Sponsored by Hamdan bin Mohammed.. Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defense opens a symposium "International Seismic 2025" In Abu Dhabi
ABU DHABI, October 20 / WAM / Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, His Excellency Lieutenant General Ibrahim Nasser Al Alawi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defence, today opened the scientific symposium of the International Council for Military Sports, “SESM 2025”, in the capital, Abu Dhabi, and will continue until October 22 under the slogan “Physical Readiness and Flexibility in the Armed Forces: Challenges and Foreseeing the Future.”
The symposium is being held, for the first time in the Middle East, in the presence of more than 130 participants, including an elite group of senior military officials, experts, academics and researchers from 35 countries, in addition to 43 speakers, as it constitutes a strategic platform for exchanging knowledge and experiences and enhancing international cooperation in the fields of physical preparedness, improving fitness and performance, and military sports sciences.
The opening session witnessed the presence and participation of His Excellency Khalifa Rashid Al Hameli, Director of the Office of His Highness the Minister of Defence, His Excellency Major General Obaid Ali Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Supreme Organizing Committee of the “SESM 2025” symposium, Colonel Nilton Gomez Filho, President of the International Council for Military Sports (CISMEM), Major General Rashid Al Dosari, Vice President of the Council for the continent of Asia, and Brigadier General Ayoub Al Falasi, Head of the UAE delegation. The UAE is in the Council, and Marine Colonel Robertorrecchia, Secretary General of the International Council for Military Sports.
In his opening speech, His Excellency Major General Obaid Ali Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Supreme Organizing Committee of the “SESM 2025” symposium, stressed in his opening speech the UAE’s commitment to using sport as a bridge for understanding and peace, in line with the mission of the International Council for Military Sports, which carries the concept of “friendship through sport,” pointing out that physical readiness and flexibility are not just training requirements, but rather are the basis of steadfastness and the ability to adapt in changing military work environments. And the complex.
He said: Today we seek to anticipate the future and enhance all of our capabilities by taking advantage of the latest studies and technologies to confront all challenges with confidence and competence, adding that the topics covered by the symposium, including the impact of climate change, sports medicine, combat sports and advanced technologies, represent a basic building block in building the future of the armed forces by enhancing the capabilities of its members to withstand and adapt in different operational environments. It stresses the importance of exchanging experiences and innovations between participating countries to develop both military and sports performance.
Participants in the opening session praised the UAE’s pioneering role in supporting global efforts to integrate scientific research and innovation into defense dialogue and cooperation. Senior military officials, academics and international experts also addressed the importance of investing in physical readiness as a key factor in enhancing the operational capabilities and flexibility of the armed forces.
The activities of the first day began with two keynote speeches that laid out the scientific and intellectual framework for the symposium’s work. In the first session, Professor Thierry Zentz, Professor of Sports Organization Management at the “Catholic University of Louvain” in Belgium, spoke about “Soft Diplomacy for International Sports Organizations – SIZM is a major player in a turbulent environment,” stressing the pivotal role of the International Council for Military Sports as a global actor in defense diplomacy. And promoting peace through cooperation in the fields of military sports.
Retired Lieutenant General Jani Gula, Honorary Life President of the International Council for Military Sports (CISM), reviewed the thirty-year legacy of the World Military Games, and the Council’s role in consolidating the values of friendship, unity and understanding among the armies of the world.
The first day witnessed several lectures, scientific sessions, and specialized workshops that included research presentations from academics and experts in military institutions and universities around the world, and focused on the topics of energy expenditure, performance indicators, and sustainable models of nutrition in modern defense environments.
Dr. Patrick Molly, a researcher in military health sciences and nutrition at the Royal Military Academy in Belgium, presented new methodologies for assessing energy expenditure while carrying military equipment. Dr. Aisha Al Dhaheri, a professor of nutrition and health and head of the Nutrition Department at the UAE University, spoke about sustainable protein sources in military nutrition programs. Dr. Amjad Jarrar, an associate professor of nutritional sciences at the UAE University, presented with the participation of: Researchers in the University’s Department of Nutrition, Fayza Al Shamsi and Maryam Al Maamari, and Dr. Aousha Al Muhairi, presented a study on employing digital learning to raise nutritional awareness among university students. Guillermo Portugal, a researcher at the School of Physical Training for the Brazilian Navy, participated in a scientific presentation that addressed the issues of energy expenditure and physical adaptation among women in maritime training programs.
Discussions in the closing session focused on the physiology of tactical performance and the impact of training adaptation in different military environments, with the participation of a group of experts from several countries, including Dr. Patrick Molly and Martin Bugala, a specialist in tactical and physical performance at the Czech Ministry of Defence. The two experts in the Austrian Armed Forces, Wolfgang Rausch, a specialist in tactical and physical performance, also presented, and Heinz Wichtenthal, a senior training and performance analyst, developed a new evaluation system for military specializations.
Abdul Rahman Ahmed Abdul Rahman Muhammad, a researcher at the UAE Ministry of Defense, presented a study that dealt with the impact of stopping training on readiness and physical fitness among military personnel. The session stressed the importance of linking academic research with field applications and the role of science and technology in developing modern military readiness concepts.
The activities of the first day were concluded with recreational sports activities in darts competitions, followed by communication sessions between the participants, embodying the values of solidarity and rapprochement on which the mission of the International Council for Military Sports is based.
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