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The President of the Republic at the Meeting of the Directorate of the International Military Sports Council, on March 14, 2002, in Tallinn14.03.2002
Honourable Minister of Defence,
Honourable Commander of the Defence Forces,
Dear Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I welcome you from my heart on the occasion of the meeting of the Directorate of the International Military Sports Council in Tallinn. The chance to carry out a meeting of this world organisation uniting 122 nations is a great honour to Estonia and our Defence Forces.
The Winter Olympic Games having ended recently in Salt Lake City have proven that in spite of the tragic events, which shocked the world last autumn, we all are - in the name of lofty ideals - capable of striving jointly for a better, more peaceful present day and future. While gathering under the flags of sport we forget our disagreements and think of what is uniting us irrespective of whatever part of the world we come from.
You as military understand probably best how important it is to meet each other not only during military operations but also for the sake of one's leisure interests. Sporting events are the right place for putting one's capabilities to test and pitting one's strength against opponents in a fair play. It is good also for the servicemen, along with their responsible service, to steel by means of sports and physical activities one's body and to gain in strength of mind.
In Estonia, the servicemen have always been active in sports and such military sports like shooting have brought them worldwide fame already in the first half of the last century. These traditions were continued at the last Winter Olympics, where also elite athletes serving in our armed forces belonged to the Estonian delegation.
I wish you to remain firmly attached to the ideals of sport and peace, uniting peoples, and to be successful guiding the international military sports.
I hereby declare the meeting of the Directorate of the International Military Sports Council opened.
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