Information - International Military Sports Council (CISM)
International Military Sports Council (CISM)
International Military Sports Council (Conseil International du Sport Militaire), known by its acronym - CISM, is an official international sports association made up of the member countries' armed forces. CISM is a modern dimension of active establishment of international military relations and a means for promoting and strengthening world peace, inter-military cooperation, trust and reconciliation through sports. This ideal is embedded in the CISM slogan: "Friendship through sport", (www.milsport.one).
CISM consists of representatives of the armed forces of 140 member states from five continents. It was founded as an unofficial international association on 18th February, 1948 in Nice (France) by five founding countries: Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Denmark and the Netherlands. It received its legal status and a Belgium Headquarters (26 Jacques Jordena Street) by a royal decree signed on 9th January, 1989, by the King of Belgium. CISM is a non-profit organization whose goal is to develop friendly relations among the armed forces of member states, promote physical education and sports activities, provide mutual technical assistance, help poorer members in the name of friendship and solidarity and contribute to balanced and harmonious development of servicemen and international efforts to establish universal peace.
Mutual battle and competition of members of the armed forces on the sports field instead of on the battlefield is the main purpose of all activities performed within the CISM program, which significantly contributes to the process of strengthening world peace. This was recognized by the United Nations, which officially included CISM in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 2007. CISM's cooperation with the International Olympic Committee was documented on 18th April, 1998, at the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of CISM, at the 53rd CISM General Assembly and Congress, held from 8th to 20th April, 1998 in Austria (Baden-Vienna).
CISM is included in AISF - Association of International Sports Federations (Multisport Organization and Competition "Sports for All"), and the Charter of Cooperation was signed by the President of the IOC, His Excellency, Marquis Juan Antonio Samaran.
Like the Olympic Games, starting in 1995, CISM began the cycle of organizing the World Military Games ("Military Olympic Games"). The great success of these games and the friendship that was built thanks to them between members of the armed forces encouraged the establishment of the World Winter and Cadet Games. Thus, in 2010, “1st World Winter Games" in Valle d'Aosta (Italy) and "1st World Cadet Games” in Ankara (Turkey) were held.
CISM as the foundation of sports in the military
Sport, as a phenomenon of modern society, is based on maximum commitment and application of physical exercises and activities in order to improve motor skills, mental capacity and personality traits, i.e. to achieve excellence in the chosen sport. By developing physical and organizational abilities in society and comparing them in certain bio-social conditions, important individual and general human needs are met, including the crucial need for every country - defence needs.
Sport effectively establishes and improves social cohesion and strengthens peacetime and combat readiness at all levels of a country's defence system. By organizing and participating in sports events from the CISM program, members of the armed forces are enabled to compare their functional, operational and organizational skills, improve them through interactive inter-military cooperation and present them as an effective means of promoting the basic values of military profession, the armed forces and state.
For 17 years of our country's membership in CISM, sport in the Defence System of the Republic of Serbia has been incorporated into national sport and its sustainable development has been ensured. As a form of physical culture of members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, sport in the military was clearly manifested through free or organized engaging in sports activities, in order to achieve physical and competitive excellence, by fighting and competing on the sports field instead of on the battlefield. Improving personal physical appearance and abilities, general health, team spirit and results in competitions on all levels are the basic tasks of sports in the military, which comprise military sports, classical sports and sports for all. While classical sports and sports for all include all generally known sports and disciplines practiced in the military, military sports are sports specific only to the military organization, where sports activities are comparable to procedures in the preparation and execution of combat actions and other military missions.
The military profession, which effectively expresses chivalrous culture, courage and virtue, is founded on sport as a general indicator of health, organization and strength of a society. Readiness for action and the extent to which the knowledge, skills and experience of those who participate in a competition, if applied at the right time, determine the success in the fight for victory, both on the battlefield and on the sports field. Like an armed conflict, sports competition is based on facing a challenge set by a worthy (equal) opponent in the form of a certain obstacle (task). In this competition, in order to ensure a victorious outcome, it is necessary to reason correctly and quickly, show perseverance and composure under pressure and, respecting the accepted rules, make decisions that will help cover long distances and overcome imposed challenges better than others, i.e. choose solutions that will turn problems into advantages.
