International Military Sports Council

International sports association

International Military Sports Council
Conseil International du Sport Militaire

Sport| Military sports
Jurisdiction| International
Abbreviation| IMSC/CISM
Founded| 18 February 1948 (1948-02-18)
Headquarters| Brussels, Belgium
President| Colonel Nilton Gomes Rolim
Official website
www.milsport.one
Motto: Friendship through Sport

The International Military Sports Council (IMSC; French: Conseil International du Sport Militaire, CISM) is an international sports association, established in 1948 and headquartered in Brussels. It is the world's second-largest multi-discipline sports organisation, after the International Olympic Committee, holding more than 20 competitions annually.[1] Under its auspices, soldiers who may previously have met on the battlefield compete on the sports playing field. CISM organises various sporting events, including the Military World Games and World Military Championships, for the armed forces of 140 member countries.[2][3] The aim of CISM is to promote sport activity and physical education between armed forces as a means to foster world peace. The motto of CISM is "Friendship through Sport" and is based on the three pillars: sport, education and solidarity.[4] Since April 2018, the president of CISM has been Colonel Nilton Gomes Rolim Filho of Brazil.

## History

[edit]

### Before the CISM

[edit]

In 1919, in the aftermath of the First World War, the Inter-Allied Games were organised by General John Pershing's Allied Forces Sports Council, bringing together 1500 athletes representing 18 nations, to compete in 24 sports. The event was held in Joinville-le-Pont in France.[5][6]

In May 1946, after the Second World War, the Allied Forces Sports Council was revived by Colonel Henri Debrus and Olympic pentathlete Major Raoul Mollet, and over the weekend of 7-8 September that year, the second Inter-Allied Games took place in Berlin, at the Olympiastadion, venue of the 1936 Olympic Games.[5] The event was also known as the Allied Track and Field Championships, following a similar event in 1945. Twelve nations were due to be represented: Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Great Britain, Poland, Greece, Luxembourg, Holland, Norway, the Soviet Union, the United States and hosts Germany,[7] while reports say that only seven did.[8][9][6]

Amid some rancour, the Allied Forces Sports Council was extinguished in 1947.[8][10]

### Main development

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A few months later, taking up they had left off with the Allied Forces Sports Council, Colonel Debrus and Major Mollet founded the CISM, on 18 February 1948. The founding members were Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. In 1950, Argentina and Egypt became members. In 1951, the United States joined. In 1952, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan and Syria became members, followed two years later by Brazil. Canada came on board in 1985. Then in 1991, with the end of the Cold War, the rival Warsaw Pact organisation Friendly Armies' Sports Committee (SKDA) merged with CISM, heralding the accession of 31 new member countries from the Pact and others associated with the Soviet Bloc.[11] This rapid progress led to recognition by international institutions including the IOC. Prior to 1995, CISM organised 15 to 20 world championships each year. Since 1995, CISM has organised every four years the Military World Games, a multi-sport event.[12]

### CISM of the Americas

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The CISM of the Americas Continent is a subordinate organisation that consists of 19 member nations: Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America, Uruguay and Venezuela. There are two liaison offices known as the North American Liaison Office (NALO) and the South American Liaison Office (SALO). The CISM of the Americas Vice President, (Army) Colonel Walter Jander served as one of the four CISM Vice Presidents (2015–2019).[8]

## CISM honors and awards

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CISM Order of Merit

Grand Cordon'  |
Commander |
Grand Officer

Officer |
Grand Knight |
Knight
CISM Star of Sports Merit

Double Gold Star |
Gold Star |
Silver Star |
Bronze Star

## Goals and organisation

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### Solidarity

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The CISM Solidarity programme is intended as a means to promote sustainable development to strengthen less privileged CISM member countries, in order to create equal opportunities for all CISM nations to participate in CISM events.[citation needed]

Developed some decades ago, Solidarity is one of the two pillars that guide CISM's activities, and inspired the Olympic solidarity model. CISM's solidarity programme has many components, ranging from organising technical clinics in less privileged countries and transporting athletes to championships, to shipping sports equipment to disadvantaged regions. Member countries may send or invite coaches, based either on CISM membership and "Friendship through Sport" or often through bilateral contracts.[citation needed]

