History

The Royal Order of Merit for Sports (Real Orden al Mérito Deportivo) was established in Spain by royal decree of June 18, 1982. It was founded to replace the Sports Merit Medal founded by General Francisco Franco in 1952.

The Order is awarded to organizations, corporations, clubs, and sport groups, as well as foreign and national citizens, in recognition of extraordinary merit into fields as sports, and physical education, and for the management, organization, promotion, or development of sports and physical education within Spain.

The grades are Grand Cross, Gold Medal, Silver Medal, and Bronze Medal. The Grand Cross, Gold Medal, Silver Medal, and Bronze Medal are awarded to individuals while the Gold Plaque, Silver Plaque, and Bronze Plaque are awarded to collectives.

Up until 2002, 28 Grand Crosses, 149 Gold Medals, 325 Silver Medals, and 227 Bronze Medals had been awarded.

The Order features an obverse inscription that can be translated to “To Merit for Sports, Spain.”