5th CISM World Military Archery Championship opens in Warendorf

WARENDORF (GER) – The 5th CISM World Military Archery Championship is officially underway in Warendorf, Germany, bringing together 214 military athletes from 17 nations for a week of high-level competition, international friendship, and sporting excellence.

Hosted by the German Armed Forces from 17 to 24 June 2026, the championship has transformed the historic garrison town into the center of the military archery world. Athletes from across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Oceania have gathered to compete in recurve, compound, mixed team, team, and para-archery events while promoting the CISM values of solidarity, mutual respect, and friendship through sport.

The championship officially opened on the evening of 18 June with a vibrant Opening Ceremony held on Warendorf’s historic Market Square. Athletes, officials, military representatives, local authorities, and residents gathered to celebrate the beginning of a week dedicated to sporting excellence, international friendship, and military cooperation. Under the CISM motto “Friendship through Sport,” the ceremony highlighted the unifying power of sport and the strong ties that connect armed forces around the world.

Following the ceremony, Warendorf Mayor Peter Horstmann hosted an official reception at the Town Hall. During the event, distinguished guests signed the city's Golden Book, including Major General Rashid Mahboob Al-Dosari, serving as the Official CISM Representative (OCR) for the Championship, Colonel Dirk Schwede of the German Armed Forces, and Lieutenant Colonel Christian Lützkendorf, Chief of the German Delegation. The reception provided an opportunity for military and civilian leaders to reaffirm their commitment to international cooperation through sport and to welcome the participating nations to Warendorf.

Competition began immediately after the opening festivities at Stadium A of the Georg-Leber Barracks, where athletes entered the qualification and preliminary phases of the championship. While the first days have focused on ranking rounds and the establishment of elimination brackets, the atmosphere has already reflected the high level of competition expected throughout the week. With no medals yet decided, archers are striving to secure favorable positions ahead of the decisive elimination matches that will take place over the coming days.

Among the athletes attracting particular attention is Germany’s Staff Sergeant Florian Unruh, one of the world's leading archers and silver medallist in the Recurve Mixed Team event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Competing on home soil, Unruh represents one of many elite athletes participating in a championship that continues to grow in quality and international stature.

Beyond the competition field, the event serves as another demonstration of CISM’s unique mission of strengthening friendship and understanding among armed forces through sport. Athletes and officials have embraced opportunities to exchange experiences, build new relationships, and reinforce the bonds that unite military personnel beyond national borders.

The championship now enters its decisive phase. On 20 June, athletes will compete in the compound individual finals, para-compound finals, para-recurve men's final, the recurve mixed team final, and the team event semifinals. The following day will feature the recurve team finals as well as the individual recurve finals for both women and men. The final day of competition on 22 June will crown the compound team, compound mixed team, compound women and compound men champions, alongside the remaining para-archery world champions.

The championship will conclude with the Closing Ceremony on 23 June 2026 at 18:00 in Stadium A of the Georg-Leber Barracks. Supported by the German Air Force Band Münster, the ceremony will celebrate a week of outstanding sporting performances, military camaraderie, and international friendship.

With the decisive stages of the competition now approaching, Warendorf is preparing to witness the crowning of the world's best military archers and the continuation of CISM’s enduring mission of promoting peace through sport.

(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department - Pictures: German Delegation to CISM)