News

Two from Robins participate in ‘military Olympics’

  • Published
  • By Wayne Crenshaw
  • 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Two Team Robins members recently spent time in Brazil competing in the military version of the Olympics.

In number of participants, the CISM Military World Games is second only to the Olympics as the largest sporting event in the world. The event featured 6,000 athletes from 110 countries, and is held every four years.

CISM is a French acronym for Conseil International du Sport Militaire, an organization promoting athletic competition among militaries around the world.

Eddie Goad, assistant director of the Fitness Center, participated in the games as U.S. All-Armed Forces men's basketball team representative on the tournament's technical committee. The U.S. team won the bronze medal.

Also competing in the swimming competition was 1st Lt. Rebecca Gleason from the 116th Air Control Wing. She did not place.

The games were held July 13-24 in Rio de Janeiro. Goad said the games were a big deal in Brazil, which is preparing to host the World Cup in 2014. Events were televised live and the basketball games were played in an arena worthy of the NBA, with thousands attending each game.

"I thought it was pretty spectacular," Goad said. "I just wish more people knew about it."

The games featured an opening ceremony, just like the regular Olympics, in which teams from each of the participating countries marched out. Soccer legend Espaco Rei Pele opened the games.