International Military Sports Council

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International Military Sports Council
Conseil International du Sport Militaire
SportMilitary sports
JurisdictionInternational
AbbreviationIMSC/CISM
Founded18 February 1948 (1948-02-18)
HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
PresidentColonel Nilton Gomes Rolim
Official website
www.milsport.one
Motto: Friendship through Sport

The International Military Sports Council (IMSC) or 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 three pillars of sport, education and solidarity.[4]

Since 21 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]

Main development[edit]

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 Allied 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.[10] 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.[11]

CISM of the Americas[edit]

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[edit]

CISM ORDER OF MERIT
CISM Order of Merit '
Grand Cordon'
CISM Order of Merit '
Commander
CISM Order of Merit '
Grand Officer
CISM Order of Merit '
Officer
CISM Order of Merit '
Grand Knight
CISM Order of Merit '
Knight
CISM STAR OF SPORTS MERIT
CISM Star of Sports '
Double Gold Star
CISM Star of Sports '
Gold Star
CISM Star of Sports '
Silver Star
CISM Star of Sports '
Bronze Star

Goals and organisation[edit]

Solidarity[edit]

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[edit]

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

Leadership[edit]

CISM Presidents[edit]

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[edit]

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 Colonel 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[edit]

Military World Games[edit]

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[edit]

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

Number Event First Edition Last Edition
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)
10 World Military Fencing Championship 1947 45th (2017)
11 World Military Judo Championship 1966 37th (2016)
12 World Military Taekwondo Championship 1980 34th (2011)
13 World Military Wrestling Championship 1961 32nd (2017)
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[edit]

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.[12]

Other activities[edit]

Symposia[edit]

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[edit]

Frank Workman (US), tries to take down Aydın Polatçi (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[edit]

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[edit]

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

References[edit]

  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, rmsports
  10. ^ CISM - International Military Sports Council | International Life Saving Federation
  11. ^ "Armed Forces Sports - CISM Military World Games". armedforcessports.defense.gov. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  12. ^ "U.S. Armed Forces Sports". armedforcessports.defense.gov. Retrieved 21 July 2017.

External links[edit]