International Army Games
{{Short description|Russian organized international military event}}
{{Redirect|War Olympics|the effects of war on the Olympic Games|Olympic Games#War and terrorism}}
{{Cleanup bare URLs|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox sporting event organization
|name=International Army Games
Армейские международные игры
|image=Army games emblem.svg
|image_upright=
|caption=Emblem of the games
|abbreviation=
|motto=
|formation=2015
|recurrence=2 years
|last=2022
|next=
|purpose=
|headquarters=Moscow
|leader_title=Organizer
|leader_name=Russian MoD
|website=
}}
The International Army Games ({{lang-rus|Армейские международные}}) is an annual international military sports event organized by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Russia. The event, which was first staged in August 2015, involves close to 30 countries taking part in dozens of competitions over two weeks to prove which is the most skilled.{{cite news |last1=Rebecca Wright |last2=Oren Liebermann |author-link2=Oren Liebermann |last3=Darya Tarasova |last4=Mary Ilyushina |date=13 August 2017 |title=Russia's International Army Games showcase military might |url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/13/europe/russia-military-olympics/index.html |publisher=CNN |access-date=1 August 2018 |archive-date=2 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802011129/https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/13/europe/russia-military-olympics/index.html |url-status=live }} The games have been referred to as the War Olympics.{{Cite news|date=22 February 2017|title=The Russian military is building a mini-Reichstag at its amusement park so that kids have 'a real building to storm|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/02/22/the-russian-military-is-building-a-mini-reichstag-at-its-amusement-park-so-that-kids-have-a-real-building-to-storm/|newspaper=Washington Post|accessdate=21 January 2019|archive-date=9 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209143827/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/02/22/the-russian-military-is-building-a-mini-reichstag-at-its-amusement-park-so-that-kids-have-a-real-building-to-storm/|url-status=live}} In addition to the competition, the International Army Games includes a military theme park, a recruitment station, and souvenir shops.{{Cite journal|last=Galeotti|first=Mark|date=August 24, 2018|title=The International Army Games are Decadent and Depraved|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/08/24/the-international-army-games-are-decadent-and-depraved/|journal=Foreign Policy|access-date=June 28, 2019|archive-date=June 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616052427/https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/08/24/the-international-army-games-are-decadent-and-depraved/|url-status=live}}
History
Image:Army2019-participants.svg
- 2015 International Army Games: Took place in Russia from August 1–15.{{Cite news |title=Russia holds its first International Army Games |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/08/08/russia-holds-its-first-international-army-games/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=2018-08-01 |archive-date=2018-08-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802012741/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/08/08/russia-holds-its-first-international-army-games/ |url-status=live }}
- 2016 International Army Games: Took place from July 30 to August 13. 3,500 servicemen from 19 states fought in 23 competitions.{{cite web |date=30 July 2016 |title=Министры обороны стран-участниц АРМИ-2016 приехали на игры в Россию |url=http://ria.ru/defense_safety/20160730/1473233424.html |access-date=1 August 2018 |archive-date=31 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731225302/http://ria.ru/defense_safety/20160730/1473233424.html |url-status=live }}
- 2017 International Army Games: Held from July 29 to August 12 in 5 countries: Russia, China, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. During the games 28 international competitions were held, including 5 new ones.
