China prepares for 2019 Military World Games

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China's Defense Ministry started gearing up for the 7th Military World Games that will be held in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in 2019.

In a press conference in Wuhan on Friday, the ministry, the Chinese military and the International Military Sports Council unveiled the event's slogan: "Military Glory and World Peace."

They also revealed the emblem and mascot of the games, set for October 18-27, 2019.

A poster of the 7th CISM Military World Games. /CGTN Photo

The spokesperson of China’s Ministry of National Defense said at the press conference that Chinese military will work hard to make the games a peaceful gathering in which soldiers of various countries learn from each other, get to know each other, and exchange military concepts and culture so as to make the games memorable for all participants.

The Military World Games are organized by the International Military Sports Council, or CISM. Held every four years since 1995, the military games have been regarded as the military Olympics.

China is now hosting them for the first time. Military forces from more than 100 countries will participate in 27 sports.

CISM President Colonel Abdulhakeem Al Shino expressed high hopes for the event, saying that China is helping the Council send the signal of peace and friendship to the world, and therefore, the Council is entering a new era.

Mascot for the 7th Military World Games. /CGTN Photo‍

The municipal government of Wuhan will co-host the games with the military.

Liu Yingzi, deputy mayor of Wuhan said that the event’s executive committee would do their best to provide all participating athletes from around the world with customized services, taking food, for example, and religion into account.

Wuhan won the bid for the games in 2015. Among the 31 venues set for the games, 11 are now under construction or renovation.

Wang Qihua, the general manager of the local company Wuhan Sports Center Development, is responsible for renovation of the event’s main venue.

Wang said that the main stadium was built for the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup. It has never hosted any major international multi-sport event. To make it up to the needs of the upcoming military world games, they have to largely upgrade the facility for a much higher level of quality and safety.

The International Military Sports Council aims to promote friendship between the various forces through sports. The Chinese military and Wuhan authorities say they are confident that they offer decent facilities as a platform to build up camaraderie, and to make the games a great success.

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