The association was founded in 1901 in
Tallinn as the Kalev Amateur Cyclist Society (). In 1908, a tennis club was established at the society. Later it was joined by sections of athletics, swimming, football,
Greco-Roman wrestling, rowing etc. In the 1920s, a basketball club was also set up at the organization. In 1940, with the
Soviet occupation of Estonia, Kalev was dissolved and its facilities were taken over by the Soviet
All-Union Sports Society Dynamo. After
World War II, in 1944 the
Republican Volunteer Sports Society "Kalev" was formed by the Soviet authorities. At its peak during the
Estonian SSR, it had 177,1 thousand members. The sports association continued its activities after the
restoration of Estonian independence. A 6
kroon, 50 senti postage stamp was issued to celebrate its centenary in 2001. Kalevi Mängud (Kalev's Games) is an event organized by Kalev. The most recent one, III Kalevi Mängud, was held in 2006. == Honours ==