The Spanish Air Force organizes the 48th World Military Fencing Championship

From September 15 to 21, the city of Seville will host the 48th World Military Fencing Championships, organized by the Spanish Air Force and Space Force under the auspices of the International Military Sports Council (CISM). This event will bring together, for the first time in Spain, 350 military athletes from 21 countries and three continents, reflecting the core values of CISM: discipline, respect, integration, excellence, and friendship among nations.

Under the CISM motto, "Friendship through Sport," the championship will be more than a competition: it will become a space for meeting and understanding among members of the Armed Forces from different countries and cultures, united by the spirit of sport and a commitment to peace. To this end, the entire championship will be organized by the secretariat of the Central Board of Physical Education and Sports of the Air Force and Space Force; the competition's Technical Direction will be the responsibility of the Fencing Federation of Castilla y León, with the collaboration of the Seville City Council.

It's worth noting that the EA Central Board of Physical Education has extensive experience organizing international championships: in the last four years, it has organized the Military World Aeronautical Pentathlon Championships in 2021 and the International Military Parachuting Tournament in 2023, as well as all the National Military Fencing Championships.

As a new development, a wheelchair military fencing exhibition will be held on September 20th, for the first time in the history of the International Military Sports Council. “This symbolic event represents a firm commitment to inclusivity and the adaptation of military sport to the different abilities of athletes. Military personnel who, for various reasons, have been forced to abandon the practice of their discipline in the conventional modality will be able to continue representing their Armed Forces in the adapted sport,” explains Colonel Pedro Díaz Herrero, Secretary of the Central Board of Physical Education and Sports of the Air Force and Space Force. “This initiative,” he adds, “marks a milestone in the development of a more inclusive and accessible vision of sport within the international military environment.”

For his part, Carlos Soler Márquez, a member of the Spanish Air Force and 16-time Paralympic fencing champion, among others, acknowledges that it is a source of pride "to continue belonging to the great military family and that wheelchair fencing is linked to stand-up fencing in an event as important as this World Championship. It's a great victory for everyone." Carlos Soler and Gustavo Molina Martínez, from the Spanish Army and 2025 Paralympic sabre fencing runner-up, will be in charge of carrying out the exhibition.

“The holding of the World Military Fencing Championships in Seville will undoubtedly demonstrate the best spirit of the CISM: coexistence among soldiers through sport, recognition of diversity, competitive excellence, and collective responsibility for the future,” emphasizes Colonel Díaz Herrero, “capabilities that represent the Air and Space Force.”

Thus, the championship will not only demonstrate the athletic abilities of each participant, but will also showcase the principles of the International Military Sports Council on the podium.

Thus, the championship will bring together military personnel from different countries in an atmosphere of respect, where fencing will serve as a tool for sports diplomacy and international cohesion.

"This competition will serve as motivation for technical and athletic training within the Armed Forces, consolidating the role of sport as part of comprehensive military training," says the Secretary of the Central Board of Physical Education and Sports of the Air Force and Space Force.

Military fencing: training and sport

Fencing, the only Olympic sport of Spanish origin, will be a centerpiece of the Military World Championships being held in our country. This event will bring together the three traditional disciplines: épée, foil, and saber, in men's and women's categories, both individual and team.

Elite shooters, including Olympic medalists and world champions, will participate, as many countries incorporate their top-level athletes into their armed forces to provide them with professional stability during and after their sports careers.

Thanks to Spain's hosting of this championship, fencing will be part of the official program of the next Military World Games, to be held in 2027 in the U.S. city of Charlotte.

National Military Fencing Team

The Higher Council of Military Sports (CSDM) designates which sports will be recognized as military sports; there are currently 30 disciplines. The CSDM delegates responsibility for the National Military teams and the organization of championships to the Army, Navy, and Civil Guard. "By tradition," explains Colonel Díaz Herrero, "fencing, as one of the events of the Aeronautical Pentathlon, is a sports discipline delegated to the Air Force and Space Force. The EA has six delegated sports: Fencing, Aeronautical Pentathlon, Modern Pentathlon, Parachuting, Taekwondo, and Orienteering."

"Our current fencing team was selected based on the qualifications from the most recent National Military Championships and is composed of personnel from the Air Force and Space Force, the Army, and the Civil Guard (officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted personnel); we participate in all three weapons (épée, foil, and saber). Our fencers balance their military profession with their family life and civilian/military training and competitions. However, at the Military World Championships, we can find athletes from other countries who are members of their Olympic teams and dedicate themselves exclusively to fencing as high-level athletes," explains Colonel Diaz Herrero.

Spain has participated with a representative from the Spanish Armed Forces in most of the 48 editions of this World Cup, since signing the CISM accession protocols in 1953.

Commitment to the environment

The 48th Championship will also reflect CISM's commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. The organization will implement specific measures aimed at reducing its ecological impact: rational use of resources, elimination of single-use plastics, responsible waste management, and shared transportation for delegations, among other initiatives.

These measures respond to CISM's growing awareness that military sport, as an example of discipline and leadership, must also actively contribute to the protection of the natural environment.

Please note that there will be free admission to the pavilion, and all Sevillians are invited and encouraged to come and enjoy this magnificent sport on any of the competition days.

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