Page 92 - Olympism in Socialism

measures resulting from the agreement.
Further friendship agreements were
concluded with the sports organizations of other
fraternal socialist countries. In keeping with
advanced social conditions, in 1977 the
Agreement on the Further Strengthening and
Deepening of the Close Fraternal Friendship and
the All-Round Cooperation between the Sports
Organizations and Bodies of the GDR and the
Committee of Physical Culture and Sports at the
Council of Ministers of the USSR was signed.
Under this agreement the two sides will promote
the progressive drawing closer together of the two
peoples, the further planned development and
perfection of all fields of sports. activity for
mutual benefit and advantage, and contribute, in
alliance with the sports organizations of other
socialist countries, to strengthening peace and
security in Europe and all over the world.
At the VIth Sports and Gymnastics Congress
of the DTSB of the GDR in 1978 Manfred Ewald,
the NTSB's President, stated: “The cordial and
fraternal cooperation between our socialist sports
organization and the sports organizations of the
USSR is in the centre of our entire international
activity. It is dear to our hearts.”
He emphasized that relations between the
sports organizations were becoming ever closer
and richer in content to mutual benefit. Through
purposeful cooperation in major fields of physical
culture and sports, such as, research, training
and advanced training, the development of
competitive sports as well as recreational sports
is gaining in momentum and efficacy,
accelerating the pace of development in both the
countries.
With regard to the Olympic Games in Moscow
in 1980 Manfred Ewald said: “It makes us

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