The first World Military Games event was held in 1995 in Rome, with 4017 competitors from 93 nations. There were 17 sports at the first edition of these Games (currently there are 20). The first Games was organized to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
A winter version was first held in 2010, then again in 2013.
The 2021 Winter edition of the World Military Games was postponed due to the pandemic, to be held in the following winter.