- 2018 International Army Games: Held from July 28 to August 11. The competitions were held in Armenia and Iran for the first time. Teams from Algeria, Vietnam, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Sudan and the Philippines also took part in the games for the first time.{{cite web|date=28 July 2018|title=What are Russia's International Army Games?|url=https://www.newsweek.com/what-are-international-army-games-russia-china-iran-and-others-kick-combat-1045765?amp=1|website=Newsweek|access-date=1 August 2018|archive-date=28 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728113829/https://www.newsweek.com/what-are-international-army-games-russia-china-iran-and-others-kick-combat-1045765?amp=1|url-status=live}}
- 2019 International Army Games: Planned to be organized in 32 disciplines hosted in 10 countries starting on August 3 in Korla.{{cite web |title=China competitions for Int'l Army Games 2019 kicks off - Xinhua | English.news.cn |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-08/03/c_138281378.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803152345/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-08/03/c_138281378.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 3, 2019}} Russia, India, China, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Iran, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are the countries hosting it. India hosted and won Stage 2 of the games, known as the 5th International Army Scout Masters Competition. Uzbekistan came second and Russia fourth.{{Cite news |date=16 August 2019 |title=Indian Army wins Scout Masters contest |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indian-army-wins-scout-masters-contest/article29113072.ece |accessdate=18 August 2019 |archive-date=8 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108003712/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indian-army-wins-scout-masters-contest/article29113072.ece |url-status=live }}
- 2020 International Army Games: Held from August 22 to September 5. Russia won the competition while Belarus was second and Uzbekistan was third.{{cite web|date=2020-08-22|title=International Army Games expected to highlight Russian-Chinese cooperation|url=https://www.foreignbrief.com/daily-news/international-army-games-expected-to-highlight-russian-chinese-cooperation/|access-date=2021-07-15|website=Foreign Brief|language=en-AU|archive-date=2021-07-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715182920/https://www.foreignbrief.com/daily-news/international-army-games-expected-to-highlight-russian-chinese-cooperation/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Participants of the International Army Games 2020 summed up the results and discussed the procedure for their holding in 2021 : Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation|url=https://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12323158@egNews|access-date=2021-07-16|website=eng.mil.ru|archive-date=2021-07-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716013134/https://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12323158@egNews|url-status=live}}
- 2021 International Army Games: Held from August 22 to September 4, 2021.
- 2023–2024: Not held due to shortages stemming from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{cite news|last=van Brugen|first=Isabel|url=https://www.newsweek.com/russia-cancels-international-army-games-tank-shortage-uk-1797252|title=Russia Cancels Symbolic 'War Olympics' Over Tank Shortage: U.K.|newspaper=Newsweek|date=April 28, 2023|access-date=May 29, 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://odessa-journal.com/public/british-intelligence-cited-possible-reasons-for-russias-cancellation-of-the-military-games|title=British intelligence cited possible reasons for Russia's cancellation of the military games|newspaper=The Odessa Journal|date=May 29, 2024|access-date=May 29, 2024}} In 2023, Russian Deputy Minister of Defence Alexander Fomin stated the games would take place in even years.{{cite news|url=https://aif.ru/society/army/v_mo_rf_soobshchili_chto_armi_budut_provoditsya_po_chetnym_godam_s_2024_goda|title=В МО РФ сообщили, что АрМИ будут проводиться по четным годам с 2024 года|trans-title=The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the Army Games will be held in even years from 2024|newspaper=Argumenty i Fakty|date=August 19, 2023|access-date=May 29, 2024}}
Editions
{{update|date=September 2022}}
