Honoured Master of Sport (Russian: ÃÂðÃÂûÃÂöõýýÃÂù üðÃÂÃÂõàÃÂÿþÃÂÃÂð, abbreviated ZMS) is an honorary sports title awarded to athletes for outstanding achievements in sports. The standard abbreviation in Russian sports reference literature is ZMS.
The title was first established in the Soviet Union in 1934 (with the official name "Honoured Master of Sport of the USSR" from 1983). Similar honorary titles existed in other socialist countries such as Bulgaria, Mongolia, Poland, the GDR, Romania, and Czechoslovakia; some of them still exist today.
After the collapse of the USSR, the title "Honoured Master of Sport of the USSR" was awarded in 1992 for achievements as part of the Unified Team. Starting in 1992, new versions of the "Honoured Master of Sport" title were established in several former Soviet republicsâÂÂsome as honorary titles, others as formal sports classifications:
<small>Honorary title refers to an individual title awarded by a country's highest legislative body or president. Honorary sports title refers to an individual title awarded by the relevant ministry or agency responsible for sports. Sports classification title is awarded based on meeting standards established by national sports classification systems.</small>
The title of "Honoured Master of Sport of Russia" (Russian: ÃÂðÃÂûÃÂöõýýÃÂù üðÃÂÃÂõàÃÂÿþÃÂÃÂð àþÃÂÃÂøø) is an honorary sports title established in 1992.
The latest version of the regulations governing this title was adopted in 2008, with minor amendments to the 2006 order. Decisions on awarding or revoking the title are made by the highest governing body for physical culture and sports in the Russian Federation.
According to current regulations, the title may be awarded to:
Champions and medalists of the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, and Deaflympics;
World champions in events included in the programs of the Olympic, Paralympic, and Deaflympic Games â in individual events, including relays, groups, pairs, etc., as well as in team sports;
World and European champions, and winners of World and European Cups, who have also accumulated the required number of points in accordance with a special scoring table;
"By way of exception" â "for outstanding contributions to enhancing the prestige of the Russian Federation and Russian sport at the international level, demonstrated through exceptional courage and skill." Although the title of "Honoured Master of Sport of Russia" is awarded to Russian citizens, an exception was made in 2008: following Zenit's victory in the 2007âÂÂ08 UEFA Cup, team captain Anatoliy Tymoshchuk was awarded the title, despite not holding Russian citizenship. Tymoshchuk is a citizen of Ukraine and had already been awarded the title of "Honoured Master of Sport of Ukraine" in 2005. Other foreign players from Zenit did not receive the Russian title.
The title of Honoured Master of Sport of Ukraine (abbreviated as HMSU; ) is an honorary sports title established in 1992. With the introduction of the Unified Sports Classification of Ukraine in 2006, it was redefined as a sports title
The procedure and criteria for awarding or revoking the title are regulated by the Unified Sports Classification of Ukraine (2006). Between 1993 and 2006, the title was governed by the Regulation on the Honorary Title "Honoured Master of Sport of Ukraine" (1993 and 1997 versions). The title is conferred and revoked by the highest government authority overseeing physical culture and sports in Ukraine. It is awarded to Ukrainian citizens only.
According to the 2006 Classification, the HMSU title is awarded "to athletes in individual or team sports as a mark of their personal achievements" upon meeting the prescribed standards. These include:
In Olympic sports:
Although the Unified Sports Classification of Ukraine (2006) does not formally provide for awarding the HMSU title based on other accomplishments (previously, the title could be granted "based on a combination of results"), some sports have applied additional criteria. For example, in 2009, seventeen footballers of Shakhtar Donetsk were awarded the title for winning the 2008âÂÂ09 UEFA Cup, including ten players who did not hold Ukrainian citizenship.
According to the 2006 classification, the title of Honoured Master of Sport of Ukraine may be revoked only in cases of a lifetime disqualification for anti-doping rule violations. (Previously, the grounds for revocation were broader.)
The title of "Honoured Master of Sport of the Republic of Belarus" () is an honorary title conferred by decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus.
The title was established in 1994 as an honorary sports distinction. Under the Law of the Republic of Belarus dated 13 April 1995 "On State Awards of the Republic of Belarus", it was formally recognized as an honorary title. The subsequent law, enacted on 18 May 2004, states:
On 12 April 1996, individuals who had been awarded the title "Honoured Master of Sport of the USSR" were granted equal status with those awarded the title "Honoured Master of Sport of the Republic of Belarus." (In 1994âÂÂ1995, several Honoured Masters of Sport of the USSR were also formally awarded the Belarusian title.)
The official description of the badge was approved on 15 January 1996, and a new version was adopted on 8 April 2005, in which the inscriptions were changed from Russian to Belarusian.
There are no clearly defined criteria for the award of the title. Olympic champions and medalists are generally granted the title. In 2002, all members of the national hockey team that placed fourth at the Winter Olympics were also awarded the title. At the Paralympic Games, the title is usually awarded to champions.
The title of "Honoured Master of Sport of the Republic of Kazakhstan" () is a sports title, conferred by decrees of the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Tourism, and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan (later by other governmental bodies).
Honorary titles of Uzbekistan awarded to athletes by presidential decrees include:
"Uzbekiston iftikhori" ( â "Pride of Uzbekistan") â established by the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on 28 August 1998.
"Honoured Athlete of the Republic of Uzbekistan" () â established by the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on 26 April 1996.
The title of "Honoured Master of Sport" () has existed in Bulgaria since the socialist era. Unlike the system in the USSR and former Soviet republics, the title is awarded by national sport federations based on their own criteria. The awarding order must be approved by the Minister of Youth and Sports.
The title of "Honoured Master of Sport" () was awarded in Mongolia from 1960 to 1991. In 1992, it was replaced by the title of "Honoured Athlete of Mongolia" ().
The title of "Honoured Master of Sport" () was established by the Polish government on 17 April 1950. It has been awarded by the highest national authorities responsible for sport:
Main Committee for Physical Culture (Gà Âówny Komitet Kultury Fizycznej) â until 1960
Main Committee for Physical Culture and Tourism (Gà Âówny Komitet Kultury Fizycznej i Turystyki) â 1960âÂÂ1985
Main Committee for Physical Culture and Sport (Gà Âówny Komitet Kultury Fizycznej i Sportu) â 1985âÂÂ1987
Committee for Youth and Physical Culture (Komitet do Spraw Mà Âodzieà ¼y i Kultury Fizycznej) â 1987âÂÂ1989
Office for Physical Culture and Tourism (Urzàd Kultury Fizycznej i Turystyki) â in modern Poland. The badge is a gold medal with a diameter of 34 mm, attached to a gold bar measuring 30ÃÂ8 mm.
The title of "Honoured Master of Sport" (Maestru emerit al sportului) was introduced in Romania in 1953 by a decision of the Committee for Physical Culture and Sports under the Council of Ministers of the Romanian People's Republic.
The title of "Honoured Master of Sport" () was introduced in Czechoslovakia in 1953 by a decision of the State Committee for Physical Culture and Sports. Among the first to receive the title were Emil Zátopek and Jan Brzák-Felix.