of the Region Aosta Valley Augusto Rollandin has declared: “Organizing and hosting the first edition of the most important Winter military sport event is, for  Aosta Valley, a privilege. There are a general enthusiasm and involvement among the local people.  We are proud of such an event, which enhances love for sport and mountain, common feelings of the inhabitants of this region, and highlights the traditional presence of the alpine troops on our territory, together with soldiers who have particularly distinguished themselves into national and international Winter military competitions. I would like to stress the theme of peace,  that we will celebrate together with the military  representatives from all the world, during the meeting “Sport and peace” promoted by the IOC, and that will take place in the morning of the opening ceremony day”.