{{cite web |url=https://armygames2020.mil.ru/main_en/ |title=Army Games International |website=armygames2020.mil.ru}}https://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country.htm?f=1&blk=10340619&id=9474@egClassification&ra=egNews&objInBlock=25 {{nonspecific|date=October 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12435732@egNews |title=VIII International Army Games end today |date=27 August 2022 |website=eng.mil.ru}}{{cite web|url=http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2022-08/29/content_10180989.htm |title=Int'l Army Games 2022 ends in Russia - China Military |publisher=Eng.chinamil.com.cn |date=2022-08-27 |accessdate=2022-10-05}}{{cite web |url=http://armygames.vn/en/ |title=Army Games Vietnam 2022 |website=armygames.vn|date=30 June 2023 }}http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country.htm?f=1&blk=10340619&id=9474@egClassification&ra=egNews&objInBlock=25 {{nonspecific|date=October 2022}}{{cite web |url=http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12435732@egNews |title=VIII International Army Games end today |date=27 August 2022 |website=Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| Year
!Edition !Dates !Host Country !Events !Champion |
|---|
| 2015
| 1 | | align=left|{{RUS}} | 13 |
| 2016
| 2 | | align=left|{{RUS}} | 23 |
| 2017
| 3 | | align=left|{{RUS}} | 28 | |
| 2018
| 4 | | align=left|{{RUS}} | 28 |
| 2019
| 5 | | align=left|{{RUS}} | | |
| 2020
| 6 | | align=left|{{RUS}} | 30 |
| 2021
|7 | | align=left|{{RUS}} | |
| 2022
|8 | | align=left|{{RUS}} |34 | |
Competitions
{{Expand section|date=August 2021}}
- Tank biathlon
- Suvorov Attack ("Suvorov Onslaught"): competition between crews/specialists of infantry combat vehicles{{cite web |title=Regulations on the contest "Suvorov onslaught" |url=http://mil.ru/files/files/armygames2019/eng/polozhenie_sn_en.pdf |access-date=27 June 2019 |publisher=Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation |archive-date=30 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630125739/http://mil.ru/files/files/armygames2019/eng/polozhenie_sn_en.pdf |url-status=live }}
- Aviadarts: competition for flight crews
- Masters of artillery fire: artillery calculation competition
- Clear skies: competition among anti-aircraft units
- Excellence troop intelligence: competition between intelligence departments
- Open water: competition among dispatching units
- Safe route: competition among engineering units
- Safe environment: radiation, chemical and biological defense forces' competition{{cite web |title=Армейские игры-2019 |url=http://armygames2019.mil.ru/ |access-date=2019-06-22 |website=armygames2019.mil.ru |archive-date=2019-06-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623220950/http://armygames2019.mil.ru/ |url-status=live }}
- International Army Scout Masters' Competition{{Cite news |title=Indian Army wins International Army Scout Masters competition |language=en |work=aninews.in |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/indian-army-wins-international-army-scout-masters-competition20190815181458/ |accessdate=16 August 2019 |archive-date=15 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815162854/https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/indian-army-wins-international-army-scout-masters-competition20190815181458/ |url-status=live }}
=2020 events=
Hosts:
- Russia
- Iran
- India
- Mongolia
- Kazakhstan
- Uzbekistan
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- China
;Events
- Tank Biathlon = Tank Crews Competition
- Suvorov Attack = IFV Crews Competition
- Sniper Frontier = Snipers Competition
- Aviadarts = Flight Crews Competition
- Airborne Platoon = Airborne Forces Platoons Competition
- Seaborne Assault = Naval Infantry Units Competition
- Sea Cup = Combat Ship Crews Competition
- Depth = Divers Multidiscipline Competition
- Masters Of Artillery Fire = Mortar Battery Squads Competition
- Gunsmith Master = Maintenance Platoons Competition
- Clear Sky = Ad Units Competition
- Confident Reception = Competition Of Anti-Aircraft Missile Troops Units
- Army Scout Masters = Army Reconnaissance Units Competition
- Open Water = Pontoon Bridge Crews Competition
- Safe Route = Combat Engineering Units Competition
- Engineering Formula = Engineering Units Competition
- Safe Environment = NBC Reconnaissance Crews Competition
- Masters Of Armored Vehicles = Armored Vehicles Crews Competition
- Elbrus Ring = Mountain Infantry Units Competition
- True Friend = Dog Handlers Competition
- Military Medical Relay Race = Medical Staff Competition
- Field Kitchen = Food Service Specialists Competition
- Guardian Of Order = Military Police Competition
- Military Rally = Armored Vehicles Crews Competition
- Warrior Of Peace = International Competition Of Military-Professional Servicemen Skills
- Falcon Hunting = Uavs' Crews Competition
- Road Patrol = Military Police Officers Competition
- Emergency Area = Competition Among Emergency Rescue Units
- Equestrian Marathon = Competition Among Horse Mounted Units
- Polar Star = Special Operation Units Competition
Participants
Note: O = Observer
For the first time, Bolivia and Rwanda participated in the 2022 Games.
