El deporte en el contexto militar: Un análisis nacional e internacional desde la perspectiva de la gestión deportiva (Sport in the military context: A national and international analysis from the perspective of sport management)

• Published in: Retos (Madrid) 2023-01, Vol.49, p.468
• Main Authors: Mário Coelho Teixeira, Diogo Gonçalo, Segui-Urbaneja, Jordi, André Dionísio Sesinando
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; spa
• Subjects: Military personnel; Peace
• ISSN: 1579-1726; 1988-2041
• DOI: 10.47197/retos.v49.99280

The regular practice of sport is today fully accepted as a condition for a more active life and healthier habits, as well as for a balanced physical and emotional well-being, assuming greater relevance in the military context and in the world peace between nations, where physical and psychological preparedness assumes special importance. The research aimed to explore military sport by analysing its main international characteristics, as well as to identify the socio-demographic profile of military personnel in the Portuguese Armed Forces, their sports practice habits and opinion about the development of military sport in Portugal. Methodologically, it is a quantitative-descriptive study of an exploratory nature, in which, in addition to the research of several official documents, a questionnaire was applied to military personnel about their sportive habits, obtaining 566 valid answers. The results show a high number of member countries (n=140) in the organisation of international military sport, as well as sport disciplines developed (n=38) and participants in the events held, contrasting with a not very significant Portuguese participation. The main reasons are: (a) insufficient support for athletes; (b) infrastructures that do not offer the best training conditions; and (c) insufficient recognition by military institutions. Regarding the sport routines, it was found that 19.6% do not practice any physical activity at all. We conclude that despite the interest in participating in military sporting events, the portuguese military personnel reported the need for greater investment and promotion to encourage their participation. The need for greater openness from the military institutions themselves is another of the reasons mentioned for strengthening their training conditions and recognising the potential of military sport.