Wrestling and rock climbing competitions in 2026 will be hosted by Novosibirsk and Moscow.
Two world championships among military personnel — in wrestling and rock climbing — are planned to be held in Russia in 2026, Izvestia found out. This became possible largely due to the fact that such competitions are held under the auspices of the International Council of Military Sports, which is not controlled by the IOC and its recommendations regarding anti-Russian sanctions. Such championships not only increase the level of physical fitness of military personnel, but also improve mutual understanding between representatives of different countries, experts believe.
Meeting of Champions
Two world championships for military personnel are scheduled to be held in Russia in 2026.
— We discussed plans for 2026. Several world championships are planned for military personnel — in wrestling, which will be held in Novosibirsk, and in rock climbing in Moscow. Rugby and sambo competitions are also planned," the head of the Central Army Sports Club (CSKA) told Izvestia Artem Gromov.
The events will be held under the auspices of the International Military Sports Council, or the International Military Sports Council (IMSC). It is one of the largest interdisciplinary sports organizations in the world. It was founded on February 18, 1948 in Nice, France.
Head of the Central Army Sports Club (CSKA) Artyom Gromov
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
— This is the only sports organization that has not imposed any sanctions against our country and Belarus, — Artyom Gromov reminded. — Usually the representation is very large, with 40 or more teams coming, all friendly and not only friendly countries. We communicate when we go to their competitions, train and host athletes on our territory.
The world championships among athletes of law enforcement agencies are not politicized, Olympic champion, State Duma deputy Svetlana Zhurova emphasized in an interview with Izvestia.
"The International Council of Military Sports is not regulated by the International Olympic Committee, which does not give it recommendations," she explained. — When the IOC does not do this, everything goes differently. Federations can make their own decisions. Athletes can perform under their own flag and anthem.
Sports competitions among representatives of a particular profession are always an event, she noted.
Boxer Denis Lebedev at a boxing match between the teams of CSKA and the Armed Forces of the DPRK
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
— My friend took part in the championship among police officers, which was held in the USA. He was very impressed by the competition itself and the communication. He really liked it. He did not expect to qualify for the Olympic Games, but participating in an international tournament was very important to him. He felt that he was defending the honor of his homeland. There are many similar competitions. There is a world cup among doctors in football, where our team won. And everyone speaks well of such events," Svetlana Zhurova noted.
International sports competitions primarily provide military personnel with the experience of interaction, Denis Lebedev, a CSKA graduate and former world champion of the World Boxing Association (WBA) and the International Boxing Federation (IBF), told Izvestia.
— In today's situation, this is the most important thing, — he believes. — Hosting the World Championships in our country is a sign of trust in us. Such meetings expand friendly and political relations. I recently attended a boxing match between Russia and North Korea. It is clear that the athletes of the two countries were focused on wrestling, but it was clear that we wanted to be friends and understand each other. Let the guys communicate more, it helps to improve relations: further — more.
The World Military Championship is the tip of the iceberg, former head of physical training and sports of the Pacific Fleet Sergey Benevolensky told Izvestia.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
Image source: iz.ru
"Athletes are starting to be selected at the battalion or individual ship level," he explained. — Then there are competitions at the level of formations — divisions, brigades. There are a lot of competitions, a large number of military personnel participating - this is what the underwater part of the iceberg looks like, which is not visible from the outside. This work is carried out systematically in various sports all year round. Promotes the involvement of military personnel in sports and promotes a healthy lifestyle. But the most important thing is good physical fitness, which will allow military personnel to fulfill their intended tasks.
Many high-class athletes compete for the teams of the armed forces of the countries of the world.
— In our armed forces, young people who have already proved themselves are gathered in sports companies, where they keep fit and share their experiences, — said Sergey Benevolensky. — The level of military teams at the World Championships is usually high. There's really someone to look at. For example, army mountaineering teams from different countries have many warriors who are members of their national teams.
Sports hopes and shoulder straps
There have been no world championships among military personnel in Russia since the beginning of the World War II. Prior to this, sports events at the highest level were not uncommon. For example, the first World Military Climbing Championship was held in Moscow in 2018. It was won by the Russian team, leaving far behind the other winners — the teams of Austria and Kazakhstan. These competitions are held every few years.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Pavel Bednyakov
Image source: iz.ru
The World Championship for military personnel in wrestling was last held in 2024 in Yerevan. In the team competition, the Russian team took the second place. The first one was attended by soldiers from North Korea.
Earlier, Izvestia wrote about the first boxing match between the armed forces of Russia and the DPRK, which took place on July 4 at the CSKA sports center on Peschanaya Street in Moscow. Both male and female athletes took part in it. No winners were identified — the tournament concluded the first joint training camps. The main purpose of the sparring sessions was to test the boxers' readiness and skill.
These were the first joint training camps of the army teams of the two countries. The initiative to hold them belonged to Russia, and it was enthusiastically supported in North Korea. The sports cooperation of the warrior-athletes will continue. In September of this year, the Russian Armed Forces national boxing team will go to a training camp in the DPRK.
Bogdan Stepovoy