| class="wikitable" |
| rowspan="2"|Countries
! colspan="8"|Participated in |
|---|
| align=center|2015
|align=center|2016 |align=center|2017 |align=center|2018 |align=center|2019 |align=center|2020 |align=center|2021 |align=center|2022 |
| {{Flag|Russia}} (Host)
|{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Abkhazia}}
| | | | | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Afghanistan|2013}}
| | | | | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | |
| {{Flag|Algeria}}
| |O | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Angola}}
|{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | | | |
| {{Flag|Armenia}}
|{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Austria}}
| |O | | | | | | |
| {{Flag|Azerbaijan}}
|{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Bangladesh}}
| | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | | | |
| {{Flag|Belarus}}
|{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Bolivia}}
| | | | | | | |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Brazil}}
|O | | | |O | | | |
| {{Flag|Burkina Faso}}
| | | | | | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Cambodia}}
| | | | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Cameroon}}
| | | | | | | |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|China}}
|{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Cuba}}
| |O | | |{{ya}} | | | |
| {{Flag|Denmark}}
| | |O | | | | | |
| {{Flag|Egypt}}
|{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | |{{ya}} | |
| {{Flag|Equatorial Guinea}}
| | | | | |{{ya}} | | |
| {{Flag|Eswatini}}
| | | | | | | |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Finland}}
| | |O | | | | | |
| {{Flag|France}}
| | | | |O | | | |
| {{Flag|Germany}}
| |O |O | | | | | |
| {{Flag|Greece}}
| |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | | |
| {{Flag|Guinea}}
| | | | | | | |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|India}}
|{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Indonesia}}
| | | |O | | |{{ya}} | |
| {{Flag|Iran}}
|O |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Israel}}
| |O |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | |
| {{Flag|Jordan}}
| | | | |{{ya}} | | | |
| {{Flag|Kazakhstan}}
|{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Kuwait}}
|{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | |{{ya}} | |
| {{Flag|Kyrgyzstan}}
|{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Laos}}
| | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Mali}}
| | | | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Mongolia}}
|{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Morocco}}
| | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | | | |
| {{Flag|Mozambique}}
| | | | | |{{ya}} | |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Myanmar}}
|O |O | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Namibia}}
| |O | | | |{{ya}} | | |
| {{Flag|Netherlands}}
| | |O | | | | | |
| {{Flag|Nicaragua}}
|{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | | | | |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|North Korea}}
| | |O | | | | | |
| {{Flag|Pakistan}}
|{{ya}} | | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | | |
| {{Flag|Palestine}}
| | | | | |{{ya}} | |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Peru}}
| | | | | | |{{ya}} | |
| {{Flag|Philippines}}
| | | |{{ya}} | | | | |
| {{Flag|Qatar}}
| | | |O | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | |
| {{Flag|Republic of Congo}}
| | | | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Rwanda}}
| | | | | | | |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Saudi Arabia}}
| |O | | | | |{{ya}} | |
| {{Flag|Serbia}}
|{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | |
| {{Flag|Slovenia}}
| | | | |O | | | |
| {{Flag|South Africa}}
| | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | | |
| {{Flag|South Korea}}
|O | | | | | | | |
| {{Flag|South Ossetia}}
| | | | | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Sri Lanka}}
| | | | |{{ya}} | | | |
| {{Flag|Sudan}}
| | | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Switzerland}}
| | |O | | | | | |
| {{Flag|Syria}}
| | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Tajikistan}}
|{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Thailand}}
| | |{{ya}} | | | | | |
| {{Flag|Turkey}}
| | | | |O | | | |
| {{Flag|Turkmenistan}}
|O | | | | | | | |
| {{Flag|Uganda}}
| | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | | | |
| {{Flag|United States}}
| | |O | |O | | | |
| {{Flag|Uzbekistan}}
| | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Venezuela}}
|{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Vietnam}}
|O | | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
| {{Flag|Yemen}}
| | | | | |{{ya}} | | |
| {{Flag|Zimbabwe}}
| |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |{{ya}} | |{{ya}} |{{ya}} |
Greece was the only NATO member state that has officially participated in the games. Since 2020, three largely-unrecognised countries have participated.
Russian groups in opening and closing ceremonies
Gallery
File:Army games emblem-Otkritaia-voda.jpg|
File:Openwater2016-32.jpg|
File:TankBiathlon2016opening-33.jpg|
File:AirFrontiers2018-16.jpg|
File:Игр 2020 05.jpg|
File:Sea Cup 2020 06.jpg|
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|International Army Games}}
- https://interfiresport.com/
- https://interfiresport.com/activity/
- http://firefighterchallenge.com/
- https://www.firefighterchampionships.com/
- https://www.firefighterchampionships.com/?post_type=tribe_events
- https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/st-lucie-county/2021/10/04/fort-pierce-hosts-2021-firefighter-combat-challenge-world-championship-st-lucie-defends-title-espn/8418203002/
{{Multi-sport events}}
Category:Military sports competitions