International Army Games


The International Army Games is an annual international military sports event organized by the Ministry of Defence of Russia. The event, which was first staged in August 2015, involved close to 30 countries taking part in dozens of competitions over two weeks to prove which is the most skilled. The games have been referred to as the War Olympics. In addition to the competition, the International Army Games includes a military theme park, a recruitment station, and souvenir shops.

History

  • 2015 International Army Games: Took place in Russia from August 1–15.
  • 2016 International Army Games: Took place from July 30 to August 13. 3,500 servicemen from 19 states fought in 23 competitions.
  • 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.
  • 2019 International Army Games: Planned to be organized in 32 disciplines hosted in 10 countries starting on August 3 in Korla. 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.
  • 2020 International Army Games: Held from August 22 to September 5. Russia won the competition while Belarus was second and Uzbekistan was third.
  • 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. In 2023, Russian Deputy Minister of Defence Alexander Fomin stated the games would take place in even years.

    Editions

YearEditionDatesHost countryEventsChampion
2015113
2016223
2017328
2018428
20195
2020630
20217
2022834

Competitions

  • Tank biathlon
  • Suvorov Attack : competition between crews/specialists of infantry combat vehicles
  • 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
  • International Army Scout Masters' Competition

    2020 events

Hosts:
  1. Russia
  2. Iran
  3. India
  4. Mongolia
  5. Kazakhstan
  6. Uzbekistan
  7. Armenia
  8. Azerbaijan
  9. Belarus
  10. China
;Events
  1. Tank Biathlon = Tank Crews Competition
  2. Suvorov Attack = IFV Crews Competition
  3. Sniper Frontier = Snipers Competition
  4. Aviadarts = Flight Crews Competition
  5. Airborne Platoon = Airborne Forces Platoons Competition
  6. Seaborne Assault = Naval Infantry Units Competition
  7. Sea Cup = Combat Ship Crews Competition
  8. Depth = Divers Multidiscipline Competition
  9. Masters Of Artillery Fire = Mortar Battery Squads Competition
  10. Gunsmith Master = Maintenance Platoons Competition
  11. Clear Sky = Ad Units Competition
  12. Confident Reception = Competition Of Anti-Aircraft Missile Troops Units
  13. Army Scout Masters = Army Reconnaissance Units Competition
  14. Open Water = Pontoon Bridge Crews Competition
  15. Safe Route = Combat Engineering Units Competition
  16. Engineering Formula = Engineering Units Competition
  17. Safe Environment = NBC Reconnaissance Crews Competition
  18. Masters Of Armored Vehicles = Armored Vehicles Crews Competition
  19. Elbrus Ring = Mountain Infantry Units Competition
  20. True Friend = Dog Handlers Competition
  21. Military Medical Relay Race = Medical Staff Competition
  22. Field Kitchen = Food Service Specialists Competition
  23. Guardian Of Order = Military Police Competition
  24. Military Rally = Armored Vehicles Crews Competition
  25. Warrior Of Peace = International Competition Of Military-Professional Servicemen Skills
  26. Falcon Hunting = Uavs' Crews Competition
  27. Road Patrol = Military Police Officers Competition
  28. Emergency Area = Competition Among Emergency Rescue Units
  29. Equestrian Marathon = Competition Among Horse Mounted Units
  30. Polar Star = Special Operation Units Competition

    Participants

Note: O = Observer
For the first time, Bolivia and Rwanda participated in the 2022 Games.
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