On the Scene in Annecy - Curtain Closes on Military World Winter Games

(ATR) The 2nd International Military Sports Council (CISM) World Winter Games came to a close Friday evening in Annecy, with a modest, yet delightful closing ceremony at the Jean Régis Arena.

Annecy 2013 President Jean-René Bachelet and CISM President Hamad Kalkaba Malboum addressed and congratulated the military sports athletes who tested their abilities over four days of competition in the Haute-Savoie – more than 1,000 participants from 40 countries – many of whom were in attendance, attired in uniform at the ceremony.

"I wish to congratulate all the winners, while also applauding those who could not make it to the podium," said Kalkaba Malboum. "Our message is the promotion of friendship through sport, and thanks to your overall behavior during the past days, you have given real meaning to our motto."

Bachelet presented Kalkaba Malboum with the CISM flag after the CISM President informed the audience that the host city for the 3rd CISM Winter Games in 2017 is still to be determined.

The 27th Mountain Infantry Battalion band played and figure skaters entertained the soldiers and military personnel with creative, artistic and borderline bizarre performances.

Patrol Race Triumph Propels France to Top of Medals Table

Entering Friday’s final day of competition – with just the men’s and women’s biathlon patrol race to be contested – France and Italy were tied with 11 gold medals apiece.

A foursome of ladies from France claimed victory in the 15-kilometer race on the trails of Le Grand Bornand, while the Italians had to settle for second. The event, which is unique to military sport, involves teammates skiing and shooting together as a unit, while also being required to cross the finish line together. Switzerland took top honors in the men’s event.

The ladies victory boosted France ahead of Italy 12-11 in gold medals over the four-day CISM Games. France ended with 30 medals in total to Italy’s 24. Switzerland and Russia were tied for third with 11 apiece.

Winter Wonderland at Ski Mountaineering Relay

With light, fluffy snowflakes falling, the atmosphere in Chamonix was idyllic as 22 duos took to the start for the ski mountaineering relay contested under the lights on Thursday evening.

The unique format involved teams of two racing four loops on the Les Planards piste, each loop comprised of a 180m vertical climb followed by a descent to the bottom through a giant slalom course set. For the opening and closing laps, the teammates skied together, while laps two and three were for individuals.

Italy finished 1-2 in the men’s event, with Matteo Eydallin skiing and climbing to his second gold medal in two events. He and his partner Manfred Reichegger defeated their Italian counterparts by six-tenths of a second in wet, snowy conditions.

"I am very happy with my form all this week in Chamonix," said Eydallin shortly after the race. "It was very tough to race out there tonight. Maybe, it was very good for the fans to watch with all of the snow falling, but it was not so good for us."

Eydallin expressed optimism that ski mountaineering has potential to gain Olympic status.

"Our federation is working on this now, so I am hopeful that the sport will someday be in the Olympic Games," he said. "It won’t be for when I will still be competing, but I think it will be good for the younger competitors and more and more people will see how exciting our sport is."

The ladies race was won by the French duo of Laetitia Roux and Valentine Fabre. Matching Eydallin, it was the second gold medal in two events for Roux.

Climbing Toward Olympic Acceptance

Indoor sport climbing took place on the walls of Berthollet Gymnasium in downtown Annecy with athletes competing in three disciplines: speed, bouldering and difficulty.

The sport’s governing body, the International Federation for Sport Climbing (IFSC), aimed to reach new heights in Annecy with the sport being among a contingent of eight under consideration by the IOC for inclusion into the 2020 Games.

"We have a lot of work to do in the months ahead," said Pierre Henri Paillasson, IFSC Vice President. "After the world championships in Paris in September we consulted with the IOC and have decided to propose all three disciplines as one medal event for one gold medal for both men and women."

The eight sports in contention are expected to be shortlisted to three by the IOC Executive Board at the SportAccord Convention in St. Petersburg in late May with a final decision expected in September.

"Climbing is the only natural human movement that we do not currently have in the Olympic Games," said Paillasson. "We have running and swimming so it would only be natural to include climbing also."

27th Mountain Infantry Battalion Lends Helping Hand

Highly instrumental in the staging and execution of the Games this week was the 27th Mountain Infantry Battalion.

Whether it was the Battalion’s brass band playing at the evening medals plaza, constructing the stands for the opening ceremony, chauffeuring media types among venues on snowy roads or simply helping visitors on the street, the Battalion made a significant difference.

The 27th Battalion has a long and storied tradition in the Haute-Savoie region, and the ties between its soldiers and the local community have remained strong.

During World War II, the battalion was an integral part of the French Resistance and became known as the "Battalion des Glières," the only French battalion to liberate the Haute-Savoie.

Now, on the 27th of each month, the Battalion celebrates various occasions for its more than 1,000 members. This past Wednesday, the 27th, the celebration was at the Annecy Medals Plaza and included anyone and everyone present.

The band played loudly and proudly, while those milling around sipped vin chaud and ate plenty of the local specialty tartiflette. A great night for all.

Written and reported in Annecy by Brian Pinelli

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