| Royal Order of Sports Merit Real Orden del Mérito Deportivo | |
| Awarded By: | His Majesty The King of Spain |
| For: | Recognition of activities in the fields of sport and physical education. |
| Type: | Order of Merit |
| Date: | 18 June 1982 |
| Head Title: | Chancellor |
| Head: | Minister of Education, Culture and Sport |
| Higher: | Orden de las Artes y las Letras de España |
| Lower: | Orden al Mérito del Plan Nacional sobre Drogas[1] |
The Royal Order of Sports Merit (Spanish; Castilian: Real Orden del Mérito Deportivo) is a Spanish civil order of merit established in 18 June 1982. The order is indented to recognise distinguished service in sports, in teaching physical education, or the management, organisation, promotion and development of physical education and sports. The order may be presented to individuals in one of four classes. It may also be presented to legal personalities, organizations, and other entities in one of three classes.
The Spanish Constitution of 1978 contains in article 43.3, a guiding principle in the conduct of public authorities to promote physical education and sport. The Royal Order of Sports Merit is a tool of this constitutional mandate to promote, advertise, and propagate physical culture and sports.
Individuals may be awarded the Royal Order of Sports Merit in one of four classes:[2]
Groups and organizations may be awarded in one of three different classes: