Military sports

Military sports are sports practiced by the military. They are the subject of international competitions, such as the Military World Games, with an objective relating to the physical training of military. Particular sports may be chosen to improve combat readiness, skill, toughness, the development of physical qualities of the warfighter, and professional proficiency based on the different areas of the military action: land, sea and air.

History


In 1858 Archibald MacLaren opened a gymnasium at the University of Oxford, England and in 1860 instituted a training regimen for 12 non-commissioned officers and their officer Major Frederick Hammersley at the university. This regimen was assimilated into the training of the British Army, which formed the Army Gymnastic Staff in 1861 and made sport an important part of military life.

In the United States, the first Inter-service Sports Council (ISSC) meeting was held in 1947. Today, Armed Forces Sports in the U.S. are run through the Department of Defense.

Since its foundation in 1948, the purpose of the International Military Sports Council (IMSC; or Conseil International du Sport Militarie (CISM)) was to organize and structure a body that would adapt and serve as physical training for the different branches of the armed forces.

Sports
There are 26 disciplines recognized by CISM; some are exclusively military sports.


 * Tanguage2.svgautical pentathlon*
 * Basketball pictogram.svgtball
 * Boxing pictogram.svgg
 * Athletics pictogram.svg country running
 * Cycling (road) pictogram.svgng (Cyclo-cross, Mountain biking, and Road)
 * Equestrian pictogram.svgtrian (Dressage, Endurance, Eventing, and Jumping)
 * Fencing pictogram.svgng
 * Football pictogram.svgall
 * Golf pictogram.svg
 * Handball pictogram.svgall
 * Judo pictogram.svg
 * Athletics pictogram.svghon
 * Athletics pictogram.svgary pentathlon*


 * Modern pentathlon pictogram.svgn pentathlon
 * Naval pentathlon pictogram.png pentathlon*
 * Orienteering pictogram.svgteering
 * Air sports pictogram.jpghuting (Accuracy landing and Formation skydiving)
 * Sailing pictogram.svgng
 * Shooting pictogram.svging
 * Cross country skiing pictogram.svgg (Alpine, Biathlon, Cross-country, Mountaineering, Orienteering, and Patrol)
 * Swimming pictogram.svging (includes Lifesaving pictogram.jpgaving)
 * Taekwondo pictogram.svgondo
 * Athletics pictogram.svg and field
 * Triathlon pictogram.svghlon
 * Volleyball pictogram.svgyball (indoor and Volleyball (beach) pictogram.svg)
 * Wrestling pictogram.svgling

Short track speed skating and sport climbing have also been contested at the CISM World Winter Games.

Notes:
 * &mdash; purely military sport