Unit Name: | High Center for Military Sport |
Dates: | 1943–Present |
Country: | Lebanon |
Type: | Military College |
Command Structure: | Lebanese Armed Forces |
Garrison: | Dekweneh-Mar Roukoz |
Identification Symbol Label: | Emblem |
The High Center for Military Sport (Arabic: المركز العالي للرياضة العسكرية al-Markaz al-aali lel reyada al-Askariya) is a Lebanese Armed Forces sports center, established in 1943, and is concerned with maintaining the physical fitness of soldiers, organize sports championships, and prepare soldiers for local and international competitions.[1]
The center was established in 1943 by the French army as a part of the combat and skiing school in Haret Hreik, it was composed of one single sports hall and two offices. the center was later handed over to the LAF in 1946, which appointed Captain Aziz Addab as a first commander.
In 1968 Lebanon was chosen as a center of the middle east connection related to the international military sports council (CISM), and this became the responsibility of this center. In 1978, the LAF decided to change the name of the center, and since then it has become the High Center for Military Sport instead of Combat School.
During the Israeli invasion in 1982 the Israeli bombardment targeted its fields, buildings and infrastructure, and left it totally destroyed.[2]
The missions of the High Sports Military Center are centered on the army and sports federation. For the army the center is to help maintain the physical fitness of soldiers, organize sports championships, organize private practices and tournaments for practice, prepare soldiers for international competition, and to give technical advice to all military units. For the sports federation the center must prepare army teams in groups and as individuals to participate in local and international sports championship and to coordinate with the Ministry of Sport and the Lebanese Olympic committee and other special organization to organize a friendly events.
The current command structure is as follows:[2]
On January 15, 2003 a new military sports complex was opened, President Emile Lahoud military sports complex was established in Mar Roukoz, Dahr Al Housayn.[2] The new complex includes:
The emblem of the center is composed of different symbols with corresponding meanings, as follows:[2]