MINSK, 29 August (BelTA) – The Belarusian team did well at the International Army Games, which took place on 13-27 August, BelTA learned from Yuri Zverev, a military expert, Head of the Geography Chair of the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University.
Yuri Zverev reminded that the games represent a kind of Olympics, the world's only open competition for individuals and teams of soldiers and officers, who represent various countries and various military service branches. The first International Army Games took place in Moscow Oblast on 1-15 August 2015. This year's games gathered 270 teams from 34 countries of Europe, Asia, Africa, and for the first time of South America. The largest teams came from Belarus, Uzbekistan, Iran, Armenia, and China. It was the first time Bolivia and Rwanda had taken part in the International Army Games. The total number of participants of the International Army Games 2022 exceeded 4,500 people.
According to Yuri Zverev, it was the eighth International Army Games on record. The International Army Games 2022 took place in 30 training areas and in four seas – the Baltic Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Yellow Sea. A total of 34 competitions took place in 12 countries on three continents.
Yuri Zverev believes that the Tank Biathlon is the most popular and most entertaining competition at the International Army Games. The competition traditionally took place in the military training area Alabino near Moscow. A total of 21 countries participated in it. It was the first time one of the competitions (Sniper Frontier) had taken place on the American continent, in Venezuela.
Yuri Zverev said: “The games introduce competitiveness into combat training of the troops. The games contribute to higher combat readiness and professional skills of military personnel of all service branches and to better cohesion of the troops at all levels.”
Improving the quality and intensiveness of military technology cooperation of participating states is an important task the games are supposed to achieve. And certainly the games make the military union of Belarus and Russia stronger. The games contribute to further development of friendship and mutual understanding between military personnel of the two armies.
The Belarusian army participated in 27 contests, including in Special Dash (a competition of ammunition transportation units) and Guardian of Order (a competition of military police units) for the first time.
Belarus hosted three competitions: Polar Star (a competition for special operations units) in the military training area Brestsky, Confident Reception (a competition of communications troops) in the training area of the 120th Independent Guards Mechanized Brigade in Minsk, and Steel Artery (a competition of pontoon, bridge, and railway units) in the training area of the 30th Independent Railway Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus in Slutsk.
Yuri Zverev said: “Belarus performed decently at the International Army Games 2022 and came in third in the overall medal count.”
During the International Army Games 2022 Belarus won 25 medals (4 gold, 10 silver, and 11 bronze). Belarus won the competitions Confident Reception (for men's teams (Russia scored the same number of points) and for women's teams), Polar Star, and Steel Artery.
