The delegation of the Republic of Serbia to CISM
Based on the idea of establishing a peaceful and safe world and with a mission to enable members of the armed forces around the world to fight and compete on a sports field rather than on the battlefield, on 18th February, 1948 a unique, interdisciplinary world military sports organization was formed in Nice (France) - International Military Sports Council (CISM). The philosophy and ideals of the organization are embedded in CISM’s official slogan - "Friendship through Sport". CISM currently comprises the armed forces of 140 countries around the world, and the Republic of Serbia was admitted as its 127th member at the "58th CISM General Assembly and Congress", on 15th May, 2003 in the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), with the aim of participating in the sustainable development of world peace and promoting inter-military cooperation, trust and reconciliation in the region through sport.
From the first participation of athletes from the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces in the “3rd Military World Games” (12 - 20 December 2003, in Catania - Italy) until the end of 2019, the Serbian Delegation to CISM participated in 162 sports events and events from the CISM program. Members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces won a total of 83 sports medals (19 world, 2 European and 62 regional medals), 28 of which gold, 26 silver and 29 bronze, competing against fierce and professional sports competition.
Among the most important sports competitions in which the Serbian Delegation to CISM has participated are: "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, sailing, futsal and parachuting. During this period, the Delegation successfully organized the following sporting events: “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, unique in the world, 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 between the armed forces of the countries in the formerly war-torn region (former Republics of SFRY). This initiative is 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.
From 2006 until today, CISM General Secretariat Brussels, has awarded 19 prestigious decorations for merits in the development of world peace, inter-military cooperation, sports and physical culture to the Republic of Serbia, (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.
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.