Inaugural Guttmann Games provide new global stage for UIPM Para Sports

The growing UIPM Para Sports movement reached another milestone in Lahti (FIN) as Para Laser Run and Para Triathle featured in the inaugural World Abilitysport Guttmann Games.

Athletes, coaches and officials from 22 nations came together at the Sport Institute of Three Campuses – Pajulahti Campus from August 16-21, with UIPM Sports sharing the programme with Disability Snooker, Para Dance Sport, Standing Tennis and Inclusive Ice Figure Skating.

Created to provide an international multi-sport platform for athletes with physical impairments competing in sports outside the Paralympic programme, the first Guttmann Games provided another valuable opportunity for UIPM Para athletes to compete, connect and progress.

For UIPM, the week continued the development of an increasingly international Para Sports pathway, bringing together experienced competitors and athletes taking their first steps in international competition.

Egypt sets the pace

Competition began with the Para Laser Run Relay, where pairings from Egypt won all four categories.

Mahmoud and Ahmed (EGY) were among the winners in PMP5/4, while Elkhouly and Mohamed (EGY) topped PMP2/3. Lena Schollig of Germany and Tom Ellis of Great Britain earned silver in PMP5/4.

There was a wider spread of success when athletes returned for the individual Para Laser Run competition.

Hassiba Bouyoucef of France claimed gold in PMP1 Women while Ellis (GBR) won PMP4 Men. Rachel Massey (GBR), Rio Boothe (GBR) and Schöllig (GER) were also among the medallists, while Egypt added team gold in both PMP1 Men and PMP5 Men.

Egypt continued its impressive week in Para Triathle, winning six of the eight categories. Schöllig (GER) took PMP5 Women gold, while UIPM 2025 Para Tetrathlon world champion Irbin Vicco of Italy added a silver medal in PMP5 Men.

But the significance of the week extended beyond the podium.

Athletes new to international competition lined up alongside established members of the community across the Para Laser Run relay and individual events and Para Triathle, while the shared venue enabled competitors, coaches, officials and classifiers from different sports to meet throughout the Games.

Laura Kittela, Event Director of the Local Organising Committee, said: “Sport and physical activity belongs to everyone.”

Dr Nicola Robinson MBE, Chair of the UIPM Para Pentathlon Commission, added: “The inaugural Guttmann Games gave our athletes another valuable opportunity to compete internationally, but just as importantly it allowed new athletes to become part of our growing Para Sports community.

“Seeing Para Laser Run and Para Triathle alongside other developing Para sports in such an inclusive environment shows the value of working together to create more opportunities. Every additional competition helps us strengthen the athlete pathway, develop classification and build towards an even more global future for UIPM Para Sports.”

Building the pathway

The inaugural Games provided another opportunity for UIPM to strengthen its relationship with World Abilitysport and its member organisations while introducing Para Laser Run and Para Triathle to a wider multi-sport community.

UIPM thanked World Abilitysport and its President Rudi Van Den Abbeele for the vision behind the Guttmann Games and for including the two UIPM formats in the inaugural programme.

Thanks were also extended to the Local Organising Committee and Event Director Laura Kittela for their hosting throughout the week, together with the Finnish Modern Pentathlon Federation for its support in bringing the competition to Lahti.

With the first Guttmann Games complete, the focus now turns to building on the opportunity created in Finland: widening the pool of classified athletes, creating further international competition opportunities and continuing to strengthen the pathway for Para Laser Run and Para Triathle athletes around the world.