The International Military Sports Council (CISM) evaluation team arrived in Mungyeong on Wednesday for their inspection of the Korean city’s bid to host the CISM Military World Games 2015.
Chief inspector Mesut Cerit of Turkey, who is CISM president for Europe, first arrived at Incheon International Airport on Feb. 28, and was greeted by Mungyeong Mayor Shin Hyun-kook, defense ministry officials and members of a group supporting the Mungyeong bidding.
Other inspectors, including Secretary General Alexandre Morisod of Switzerland, arrived in Seoul on Tuesday.
CISM Secretary General Alexandre Morisod (center) of the evaluation committee is welcomed by Mungyeong officials and citizens and local military officers. The committee is to assess the city candidacy for the CISM Military World Games 2015. (Mungyeong City)
The CISM delegates then made an on-site survey of a Seoul hotel where its general assembly is to take place.
The host city for the CISM Military World Games 2015 will be elected by ballots from the CISM’s 133 member countries at their general session in Seoul in May.
The delegation then moved to Mungyeong in North Gyeongsang Province on Wednesday to assess the proposed games venue. Their inspection will end on Mach 4.
Thousands of Mungyeong citizens greeted them enthusiastically as they entered the candidate city.
They will be briefed on the progress of preparations for the games before making field investigation of event sites, lodgings and other infrastructures on Thursday. Capabilities to host the games are the focal point of assessment.
“We have tried to make perfect preparations with the goal of moving their hearts,” said a Mungyeong city official at Incheon International Airport, as he waited for the CISM evaluation panel to arrive.
Founded on Feb. 18, 1948, CISM is one of the largest multidisciplinary organizations in the world. It organizes numerous sporting events for the armed forces of its 133 member countries.
An aerial view of Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps.
The Military World Games is a multi-sport event held every four years, one year before the Olympic Games take place.
Mungyeong and the surrounding area were in a festive mood with civic groups and volunteers busy checking preparations to greet the delegates during their assessment tour.
They had cleaned-up streets and placed welcome banners and national flags of member countries along the delegates’ route
The city has emphasized citizens’ enthusiasm for a successful bid for the games, and is trying to draw their participation in its preparations as much as possible.
“We put a high priority on showing them our high interest and enthusiasm in the meet,” a Mungyeong city official said, “It is not too much to say that the future of Mungyeong depends on the games.”
The city has plans to hold a variety of events to celebrate their visit, including performances with traditional percussion instruments, a kite-flying contest and demonstration of traditional wedding ceremonies.
Civic groups and taxi drivers also will give the city a hand. About 280 taxes will be decorated with national flags in order to add to the festive mood. Social groups have urged residents to attend welcome events to give a warm welcome to the assessment panel.
The CISM Military World Games is a prominent international sporting event which Mungyeong expects about 10,000 athletes and officials from more than 100 member nations to attend.
They hope that the games will offer a good chance to let the world know more about Mungyeong and six nearby cities in the province.
Under the bidding plan, Mungyeong would be a main venue is to host 12 of 25 sports, including soccer and track and field; Sangju would host equestrian competitions and handball; and Gimcheon would host swimming, diving and volleyball. Basketball and golf events will take place in Andong, with other contests scattered in Yeongju and Pohang.
By Chun Sung-woo (swchun@heraldcorp.com)