Given that motion and movement are the basis of social activities such as defence and sports, these two areas are inextricably linked by physical exercise, i.e. training, which improves motor and work abilities and specific skills, forms a stable and original mental attitude and achieves harmonious overall development of members of the military. Also, when properly structured, sport is not only compatible with academic values but can even improve and enhance them. Facing a worthy challenge in a competition is the best possible test for checking the achieved physical abilities and provides an opportunity to react intelligently and skilfully in all situations, analyze and overcome certain weaknesses, and learn something new from it.
At sports events from the CISM program, starting from 2003, by taking a significant test, members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces tried to present their own physical abilities and skills and show greater efficiency in overcoming the set challenges compared to their colleagues from foreign armed forces, with a proper mental attitude and behaviour. In that way, in addition to the demonstrated physical abilities, sports skills, high motivation and basic values of the military profession, notable sports achievements were made. By gaining valuable experience and knowledge in the field of training, sports diplomacy and management in sports, the physical, communication and organizational abilities of members of the armed forces have been significantly improved and their moral values have been harmonized, in accordance with the code of sports conduct. Finally, interpersonal communication, mutual respect, understanding and cooperation with members of foreign armed forces have been improved, regardless of their ethnic, cultural and religious identity.
Republic of Serbia in the International Military Sports Council (CISM)
The Republic of Serbia has been a full member of CISM since the admission of the State Union of "Serbia and Montenegro" at "58th CISM General Assembly and Congress ", on 15th May, 2003 in the United Arab Emirates (Dubai). The official statement on joining CISM was signed by the then Minister of Defence, Mr. Boris Tadić.
The purpose of the membership and existence of the Delegation is the participation of the Republic of Serbia and the Serbian Armed Forces in the sustainable development of world peace and the improvement of inter-military cooperation, trust and reconciliation in the region through sports, competitions with members of foreign armed forces on the sports field instead of on the battlefield. In that way, the country's defence capabilities are strengthened and it contributes to building peace and security in the world through a kind of peace mission of military athletes, which is illustrated by the CISM slogan "Friendship through sport".
The Delegation of the Republic of Serbia to CISM consists of:
- Head of Delegation – Lieutenant Colonel Negovan Ivanković, PhD,
- Delegates – Lieutenant Colonel Dragan Todorov, PhD, Major Goran Živanović, Captain Goran Čegar,
- Coordinator – Lieutenant Colonel Stevica Prčić, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Pešić, MD, Lieutenant Colonel Blagota Vuković,
- Delegation secretary – Major Vladimir Petrošević.
Since joining CISM until today, the Serbian delegation to CISM has participated in 162 sports events and events from the CISM program. The most important sports competitions in which members of the MoD and the Armed Forces participated were: "3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Summer World Military Games", "1st, 2nd and 3rd Winter World Military Games", “1st World Cadet Games” and numerous world military championships in skiing, athletics, orienteering, marathon, military pentathlon, shooting, judo, sailing, futsal and parachuting.
Competing against fierce and professional sports competition, members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces have won a total of 83 sports medals at 103 CISM competitions (19 world, 2 European and 62 regional medals), 28 of which - gold, 26 - silver and 29 – bronze). The greatest successes were achieved against the strongest competition, at the CISM World Military Championships and World Military Games: Mladen Tepavčević in swimming (1st and 3rd places at the 3rd World Military Games in Italy in 2003), men's team in alpine skiing (3rd place in slalom at the 1st Winter World Military Games in Italy in 2010), women's team in alpine skiing (3rd place in giant slalom at the 53rd World Military Skiing Championship in Sweden in 2015), women's team in the marathon (3rd place at the 47th World Military Championship in Italy in 2016 and 2nd place at the 50th World Military Championship in Lebanon in 2018), Anja Obradović in judo (2nd place at the 38th World Military Championship in Brazil in 2018), Aleksandar Kukolj in judo (3rd place at the 38th World Military Championship in Brazil in 2018), Vesna Rakić in judo (3rd place at the 38th World Military Championship in Brazil in 2018), Mate Nemeš in wrestling (3rd place at the 7th World Military Games in China in 2019), Viktor Nemeš in wrestling (3rd place at the 7th World Military Games in China in 2019) and Sanja Vukašinović in shooting (3rd place at the 7th World Military Games in China in 2019).
