Day One Sessions Focus on Physical Readiness, Resilience, and Performance Enhancement in the Armed Forces
ABU DHABI: H.E. Lt General (Staff) Ibrahim Nasser Al Alawi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defence, inaugurated the CISM International Scientific Symposium 2025, which commenced today in Abu Dhabi and will run for three days until 22 October.
Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, and organized by the UAE Ministry of Defence, the symposium is taking place for the first time in the Middle East under the theme “Physical Readiness and Resilience in the Armed Forces: Challenges and Foreseeing the Future.”
The event gathered more than 130 participants, including senior military officials, experts, academics, and researchers from 35 countries, alongside 43 speakers, forming a strategic platform for knowledge exchange and international cooperation in physical readiness, performance enhancement, and military sports sciences.
The UAE’s Commitment – Sport as a Bridge for Understanding and Peace
The opening session was attended by His Excellency Major General Khalifa Rashid Al Hamli, Director of the Office of the Minister of Defence, H.E. Major General Obaid Ali Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Supreme Organising Committee of CISM 2025; Colonel Nilton Gomes Filho, President of the International Military Sports Council (CISM); Major General Rashid Al Dosari, CISM Vice President for Asia, Brigadier General S. Ayoob Al Falasi, UAE Chief of Delegation to CISM; and Navy Captain Roberto Recchia, CISM Secretary General.
In his opening remarks, Major General Obaid Ali Al Mansoori reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to employing sport as a bridge for peace and understanding, in line with CISM’s guiding principle of “Friendship Through Sport.”
He emphasized that physical readiness and resilience are not merely training requirements but the foundation of stability and adaptability in dynamic and complex military environments.
“We aim to anticipate the future and enhance our collective capabilities through the latest research and technologies, enabling us to face all challenges with confidence and competence,” he said.
He added that the symposium’s themes, including the impact of climate change, sports medicine, combat sports, and advanced technologies, is forming essential building blocks in shaping the future of the armed forces, strengthening the ability of military personnel to endure and adapt across different operational environments, and highlighting the importance of exchanging expertise and innovation among participating nations.
A Global Platform for Innovation and Defence Dialogue
The opening session also highlighted the UAE’s pioneering role in integrating scientific research and innovation into defence dialogue and cooperation. Senior military officials and experts underlined the importance of investing in physical readiness as a key factor in enhancing operational capabilities and resilience across armed forces.
Attendees praised the organization of the event, commending the Ministry of Defence for its excellence and agility in hosting and managing major international gatherings. They also emphasized the long-term value of the symposium’s outcomes in advancing methodologies and best practices across CISM member nations.
Soft Diplomacy, Resilience, and the Evolution of Military Sports
Day One began with two keynote addresses that set the scientific and intellectual framework for the symposium’s sessions.
The first keynote, titled “International Sport Governing Bodies’ Soft Diplomacy – CISM, a Key Player in a Turbulent Context,” was delivered by Prof. Thierry Zintz, Professor of Sports Organisations Management at the Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium. He emphasized CISM’s pivotal role as a global actor in defence diplomacy and the promotion of peace through military sports cooperation.
This was followed by a keynote address from General Gianni Gola, Honorary Life President of the International Military Sports Council (CISM), who reflected on three decades of the CISM World Military Games and the organization’s vital role in reinforcing friendship, unity, and understanding among the world’s armed forces.
Advancing Knowledge in Military Readiness and Human Performance
The first day of the symposium continued with several lectures, scientific sessions, and specialized workshops that featured research presentations by leading academics and experts from military and civilian institutions worldwide.
The discussions focused on topics such as energy expenditure, performance indicators, and sustainable nutrition models within modern defence environments.
Among the key contributors were:
Dr. Patrick Mullie, Researcher in Military Health and Nutrition Sciences, Royal Military Academy, Belgium, who presented new methodologies for assessing energy expenditure during military load carriage.
Prof. Ayesha Al Dhaheri, Professor of Nutrition and Health and Head of the Nutrition Department at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), who discussed sustainable protein sources in military nutrition programs.
Dr. Amjad Jarrar, Associate Professor of Nutrition Sciences at UAEU, along with researchers Fayeza Al Shamsi, Mariam Al Memari, and Dr. Osha Al Mehairbi, presented a study on digital learning approaches to improve nutrition awareness among students.
Guillermo Portugal, Researcher at the Brazilian Navy Physical Training School, presented a paper on energy expenditure and physical adaptation among women in naval training programs.
Tactical Readiness and Resilience
The afternoon sessions focused on tactical performance physiology and training adaptation in various military environments, featuring contributions from:
Dr. Patrick Mullie, with an analytical study linking body composition metrics to success in special operations training.
Martin Bugala, Human Performance Specialist, Ministry of Defence, Czech Republic, who presented new frameworks to enhance tactical readiness through performance optimization.
Wolfgang Rausch and Hannes Fichtenthal from the Austrian Armed Forces, who introduced a new Military Occupational Specialty Assessment to improve physical and operational readiness evaluation.
Abdelrahman Ahmed Abdulrahman Mohamed, Researcher at the UAE Ministry of Defence, who presented a study on the effects of training cessation on physical fitness and readiness among service members.
The sessions reinforced the importance of linking academic research with practical applications and highlighted the role of science and technology in developing modern military readiness concepts.
A Platform for Scientific Cooperation
The first day witnessed extensive interaction between researchers, military personnel, and scientists, through dynamic discussions on enhancing performance, resilience, and fitness in military environments. The event reflected CISM’s core message of “Friendship Through Sport” — serving as both a scientific and diplomatic platform that bridges nations through knowledge and collaboration.
The day concluded with recreational darts competitions followed by networking sessions among participants, embodying the spirit of solidarity and friendship central to CISM’s values.
Day Two Highlights
The symposium continues until Wednesday, 22 October, with Tuesday’s programme (21 October) featuring keynote lectures by Prof. Yannis Pitsiladis, Professor of Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Brighton, UK, and Assoc. Prof. Jason Lee, Associate Professor of Physiology and Director of Human Performance Research at the National University of Singapore (NUS).
Sessions will cover topics such as heat adaptation, wearable technologies, and resilience in extreme environments.
