Kunming (CHN) hosts historic ceremony to launch construction of UIPM Asia-Pacific Development Centre

• Building begins on ambitious regional hub for Modern Pentathlon
• Facility will incorporate altitude training base and international events centre
• President Schormann joined by Asian Confederation and National Federations at ceremony

An international ceremony has been held to mark the official launch of the UIPM Asia-Pacific Development Centre (APDC) construction project.

The APDC, incorporating the UIPM Altitude Training Base and UIPM Asia-Pacific International Event Centre, is seen as a transformative base for the UIPM Sports movement in China, the wider Asian continent and for the global athlete community. 

Hosted by officials from Yunnan region provincial authorities, UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann and Secretary General Shiny Fang were joined at the ceremony and site visit by Asian Modern Pentathlon Confederation (AMPC) Vice President Cassandro Choh (also President of the Singapore Modern Pentathlon Association) and AMPC Secretary General Sangkeong Yeo, as well as National Federation Presidents Otgonbaatar Chultem (Mongolia) and Nishanthe Piyasena (Sri Lanka).

The AMPC signed an MOU of intent for cooperation with the APDC, bringing strong and long-term support for the project, which was conceived in 2022 with a site selected in 2023. Construction will start in late 2024.

The UIPM Asia-Pacific Development Centre HQ will be in the Kunming Shipen Temple Area of Wuhua district, covering an area of 1,607 acres. It will include the UIPM APDC HQ office, Modern Pentathlon business school, international community and Modern Pentathlon sports park.

The Altitude Training Base and International Event Centre are planned to be located in Yunnan Central New District, covering an area of 2,517 acres. The main construction includes the training facilities and event centre complex, Europe Industrial Park, Modern Pentathlon sports college, athletes village and other supporting facilities.

The state-of-the-art facilities will not only help UIPM in the goal of growing the sport in a key region of focus, they will also provide a key Asian base capable of hosting top-class global, continental and national competitions and events.

After the completion of this project, the venue will be qualified to host major UIPM international events such as Pentathlon World Championships, Pentathlon World Cups and other related competitions.

According to the facility’s construction timeline, in conjunction with Yunnan Wuxiang Sports Industry Development Co Ltd, the stadium and surrounding facilities will be completed within five years.

The development centre has received strong support from the Yunnan provincial government and the Kunming city government, and their faith in the project was further augmented during deep discussions last week with UIPM President Dr Schormann, where both sides reinforced their determination to realise the full potential of the scheme. The general office of Yunnan’s provincial government stated in a letter to UIPM that “they are attaching great importance to this project”.

The governors of Yunnan Dianzhong Area Management Committee and Wuhua District Committee have helped to organise the project and arranged the relevant functional departments to support its progress.

President Dr Schormann highly affirmed the construction project and expressed his full support, saying: “I am delighted at the outcome of last week’s meetings with the provincial and city governors in Kunming. Modern Pentathlon has a wide influence in the world and we have already seen exciting growth across the Asian continent, resulting in a big increase in athlete participation and Olympic medals for China (2012), Korea (2021 and 2024) and Japan (2024).

“The construction of the Asia-Pacific Development Centre will inject new vitality into sport development across the region, giving National Federations a base where athletes can train, where competitions can be held and where audiences from across China and the world can be thrilled by a wonderful sport that has an exciting future.”