Mpango: We can organise World Military Games
Vice President Phillip Mpango addresses the 79th General Assembly of the International Military Sports Council in Dar es Salaam recently. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- If given the opportunity to host in the future, it will be the first time for the country to host these major world military games while having a history of organizing the CISM General Assembly twice, in 1991 and 2024.
Dar es Salaam. Vice President Philip Mpango has said Tanzania can organize and co-host the World Military Games with neighbouring countries as it will in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Mpango disclosed this while representing President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the opening of the 79th General Assembly of the International Military Sports Council (CISM) being held in the country for the second time.
The first such meeting in the country took place in 1991 in Arusha. This year, Africa is hosting it in Dar es Salaam, with 300 delegates from 82 member countries participating. In his speech, Mpango said that Tanzania could host the World Military Games in the future and promote sports academies to develop talent.
"We should encourage people to exercise, not just within the military but also in other communities," said Mpango, who was also awarded the CISM medal by Col Nilron Rolim of the Council.
Rolim discussed the intention of the country to host the World Military Games and pointed out that through the Vice President's speech (Dr Mpango), it shows that Africa can bring CISM members together with the idea of promoting world peace through sports instead of war.
He said the military has annual sports and those being held every four years, which is what he was referring to.
"Already, two countries, South Africa and the United States, want to host, but through the Vice President's (Dr Mpango) speech, it shows that Africa can bring together CISM members. The 2025 Winter Games Committee in Switzerland will decide where the next Games will be held," he said.
The last Summer Games were held in China, and Tanzania participated.
If given the opportunity to host in the future, it will be the first time for the country to host these major world military games while having a history of organizing the CISM General Assembly twice, in 1991 and 2024.
The Chairman of the National Organizing Committee for the meeting, Maj Gen Francis Mbindi, said that apart from the meeting, participants also laid flowers at the Heroes' Monument at Mnazi Mmoja in Dar es Salaam as a tribute to the heroes.
They will also visit tourist attractions in Zanzibar and participate in a football match.
