Official Statement of MND
22nd August 2021
Lieutenant General Said CHANEGRIHA, Chief of Staff of the People’s National Army, presides over the opening of the International Military Dog-training Competition “True Friend” organized within the framework of the 2021 International Military Games
Lieutenant General Saïd CHANEGRIHA, Chief of Staff of the People’s National Army, presided this morning 22 August 2021 at the Preparation and Gathering Center of Sports Military Teams - “Chahid Messaoud BOUDJRIOU” - Ben Aknoun, 1st Military Region, over the opening ceremony of the International Military Dog-training Competition “True Friend” for the year 2021, hosted, for the first time, by Algeria, within the framework of the International Military Games organized each year by the Russian Federation.
The ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister, Minister of Finances, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Minister of Communication, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Minister of Youth and Sports and the Minister of Culture and Arts, alongside the heads of the military sports delegations of the participating countries, the two ambassadors of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Vietnam, as well as the Commander of the 1st Military Region and General Officers of the Ministry of National Defence and General Staff of the People's National Army.
This international military sports competition saw the participation of a large number of athletes from both sexes representing five different countries: Algeria, Russia, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Belarus, to compete in four dog-training disciplines: biathlon (race plus rifle shooting), shooting exercise with the Kalashnikov type machine pistol, hurdle race and a protection and security exercise.
At the beginning of the ceremony, the national colours and the emblem of the International Military Dog-training Competition “True Friend” were raised, followed by the welcoming speeches of the President of the Organising Committee as well as the Head of the Russian delegation.
The Lieutenant General then addressed an opening speech, at the beginning of which he greeted the athletes of the participating countries, wishing them and their accompanying delegations an excellent stay in Algeria. He also presented his sincere thanks to the Russian military command who offered our People’s National Army and our country the opportunity to organise this international military sports competition:
“On the occasion of the opening of the International Military Dog-training Competition “True Friend” for the year 2021, hosted for the first time, by Algeria, within the framework of the International Military Games, organized every year by the Russian Federation, I am pleased to welcome the athletes of the participating countries, wishing them and the delegations accompanying them an excellent stay among us. I would also like to thank them for honouring our invitation to take part in this important international military sporting event.
I would also like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to the Russian military command who offered our People's National Army and Algeria the opportunity to organise this international military sports competition, which will see the participation of a large number of athletes from both sexes, representing five countries, that are namely: Algeria, Russia, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Belarus, who will compete in four dog-training disciplines: biathlon (running plus shooting with rifle), shooting exercise with Kalashnikov machine pistol, hurdle race and a protection and security exercise.
The Lieutenant General stated that sport is the only common language between people, in their different origins and languages, and that the People's National Army considers sports competitions as a school, that allows the soldier to understand the value of effort and determination in order to succeed and win:
“Sport, as you all know, is one of the most important means of strengthening relations between peoples, thanks to the fair competition and fair play that characterise it. We can even say that sport is the only common language between peoples, in their different origins and languages.
Following the example of the armies of friendly countries, present here with us today, we consider within the People's National Army ranks that sport, in its global sense, is an integral part of the combat preparation of our personnel, and even more, of our training apparatus. We also consider sports competitions, in their diversity, as a school, that allows the soldier to understand the value of effort and determination in order to succeed and win.
Indeed, true success is to persevere in one's efforts, keeping in mind that victory is always possible in the end. If this goal is achieved, it is a reward in itself, but if not, even at the cost of effort; this is not a failure either, but rather another form of achievement. Willpower inevitably leads to victory and he who has it will surely achieve his desired goals.
It is this meaningful message that we strive to convey to all military athletes, by imparting to them the value of fair competition and the countless virtues of sport, they remain an excellent means of promoting the values of mutual aid, synergy of effort and endurance, in all circumstances, these are some of the lessons that can be extracted from sports competitions.”
At the end of the event, the Lieutenant General expressed his best wishes to all the participants, wishing them to win as many medals as possible, and announced the official opening of the event:
“I would like to wish you all, many achievements, success, and lots of medals, with honourable results, in line with the expectations of the Armed Forces of our respective countries, which always aspire to better results.
Finally, I announce the official opening of the International Military Dog-training Competition “True Friend” for the year 2021.”
