The agreement presented this week between the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) and the Ministry of Defense, which will allow 50 high-level athletes to join the Armed Forces and combine their military and sports careers, reflects a model that seeks to promote elite sport while integrating the values of the military. This collaboration is similar to other international systems, such as Italy’s, where the armed forces play a crucial role in sports development, allowing athletes to focus on training and competition while fulfilling their military service.
The Italian model, in which many elite athletes are part of the armed forces, has been a reference for Spain. In Italy, institutions such as the Army and the Police offer athletes economic stability and professional development opportunities during and after their sporting career. This ensures that athletes can fully dedicate themselves to their disciplines, without worrying about a lack of financial or employment support. This system has its roots in the old models of socialist countries, where the state used the armed forces as a training and development platform for athletes, ensuring their success in international competitions.
In comparison, the Spanish system has so far not established such a formal link between the military and elite athletes. Although the Spanish Armed Forces played an important role in sport in its early days, their involvement was diluted over time. However, with the arrival of this new agreement, which will come into force in 2025, high-level sportsmen and women will be offered the possibility of employment opportunities within the public administration or security forces.
OTHER EXAMPLES ARE FRANCE AND RUSSIA
Other countries, such as France and Russia, also have similar programs. In France, elite athletes can join the “Sports Gendarmeries”, a specialized body within the military police dedicated to the development of athletes. In Russia, although the system is more politicized, many elite athletes come from the armed forces, something that was also inherited from the Soviet era. In both cases, comprehensive support is guaranteed for athletes, from funding to physical preparation, in a state-controlled environment.
The EOC model, although recent, seeks a balance between sport and military life. Athletes who join the agreement will not only receive military training, but will also be able to continue training and competing at the international level, allowing them to develop their sporting career without interruption. This initiative is seen as a key opportunity for young Spanish athletes, as expressed by karateka and Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo, Damian Quintero, who values the agreement positively for its “ability to solve conflicts between studies, training and work life”.