The establishment of Regional Development Centres (RDC) is a major objective of the CISM support policy. The first step in this direction was taken in 2006 when the CISM African Development Centre (CAD) was founded in Nairobi, Kenya. A further Regional Development Centre was established in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[citation needed]

### General Assembly

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A General Assembly, on which all member nations are represented, is the supreme authority of CISM.[citation needed]

## Leadership

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### CISM presidents

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S. No. | Name | Country | Term

|
|
|

1. | Colonel Henri Debrus |  France | 1948–1953
2. | Major Arne W. Thorburn |  Sweden | 1953–1956
3. | Colonel Henri Debrus |  France | 1956–1961
4. | Brigadier-General Royal Hatch |  United States | 1961–1967
5. | Air Commander M. M. Piracha |  Pakistan | 1967–1968
6. | Admiral Fazio Casari |  Italy | 1968–1969
7. | Major-General Kenneth G. Wickham |  United States | 1969–1970
8. | Counter Admiral Aldo Massarini |  Italy | 1970–1979
9. | Divisional-General Mohammed Saleh Mokaddem |  Tunisia | 1979–1986
10. | Divisional-General Jean Duguet |  France | 1986–1994
11. | General Arthur Zechner |  Austria | 1994–1998
12. | Major-General Dr. Gianni Gola |  Italy | 1998–2010
13. | Colonel Hamad Kalkaba Malboum |  Cameroon | 2010–2014
14. | Colonel Abdulhakim Al-Shino |  Bahrain | 2014–2018
15. | Colonel Hervé Piccirillo |  France | 2018–2022
16. | Colonel Nilton Gomes Rolim Filho |  Brazil | 2022–present

### Board of directors

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Designation | Name | Country

|
|

President | Colonel Nilton Gomes Rolim Filho |  Brazil
Vice-Presidents | Brigadier General Rashid Mahboob Al-Dosari (Asia) |  Qatar
Colonel Dirk Schwede (Europe) |  Germany
Major General Maikano Abdullahi (Africa) |  Nigeria
Colonel Delio Rosario Colon |  Dominican Republic
Secretary General | Navy Captain Roberto Recchia |  Italy
Treasurer General | Colonel Sven Serré |  Belgium
Member | General Djabou M’hammed Abdelhak |  Algeria
Colonel Sega Sissoko |  Mali
Brigadier-General Elijah Ndegwa Gatere |  Kenya
Air Vice Marshal Simon Nyowani |  Zimbabwe
Colonel Steven Rosso |  United States
Colonel Nathalie Birgentzlen |  Canada
Colonel Luiz Fernando Toledo Leal |  Brazil
Colonel Yijang Wang |  China
Brigadier General Zakaryia Kanat |  Syria
Colonel Moon-Hak Yoon |  South Korea
Major General Oleg Botsman |  Russia
Major Jan-Henrik Back |  Sweden
Colonel Jose Carlos Garcia-Verdugo |  Spain
Lieutenant Colonel Jure Velepec |  Slovenia

## CISM events

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### Military World Games

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Main article: Military World Games

The Military World Games are a multisports event organised every four years since 1995. They are held one year before the year the Olympic Games are organised.

* The 1st Military World Games 1995 Military World Games was held in Rome, Italy from 4 to 16 September 1995; 93 nations competed in 17 different sporting events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Second World War and of the ratification of the United Nations Organization Charter.
* In August 1999, the 2nd Military World Games 1999 Military World Games was held in Zagreb, Croatia; 7000 participants from 82 nations competed in 20 sports.
* In December 2003, the 3rd Military World Games 2003 Military World Games was held in Catania, Italy; Participants from 84 different nations competed in 13 sports.
* In October 2007, the 4th Military World Games 2007 Military World Games was held in Hyderabad, India; Participants from 101 countries competed in 14 sports.
* In July 2011, the 5th Military World Games 2011 Military World Games was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Participants from 108 countries competed in 20 sports. Brazil topped the medal table with 45 gold, 33 silver and 36 bronze. China was second with 37 gold, 28 silver and 34 bronze. Italy captured 14 gold, 13 silver and 24 bronze to round out the top three.
* In October 2015, the 6th Military World Games 2015 Military World Games was held in Mungyeong, South Korea; Participants from 105 countries, more 15 as observer, competed in 24 sports, including five military sports. Russia topped the medal table with 59 gold, 43 silver and 33 bronze. Brazil was the second with 34 gold, 26 silver and 24 bronze. China captured 32 gold, 31 silver and 35 bronze to round out the top three.
* In 2019, the 7th CISM World Games took place in Wuhan, China.

