Sambo should become a trademark of Russian sports, a leading official has claimed ©FIAS

Sambo should become a trademark of Russian sport, a leading official has claimed as it continues its push for recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). 

In December, sambo was one of 14 sports to miss out on provisional IOC recognition as the International Cheer Union and International Federation of Muaythai Amateur were both accepted.

International Sambo Federation (FIAS) President Vasily Shestakov told insidethegames later that same month that IOC recognition is the only step the FIAS desires for the time being.

Russian Security Council deputy secretary Rashid Nurgaliyev believes creating a more commonly-known link between the country and sambo would be beneficial in helping to achieve the world governing body's ambition. 

"We do understand that the final decision would depend on the foundation that we are laying for the development of this sport in our country," Nurgaliyev, who is also the head of the sambo development working group, told TASS during the opening of a sambo training facility in Russian city Kaliningrad.

"We are holding competitions among 120 countries and organising training courses.

"This is the only sport in the world boasting available merchandise in Russian language only."

Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously called for every effort to be made to have sambo recognised by the International Olympic Committee ©Getty Images
Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously called for every effort to be made to have sambo recognised by the International Olympic Committee ©Getty Images

Nurgaliyev claimed in October that sambo is soon likely to be introduced on the Olympic programme, despite strong competition from other sports.

That same month, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for "every effort" to be made to have sambo recognised by the IOC.

Putin, an Honorary President of the FIAS, made the call while addressing a session of the Council for the Development of Physical Culture and Sport in the historic Vladimir region.

He added the inclusion of sambo would require a lengthy and labour-consuming period, but insisted "we need to be thinking about it and working on it".

Russia is very much the dominant force in sambo, which originated in the Soviet Union in the 1920s when soldiers of the then-Soviet Army developed their own hand-to-hand combat technique.

According to statistics from the All-Russian Sambo Federation released late last year, some 500,000 Russians are practicing sambo, including around 230,000 children.

Sambo will be celebrating its 80th anniversary next year.