“Good luck understanding what’s going on”: micmac in sambo, a martial art in the pay of the Russians

Whatever happens this week in Israel, the “Marseillaise” will not ring out during the European Sambo Championships. A discipline invented by the Soviets during the First World War and which consists in defending oneself with bare hands. Unlike the Ukrainians, who decided to stay at home due to the presence of Russian and Belarusian representatives, the French will indeed be present, but they will fight under the label “FIAS 3”, understand Fédération Internationale Amateur de Sambo. There will also be “FIAS 1” for Russian samboists and “FIAS 2” for their Belarusian counterparts.