Although there have been some previous attempts at organization, the first effective edition of the Military World Games took place in the city of Rome, in 1995, in an act to commemorate the fifty years since the end of the Second World War.
The event takes place every four years and is organized by the International Military Sports Council (CISM), the third largest entity. world sport in associates, second only to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Football Federation (FIFA).
As the Military World Games are played every four years and started only in 1995, so far there have been only 4 editions, not counting the one played in 2011, in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The first edition, in 1995, as mentioned above, took place in Rome, Italy; the second edition, in 1999, took place in Zagreb, Croatia; the third edition, in 2003, took place in Catania, Italy; and the fourth edition took place in Hyderabad, India. The 2011 edition takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Mungyeong, in South Korea, is expected to host the 2015 edition.
The modalities disputed are: athletics, basketball, boxing, fencing, soccer, equestrian, judo, swimming, orienteering, parachuting, aeronautical pentathlon, military pentathlon, naval pentathlon, naval pentathlon, taekwondo, shooting, triathlon, sailing, volleyball and beach volleyball.
In 2010, there was for the first time the Military World Winter Games, hosted by Italy, specifically in the Aosta Valley. The disciplines disputed are: biathlon, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, mountaineering, indoor climbing and short-track speed skating. The next edition is scheduled to be hosted by France, in Annecy and Chamonix.
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The countries participating in the Military World Games are:
| - Afghanistan; | - Cape Green; | - U.S; |
| - South Africa; | - Shrimps; | - Estonia; |
| - Albania; | - Canada; | - Finland; |
| - Germany; | - Qatar; | - France; |
| - Angola; | - Chad; | - Gabon; |
| - Saudi Arabia; | - Chile; | - Gambia; |
| - Algeria; | - China; | - Greece; |
| - Argentina; | - Cyprus; | - Guinea; |
| - Austria; | - Colombia; | - Guinea Bissau; |
| - Azerbaijan; | - Congo; | - Netherlands; |
| - Bangladesh; | - Congo; | - Hungary; |
| - Barbados; | - North Korea; | - Yemen; |
| - Bahrain; | - South Korea; | - India; |
| - Belgium; | - Costa do Marfim; | - Indonesia; |
| - Benin; | - Croatia; | - Will; |
| - Belarus; | - Denmark; | - Ireland; |
| - Bosnia and Herzegovina; | - Egypt; | - Italy; |
| - Botswana; | - UAE; | - Jamaica; |
| - Brazil; | - Ecuador; | - Jordan; |
| - Bulgaria; | - Eritrea; | - Kazakhstan; |
| - Burkina Faso; | - Slovakia; | - Kuwait; |
| - Burundi; | - Spain; | - Lesotho; |
| - Latvia; | - Oman; | - Tanzania; |
| - Lebanon; | - Pakistan; | - Togo; |
| - Lithuania; | - Paraguay; | - Trinidad and Tobago; |
| - Luxembourg; | - Dominican Republic; | - Tunisia; |
| - Macedonia; | - Czech republic; | - Turkey; |
| - Mali; | - Romania; | - Ukraine; |
| - Malta; | - Senegal; | - Uganda; |
| - Morocco; | - Serbia; | - Uruguay; |
| - Mauritania; | - Syria; | - Uzbekistan; |
| - Montenegro; | - Sri Lanka; | - Venezuela; |
| - Niger; | - Sweden; | - Vietnam; |
| - Nigeria; | - Switzerland; | - Zambia. |
| - Norway; | - Suriname; |
By Paula Rondinelli
Brazil School Collaborator
Graduated in Physical Education from the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP
Master in Motricity Sciences from the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP
Doctoral Student in Integration of Latin America at the University of São Paulo - USP
