World Military Pentathlon: the success of the event is the anticipated result

Around 1.000 people work to reassure the organization of the 39^th World Military Modern Pentathlon Championship, being held 11 through 18 of May, in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
Besides the 42 pentathletes who are taking part, another team enters the scene to gain a new experience in life: the Volunteers. At the 2007 Pan-American Games test-event, they are present all over at every moment of the competitions.
            This support group consists of 230 people: 130 are in the military, and 100 are civilians. Men and women, with ages ranging from 18 to 84, escort the 11 delegations, right from the moment they arrive at the airport up to the hotel where they are staying.
            According to Lt Col Paulo Ribas, coordinator of this World Military Championship, the volunteers have been assigned to a variety of relationship areas, such as sponsors, results, transportation, technology, sports data processing center, press, check in, and attachés. “In a World Championship like this, organization normally relies on a small group. The large number of people involved is on account of the Pan-American Games”, he explains.

English and Spanish

Paula Fernandes, coordinator of the volunteers, states that the selection was made in a one-month period. For some specific areas, such as results and attachés, fluency in English and Spanish was considered a must.
            Working as an attaché, municipal public servant Hercília da Cruz, 55, says she adores the sports environment: “I like to meet different people. We have an opportunity to show them our warmth as hosts, and to make a good impression of our people, of our country on them”, she proudly adds.           

Pan 2007: A close look at the World Military Pentathlon

MD Public Relations Advisory/Cibele Leite.
Photography: Tereza Sobreira

A game between Brazil and the former Soviet Union in 1983 marked for ever the life of the then athlete Carlos Arthur Nuzman. Over two decades later, in the capacity of the Pan-American Games Organizing Committee President, Nuzman is about to make a dream come true: the event of the Pan-American games from 13^th to 29^th in Rio de Janeiro City. In this interview, he tells the role this 39^th World Military Modern Pentathlon Championship is to play for the Pan to succeed.

Ministry of Defense: How the idea of a world military championship playing the role of a test-event for the Pan-American games has arisen?

Nuzman: The fact that the facilities for the Pan-American games are available in May, matched the event of the championship in the same month. Therefore, as long as there is an official event belonging to an international body, as the International Military Sports Council (CISM), it was sensible for us to take it as a test-event for the Pan. The military style organization is fundamental for the things to run properly.

MD: What is supposed to be tested by the COI-RIO during this world pentathlon?

N: Sports gear to be used at the World Military Pentathlon will be tested, such as: targets for shooting, swimming lanes and start blocks, and the fencing lane. Still, stopwatches, measuring and local result-transmitting equipment, as well as security and transportation means are to be checked on.

MD: How will CO-RIO appraise the championship?

N: We’ve got a team responsible for every organizing sector. These people report to the organizing committee. Through the evaluation, we can identify the needs still pending. 

MD: After the achievement of the world pentathlon in Rio de Janeiro, does the likelyhood of Brazil hosting the 2011 World Military Games increase?

N: Absolutely. Many CISM member countries with right of vote are taking part. They can state both the championship organizing capabiliyt and the technical level of the sports facilities they have been presented to.

“Be the competition marked by respect towards the fellow contenders”, says CDMB President.

MD Public Relations Advisory/Cibele Leite.
Photography: Tereza Sobreira

Now, it’s official. The 39^th World Military Modern Pentathlon Championship was declared open last Saturday (May 12^th), with the gathering of the 42 athletes who, from 12^th to 14^th of May, are struggling for gold in Rio de Janeiro City. The championship will test all the logistics to be applied to the Pan-American games. “This event will be very much worthy, mainly for its military style organization”, says the Pan-American Games Organizing Committee President, Carlos Arthur Nuzman.

With their flags flying, representatives of the 11 participating countries marched at the parade, which had the presence of the International Military Sports Council (CISM) Representative. “I’m convinced that this edition of the world championship will be an opportunity to all of you. Not only to show each one’s values in sports, but also to strengthen the ties of friedship, cooperation and solidarity among military forces, peoples and nations”, he added.

The Brazilian Military Sports Commission (CDMB) President, Brigadier General Luís Antonio Pinto Machado greeted the missions: “Welcome! Make yourselves at home.

World Pentathlon: missions arrive in Rio de Janeiro

MD Public Relations Advisory/Cibele Leite                       

Less than three days before the competitions begin, Rio de Janeiro City welcomes the first missions of those to come for the 39^th World Military Modern Pentathlon Championship.

The Clube Militar, at its Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas headquarter, where 42 athletes are being lodged and boarded, feels more and more the competition atmosphere. This championship is supposed to be a kind of test-event for the Pan-American games.

Lt Col Pedro Barboza de Souza Filho, Operations Manager to the World Pentathlon, says that of the eleven countries to take part in the championship, Switzerland, Ukraine and Poland have already arrived in Rio de Janeiro.

Tomorrow, May the 12^th, takes place the opening ceremony, which is to be carried out by the Ministry of Defense, by means of the Brazilian Military Sports Commission.

The presence of the Minister of Defense, Waldir Pires, and that of the Minister of Sports, of the Brazilian Olympic Committee President and of the Pan-American Games Organizing Committee Secretary has been confirmed.

For note-taking......

The competitions composing the 39^th World Military Modern Pentathlon Championship are going to be carried out at the Complexo Esportivo Deodoro, the same facilities set aside for the Pan-American games. The pentathlon is considered the most complete sports activity, comprising the following five categories: shooting, fencing, swimming, riding and running.