Hungary celebrates International Day of Military Sports 2026 with nationwide Run for Peace

BUDAPEST (HUN) – Soldiers across Hungary joined the global military sports community in celebrating the International Day of Military Sports 2026, marking the anniversary of the founding of the International Military Sports Council on 18 February 1948. Through a series of commemorative runs organized nationwide, Hungarian military personnel highlighted the enduring message of the CISM movement: Friendship through Sport.

The main celebration took place in Budapest, where Hungary’s Minister of Defence Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky joined soldiers in a symbolic 3,200-meter Run for Peace at the Honvéd sports facility on Dózsa György Road.

Addressing participants before the start, the minister emphasized that the message of the run remains particularly meaningful in the current international context: “Beyond comradeship, the most important message of this joint run is the idea of peace,” he said. “We are soldiers, yet we run for peace.” He recalled that the International Military Sports Council was founded 78 years ago with the mission of strengthening ties between armed forces through sport and promoting peace among nations. The event in Budapest brought together military personnel and senior defence officials, including Dr Zsolt Kutnyánszky, State Secretary for Force Development and Defence Policy, and Brigadier General Gábor Sánta of the Hungarian Defence Forces General Staff.

The warm-up session was led by members of the Hungarian Defence Forces Sports Company, including Olympic champion épée fencer Gergely Siklósi and world champion modern pentathlete Blanka Guzi, who inspired participants with their presence and sporting achievements.

Beyond the capital, soldiers and defence cadets took part in simultaneous runs across multiple locations in Hungary, reflecting the nationwide commitment to the values promoted by CISM. Organized with the participation of the Territorial Defence Forces and other military units, these activities brought together servicemen and women of different ranks and ages.

For many participants, the initiative represented more than a sporting activity. It symbolized the community-building power of sport, the discipline and resilience associated with military service, and the shared sense of belonging that unites members of the armed forces.

Across Hungary, military formations also organized their own CISM Day Run activities, reinforcing the global character of the celebration. Since 2006, CISM member nations have commemorated the anniversary of the organization through joint runs involving soldiers around the world.

The Hungarian Defence Forces joined this tradition in 2015, and the annual run has since become an important moment of unity within the national military community. From the central run in Budapest to the simultaneous activities held across the country, Hungary’s celebrations echoed the same message shared worldwide on this special occasion: Peace and friendship through sport.

(Source: Hungarian Delegation to CISM)