Among the most valuable CISM sports events that have been successfully organized in the Republic of Serbia are: “CISM European Conference” (November 2008), “42nd World Military Marathon Championship” (April 2009), “CISM Strategic Seminar 2010” (September 2010) and “55th World Military Cross-Country Championship” (March 2013).
A regional activity of special importance is "CISM - FIFA Futsal Cup", initiated by the Delegation of the Republic of Serbia to CISM, with the aim of strengthening cooperation, trust and reconciliation among the armed forces of the countries in the formerly war-torn region. This initiative was personally supported by the Secretary General of CISM and FIFA, and has traditionally been organized since 2009, with the participation of all six former Republics of SFRY.
The delegation of the Republic of Serbia to CISM initiated the project of the CISM Challenge Cup in Mountain Running, which started in 2010 and nine competitions have been held so far.
The Delegation of the Republic of Serbia to CISM is also dedicated to organizing sports training camps (winter and summer) on Kopaonik, where, in addition to the preparations of members of the Serbian Armed Forces in all sports, great emphasis is placed on holding professional gatherings in the field of sports. So far, ten summer camps and nine winter camps have been organized.
From 2006 until today, CISM General Secretariat Brussels, has awarded 19 prestigious decorations to the Republic of Serbia for merits in the development of world peace, inter-military cooperation, sports and physical culture (Silver Star - 3, Knight - 11, Grand Knight - 4, and Grand Officer - 3). A prestigious decoration of the Grand Officer was awarded to the ministers of defence Dragan Šutanovac, Aleksandar Vučić and Aleksandar Vulin during their mandates.
Comprehensive engagement of members of the military national teams of the Republic of Serbia at CISM sports events, focused on sports results, technical assistance, solidarity and general efforts to establish universal peace, contributed to balanced and harmonious development of members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces. Numerous friendly relations have been established with colleagues from foreign armed forces around the world, and by comparing the acquired skills and knowledge in the field of sports and physical culture, the essential values of sports such as ethics, healthy living, fair play, etc. have been effectively promoted.
CONCLUSION
During its membership in CISM, the Republic of Serbia has participated in the organization and implementation of 162 activities, established notable inter-military cooperation with numerous countries and made a significant contribution to strengthening the position and credibility of our armed forces and country at the international level. By participating in athletes’ "operations" in the field of strengthening peace and trust in the world, through various activities from the CISM program, their own operational capabilities have been improved and the diplomatic potential and reputation of our military and state in the world have increased.
By organizing and participating in sports events from the CISM program, as an integrated model of general development of members of the armed forces around the world, in addition to demonstrating top sports skills and different national cultures, much higher values are promoted, the values by which history has forged very strong ties between the nations and the armies. By carrying out a kind of peacekeeping mission, fighting and competing on the sports field instead of on the battlefield, members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, both as athletes and leaders, have significantly improved the reputation of our armed forces and the state in the world. In accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia and the code of honour of members of the Serbian Armed Forces, military profession, the spirit of tolerance and intercultural dialogue, mutual respect, understanding and cooperation among members of the armed forces in the Balkans have been effectively promoted, regardless of their ethnic, cultural or religious identity.
Involving our country in international military sports integration processes is an effective way to achieve interoperability of professional servicemen, to promote national, gender, racial and religious equality, to preserve the environment and strengthen peace, security, cooperation and trust in the region, Europe and the world, which is in accordance with the key national values, interests and goals of the national security and defence policy of the Republic of Serbia.