### World Military Championships

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Main article: World Military Championships

In the year of the Military World Games (from 1995, every four years), championship shall be the same of the World Games tournament.

# | Event | First Edition | Last Edition | Ref

|
|
|
|

Military Sports
1 | World Military Pentathlon Championship | 1950 | 64th (2017) |
2 | World Military Aeronautical Pentathlon Championship | 1948 | 57th (2015) |
3 | World Military Naval Pentathlon Championship | 1954 | 50th (2015) |
4 | World Military Modern Pentathlon Championship | 1963 | 45th (2017) |
5 | World Military Triathlon Championship | 1992 | 19th (2017) |
6 | World Military Orienteering Championship | 1965 | 50th (2017) |
7 | World Military Parachuting Championship | 1964 | 41st (2017) |
8 | World Military Sailing Championship | 1949 | 52nd (2021) |
Combat Sports
9 | World Military Boxing Championship | 1947 | 58th (2021) | [13]
10 | World Military Fencing Championship | 1947 | 45th (2017) | [14]
11 | World Military Judo Championship | 1966 | 37th (2016) | [15]
12 | World Military Taekwondo Championship | 1980 | 34th (2011) | [16]
13 | World Military Wrestling Championship | 1961 | 32nd (2017) | [17]
Main Sports
14 | World Military Track and Field Championship | 1946 | 45th (2015) |
15 | World Military Cross Country Championship | 1947 | 57th (2017) |
16 | World Military Marathon Championship |  | 50th (2018) |
17 | World Military Swimming & Lifesaving Championship | 1946 | 49th (2017) |
18 | World Military Shooting Championship | 1957 | 50th (2018) |
19 | World Military Archery Championship | 2017 | 1st (2017) |
20 | World Military Cycling Road Championship |  | 20th (2018) |
21 | World Military Cycling Mountain Bike Championship |  | 21st (2018) |
Team Sports
22 | World Military Basketball Championship | 1950 | 2015 M / 2016 W |
23 | World Military Football Championship | 1946 | 2017 M / 2018 W |
24 | World Military Handball Championship [fr] | 1982 |  |
25 | World Military Volleyball Championship | 1961 | 2016 M / 2017 W |
Winter Sports
26 | World Military Skiing Championship | 1954 | 55th (2023) |
Other Sports
27 | World Military Equestrian Championship | 1969 | 20th (2017) |
28 | World Military Golf Championship | 2003 | 11th (2017) |

## Sports

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Sailing at the 2003 Military World Games, IMSC at Catania, Italy

CISM annually organises over twenty Military World Championships for different sports in which all member nations can take part. They also organize continental and regional competitions and every four years the Military World Games are held. This is a multisports event which is organized by CISM in conjunction with CISM member nations. The sports include: basketball; bowling, boxing, cross country running, cycling, golf, judo, lifesaving, marathon, modern pentathlon, orienteering, parachuting, rugby football, sailing, shooting, skiing, soccer, softball, swimming, taekwondo, track and field, triathlon, volleyball, beach volleyball, and wrestling.[18]

26 Sports recognized in March 2025.[19][20][21]

## Other activities

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### Symposia

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U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team competes in the accuracy competition at the 2007 Military World Games, Hyderabad, India

CISM strives to organise international symposia at least every year to study various aspects of physical education and sport within member states' armed forces. In 2008, was the symposium about "How to emphasize the importance of sports within the Armed Forces at national and international level" took place in Sofia, Bulgaria 24-25 September 2008. A symposium on "Sports science: fundamental tool of modern sports management" in Prague 18-23 September 2009 was attended by 70 participants from 27 countries, and saw the relaunch of the CISM Academy.[citation needed]

