26.08.2020.
We Strengthen Qualities of Members of Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces through Sport
One of the primary reasons why we attach such great importance to sports in the Serbian Armed Forces is the multiple influence that sports have on building psychophysical and moral traits of members of the armed forces
In the Serbian Armed Forces, physical fitness training is carried out in a planned and systematic fashion as a permanent process of training and exercise by their members through conduct of various exercise and sport activities, sport competitions and physical fitness checks.
The aspiration to enable every member of the Serbian Armed Forces to practice sports up to professional level was institutionalised by establishment of Sports Section within the University of Defence within which a Sports Unit was established early in 2019.
Aims of the Sport Unit are to promote the Republic of Serbia, Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces, on the global military sports map through achievement of notable results at large military sports events in the country and abroad, and to participate in competition of the International Military Sports Council (CISM) and provide expert support to work of sport clubs of the Military Academy, Military Grammar School and Military High Vocational School.
A great step forward for the sport in the Serbian Armed Forces was made, and support to development of national sport was given trough cooperation with the Olympic Committee of Serbia by employing top athletes in the system of defence. Hence, in their capacity as civilian employees the following athletes strengthened the ranks of our armed forces: multiple state champion in athletics Mihail Dudaš, Dimitrije Grgić and Jasmina Milovanović (shooting sport), Aleksandar Kukolј, Žarko Ćulum i Anja Obradović (Judo), Nevena Ignjatović (Ski Sport) and Jovana Preković (Karate).
The engagement of deserving athletes and internationally renowned athletes in the Sports Unit, and participation in the 7th World Military Games in China, where the national team of the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces won three medals, and through continuous media-promotion activities, mark the beginning of intensive strengthening of prestige of the Republic of Serbia through military sports in the region and world.
Since establishment of the Sport Unit, its members have won 30 medals in international competitions and 39 medals in prestigious competitions in Serbia.
Military Academy Sport Centre and modern Athletics indoor field gave significant contribution to significant sports results of military athletes which are at their disposal for their training throughout the year. Construction of Athletics indoor field, which is the first specialised facility for preparations and training of athletes in winter period, was finished in 2016. The construction of the Athletics indoor field was supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, while the Ministry of Defence provided the land for the construction of the facility.
The Ministry of Defence also allocated resources and renovated all sport facilities at the Military Academy. In particular, a Pistol shooting range was furnished with new capabilities, which after the reconstruction and modernisation became one of the most modern indoor shooting ranges in the Balkans. That considerably enhanced the training in the field of arms and shooting, since the shooting range contains a segment with a simulation laser shooting room, which enables training of the cadets on simulation training tool, which is important for the preparation for execution of initial shooting carried out by cadets in the framework of their education. An Air gun shooting range is soon to be open in the Military Grammar School.
Some 20 sport clubs actively function at the Military Academy. Cadets of the Military Academy and MMA Medical Faculty, students of the Military Grammar School and Military High Vocational School participated in numerous sports competitions in 2019 and 2020. Notable results were achieved at national competitions, while international competitions in which notable results were achieved include Sailing in Italy, All-around event in Czech Republic, at traditional International Shooting Competition “Istvan Poljanac”, First Bilateral Cadet Athletic Indoor Meeting in 2019, and return Athletics Indoor Meting in the Russian Federation in Moscow in 2020.
In 2003, the Republic of Serbia was admitted to CISM, and the military athletes have been participating in numerous CISM competitions ever since. The most important competitions among those include participation in five Summer World Military Games and three Winter Military Games, First World Cadet Military Games, world military championships in Skiing, Athletics, Marathon, Judo, Orienteering, Parachuting, Shooting, Sailing and other sports.
Delegation of the Republic of Serbia to CISM successfully organised sports competitions such as European conference, World Military Marathon Championship, CISM Strategic Seminar and Military World Cross Championship. Also, in 2009, it initiated a regional activity under the auspices of “CISM-FIFA Futsal Cup” aimed at strengthening cooperation and confidence among armed forces of former SFRY countries.
Athletes of the Serbian Armed Forces have many times demonstrated through personal example all those human qualities out of sports terrains and competitions. During the state of emergency declared in circumstances of COVID-19 outbreak, the athletes, members of The Military Academy Sports Unit, not interrupting their training, actively participated in humanitarian activities as well.
Throughout its history, and mostly in the hardest moments, the Serbian Armed Forces demonstrated that it is not comprised by just mere group of people, equipment and regulations, but by a set of values which are the reason of their existence, and that a man who defends those values stands in the centre of it all. That is why the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces will continue strengthening qualities of all their members through sports.
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