The audience then followed the opening ceremony which started with a parade presented by the participating military sports teams with their emblems, followed by various exhibitions of the Republican Guard troops, as well as the interpretation of a Russian symphony and weapons’ exhibitions, to the sound of the military band, before attending the various exhibitions from the Dog-training sports teams of the National Gendarmerie and the musical and cavalry troops of the Republican Guards.
The ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister, Minister of Finances, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Minister of Communication, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Minister of Youth and Sports and the Minister of Culture and Arts, alongside the heads of the military sports delegations of the participating countries, the two ambassadors of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Vietnam, as well as the Commander of the 1st Military Region and General Officers of the Ministry of National Defence and General Staff of the People's National Army.
This international military sports competition saw the participation of a large number of athletes from both sexes representing five different countries: Algeria, Russia, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Belarus, to compete in four dog-training disciplines: biathlon (race plus rifle shooting), shooting exercise with the Kalashnikov type machine pistol, hurdle race and a protection and security exercise.
At the beginning of the ceremony, the national colours and the emblem of the International Military Dog-training Competition “True Friend” were raised, followed by the welcoming speeches of the President of the Organising Committee as well as the Head of the Russian delegation.
The Lieutenant General then addressed an opening speech, at the beginning of which he greeted the athletes of the participating countries, wishing them and their accompanying delegations an excellent stay in Algeria. He also presented his sincere thanks to the Russian military command who offered our People’s National Army and our country the opportunity to organise this international military sports competition:
“On the occasion of the opening of the International Military Dog-training Competition “True Friend” for the year 2021, hosted for the first time, by Algeria, within the framework of the International Military Games, organized every year by the Russian Federation, I am pleased to welcome the athletes of the participating countries, wishing them and the delegations accompanying them an excellent stay among us. I would also like to thank them for honouring our invitation to take part in this important international military sporting event.
I would also like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to the Russian military command who offered our People's National Army and Algeria the opportunity to organise this international military sports competition, which will see the participation of a large number of athletes from both sexes, representing five countries, that are namely: Algeria, Russia, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Belarus, who will compete in four dog-training disciplines: biathlon (running plus shooting with rifle), shooting exercise with Kalashnikov machine pistol, hurdle race and a protection and security exercise.
The Lieutenant General stated that sport is the only common language between people, in their different origins and languages, and that the People's National Army considers sports competitions as a school, that allows the soldier to understand the value of effort and determination in order to succeed and win:
“Sport, as you all know, is one of the most important means of strengthening relations between peoples, thanks to the fair competition and fair play that characterise it. We can even say that sport is the only common language between peoples, in their different origins and languages.
Following the example of the armies of friendly countries, present here with us today, we consider within the People's National Army ranks that sport, in its global sense, is an integral part of the combat preparation of our personnel, and even more, of our training apparatus. We also consider sports competitions, in their diversity, as a school, that allows the soldier to understand the value of effort and determination in order to succeed and win.
Indeed, true success is to persevere in one's efforts, keeping in mind that victory is always possible in the end. If this goal is achieved, it is a reward in itself, but if not, even at the cost of effort; this is not a failure either, but rather another form of achievement. Willpower inevitably leads to victory and he who has it will surely achieve his desired goals.
It is this meaningful message that we strive to convey to all military athletes, by imparting to them the value of fair competition and the countless virtues of sport, they remain an excellent means of promoting the values of mutual aid, synergy of effort and endurance, in all circumstances, these are some of the lessons that can be extracted from sports competitions.”
At the end of the event, the Lieutenant General expressed his best wishes to all the participants, wishing them to win as many medals as possible, and announced the official opening of the event:
“I would like to wish you all, many achievements, success, and lots of medals, with honourable results, in line with the expectations of the Armed Forces of our respective countries, which always aspire to better results.
Finally, I announce the official opening of the International Military Dog-training Competition “True Friend” for the year 2021.”
The audience then followed the opening ceremony which started with a parade presented by the participating military sports teams with their emblems, followed by various exhibitions of the Republican Guard troops, as well as the interpretation of a Russian symphony and weapons’ exhibitions, to the sound of the military band, before attending the various exhibitions from the Dog-training sports teams of the National Gendarmerie and the musical and cavalry troops of the Republican Guards.