### Sport for Peace

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Frank Workman (US), tries to take down Aydın Polatçı (Turkey), 130-kg Free-Style. 19th World Military Wrestling Championship (CISM), Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

In 2005, CISM organised the seminar "Sport and peace" which was held in Mantova, Italy. Representatives from more than 22 countries, International Organizations, IOC, UN, UNICEF, Sports Associations, CISM Member Nations and organizations directly dealing with peace, health, sport and education attended the Seminar.[citation needed]

In October 2007, during the 4th Military World Games in India, CISM organised in partnership with the IOC, the Indian Olympic Association and the Organising Committee of the World Games, an International Forum on Sport for Peace, with the theme: "Sport, a concrete fundamental tool to promote Peace".[citation needed]

This year, on 20 March, in the framework of the Winter Games, CISM organized in close cooperation with IOC, the International Forum on the subject Sport for Peace – "From positive initiatives to systemic integrated programs".[citation needed]

Forum participants signed a declaration "CISM Aosta Call-to-Action 2010 on Sport for Peace" summarising the common wishes and asking all institutions to formally establish a bilateral and mutual agreement in order to undertake concrete programmes aimed at sharing good practices and effectively implementing Sport for Peace programmes.[citation needed]

### Women in sport

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Canada was the first country to include women’s categories while hosting Taekwondo in 1993, had the first female sport committee president (sailing) and also hosted the 1st Women in CISM Week in Kingston in 2008.[4]

## See also

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Boyd Melson (right), during the 2007 Conseil International du Sport Militaire Military World Games

* World Military Basketball Championship
* World Military Cross Country Championships
* World Military Cup
* World Military Pentathlon Championship
* World Military Track and Field Championships
* Military World Games
* Military sports
* List of shooting sports organizations

## References

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1. ^ "Armed Forces Sports - CISM Sports". armedforcessports.defense.gov. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
2. ^ CISM member nations
3. ^ "World Military Games in 2007". The Hindu. 9 April 2006. Archived from the original on 24 October 2007.
4. ^ a b "CISM". www.cfmws.com. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
5. ^ a b International Military Sports Council (Background), CISM Europe
6. ^ a b CISM Regulations, International Military Sports Council, July 2017
7. ^ Original Vtg 1946 Post WWII Inter-Allied Military Games German Olympic Poster, Ebay listing, 2019
8. ^ a b c "Armed Forces Sports - About CISM". armedforcessports.defense.gov. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
9. ^ The IMSC: Born From Two World Wars Archived 22 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine, rmsports
10. ^ Gary Hopkins (February 1985). "Navy Sports" (PDF). All Hands (815). United States Navy: 22–23\. ISSN 0002-5577. Archived from the original on 17 June 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2024.`{{cite journal}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
11. ^ CISM - International Military Sports Council | International Life Saving Federation
12. ^ "Armed Forces Sports - CISM Military World Games". armedforcessports.defense.gov. Archived from the original on 8 April 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
13. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20171027082817/http://www.milsport.one/sports/boxing
14. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20171027081739/http://www.milsport.one/sports/fencing
15. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20171101034113/http://www.milsport.one/sports/judo
16. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20171027074306/http://www.milsport.one/sports/taekwondo
17. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20171012125817/http://www.milsport.one/sports/wrestling
18. ^ "U.S. Armed Forces Sports". armedforcessports.defense.gov. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
19. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20250320063500/https://www.milsport.one/sports
20. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20181225134947/http://www.milsport.one/sports
21. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20181231234933/http://www.milsport.one/sport-and-peace/history

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to International Military Sports Council.

* Official website
* https://web.archive.org/web/20250000000000*/http://www.cism-milsport.org/
* http://www.cism-milsport.org/eng/001_HOME/001_homepage.asp \- Archive results
* https://web.archive.org/web/20181223195147/http://www.milsport.one/
* The short film Staff Film Report 66-13A (1966) is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive.
* The short film Staff Film Report 66-22A (1966) is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive.

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