Qatar and Germany crowned champions as 5th WMC Beach Volleyball concludes in Muscat
MUSCAT (OMA) – The 5th CISM World Military Beach Volleyball Championship concluded in Muscat, Oman, with Qatar claiming the men's title and Germany securing gold in the women's competition following an exciting final day of matches on Wednesday, 21 October 2026. Held at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, the championship brought together military athletes from eight nations for several days of high-level competition, international cooperation and friendship, culminating in a Closing Ceremony that celebrated both sporting achievements and the fundamental values of the International Military Sports Council (CISM).
Organised by the Sultanate of Oman from 15 to 22 October 2026, the championship featured nine men's teams and six women's teams, with participating nations including Algeria, Brazil, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Oman, Qatar and Sri Lanka. Throughout the competition, athletes demonstrated determination, teamwork and sportsmanship, reflecting the spirit of CISM and its motto, Friendship through Sport.
The final day provided a fitting conclusion to the championship, with six matches determining the final rankings in both tournaments. The highlight of the evening was the men's gold medal encounter between Qatar and Brazil, two teams that had remained unbeaten throughout the group stage and knockout rounds.
Qatar entered the final following an impressive campaign, having recorded four consecutive victories in the group stage before overcoming Sri Lanka in the quarter-finals and Germany in a closely contested semi-final. Brazil had followed a similarly successful path, defeating Oman A, Sri Lanka and Algeria during the group stage before eliminating France and host nation Oman B in the knockout rounds.
In the highly anticipated final, Qatar delivered another outstanding performance to defeat Brazil 2–0, with an aggregate score of 42–32. The Qatari team demonstrated consistency and composure to secure the gold medal and conclude the championship with an unbeaten record, confirming its dominance throughout the tournament.
Brazil, which had also enjoyed an impressive campaign, finished with the silver medal after reaching the final without suffering a defeat in its previous encounters.
The men's bronze medal match produced one of the most exciting contests of the final day, as host nation Oman B faced Germany in a closely fought encounter. Supported by the home crowd, the Omani team showed remarkable determination to secure a narrow 2–1 victory, with an aggregate score of 53–52. The result earned Oman B the bronze medal and provided a memorable podium finish for the host nation.
In the remaining men's classification matches, Oman A defeated Algeria 2–0 (42–34) to secure fifth place, while France overcame Sri Lanka 2–1 in the match for seventh position. Germany consequently finished fourth, followed by Oman A, Algeria, France, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands.
The women's competition also delivered an exciting conclusion, with Germany and France meeting in the gold medal match after both teams had demonstrated impressive form throughout the championship.
Germany entered the final unbeaten, having secured victories against Oman and Algeria during the group stage before defeating Sri Lanka in the semi-finals. France had also maintained a perfect record, overcoming the Netherlands and Sri Lanka in the group stage before defeating Algeria to reach the final.
In the decisive encounter, Germany confirmed its excellent form with a convincing 2–0 victory over France, winning 42–32 on aggregate points. The German team demonstrated consistency and determination to claim the women's world military title and complete an undefeated championship campaign.
France, which had also produced several strong performances throughout the tournament, secured the silver medal after reaching the final without dropping a set in its previous matches.
The women's bronze medal match saw Sri Lanka face Algeria in another important encounter. The Sri Lankan team delivered a determined performance to secure a 2–0 victory (42–35), earning third place and completing the women's podium. Algeria finished fourth in the women's competition, followed by the Netherlands in fifth place and host nation Oman in sixth.
The final rankings confirmed the strong performances of Qatar and Germany, whose unbeaten campaigns were rewarded with the two championship titles. Brazil and France claimed the silver medals, while Oman B and Sri Lanka completed the podiums in the men's and women's competitions respectively.
The host nation could also take pride in the performances of its delegations, particularly Oman B's bronze medal in the men's tournament. With both Omani men's teams reaching the quarter-finals and ultimately finishing third and fifth, the championship represented an encouraging sporting achievement for the Sultanate.
The championship concluded with an official Closing Ceremony attended by military authorities, representatives of the participating delegations, athletes, coaches and officials. Among the dignitaries addressed during the ceremony were Major General Matar bin Salim Al-Balushi, Commander of the Royal Army of Oman; Naval Commodore Khalid Al Maqbali, Chief of the Omani Delegation to CISM; and Vice Marshal Padman De Costa, President of the CISM Sport Committee for Beach Volleyball.
Representing CISM at the ceremony, Colonel Dirk Schwede of Germany, former member of the CISM Board of Directors, congratulated the participating athletes and expressed his appreciation to the Omani organisers for their commitment to the successful organisation of the championship. In his address, Colonel Schwede emphasised that the importance of the event extended far beyond the sporting results, highlighting the opportunities it had created for military athletes from different countries and cultures to meet, communicate and develop lasting friendships.
He described the championship as an outstanding example of cooperation, mutual respect and friendship, noting how the participating delegations had demonstrated a genuine willingness to understand one another despite their different cultural backgrounds and languages. Colonel Schwede particularly praised the spirit of solidarity displayed throughout the competition, underlining that the ability to overcome cultural and linguistic differences through sport represents one of the fundamental strengths of CISM.
He also paid tribute to the dedication and discipline of the athletes, congratulating them for their commitment to sport and peace. Reflecting on the unique role of CISM, he stressed that international military sporting competitions provide opportunities to transform differences into sources of strength and mutual understanding, while conveying a powerful message of peace to the wider world.
The CISM Official Representative also reflected on the emotions experienced throughout the championship, from the joy of unexpected victories to the disappointment of narrow defeats, emphasising that these contrasting experiences form an essential part of sporting competition and contribute to the personal development of athletes. Expressing his gratitude to the host nation, Colonel Schwede thanked the Omani Delegation to CISM, the Organising Committee and all those who had worked behind the scenes to ensure the smooth running of the event and provide a welcoming environment for the participating delegations.
Summarising the success of the championship, he declared: "We completely reached the goal." Colonel Schwede subsequently officially declared the 5th CISM World Military Beach Volleyball Championship closed, bringing to an end an event marked by competitive performances, international camaraderie and the shared commitment of all participants to the values of military sport.
Another highlight of the Closing Ceremony was the presentation of the Friendship through Sport Award, sponsored by CISM partner A5 Defence Magazine (A5DM), to Germany in recognition of its commitment to the values of friendship, fair play, mutual respect and camaraderie demonstrated throughout the championship. This distinction reflects the fundamental principles of the International Military Sports Council and its enduring motto, Friendship through Sport.
Beyond the sporting achievements, the championship once again highlighted the important role of CISM in promoting international cooperation and mutual understanding through sport. Throughout their stay in Muscat, the participating delegations had the opportunity to exchange experiences, strengthen professional and personal relationships, and build friendships extending beyond the boundaries of competition.
The successful organisation of the event also reflected the commitment of the Sultanate of Oman to international military sport and its continued contribution to the activities of the CISM family.
As the 5th CISM World Military Beach Volleyball Championship comes to an end, the achievements of the athletes, the dedication of the organisers and the spirit of friendship demonstrated throughout the competition stand as another illustration of the unifying power of sport and the enduring CISM motto, Friendship through Sport.
(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department)
