UIPM 2019 Global Laser Run City Tour: Energy meets history in Argeles-sur-Mer and Latour-de-France (FRA)

The UIPM Laser Run World Championships was born in France in 2015, when Perpignan staged the inaugural event around the fountains of the southern city.

Four years later, France has become a regular venue for the Global Laser Run City Tour, which has turned Laser Run into a worldwide urban sports phenomenon.

In the summer of 2019, Argeles-sur-Mer and Latour-de-France became the latest French destinations for the GLRCT.

The Meditteranean resort of Argeles-sur-Mer welcomed more than 380 participants of all ages to its Valmy Castle venue, with schoolchildren, triathletes, Laser Runners and future pentathletes meeting up to test their skills and stamina.

A spokesperson for the local organising committee said: “A great atmosphere and good organization was orchestrated by the regional Occitanie Modern Pentathlon Committee and the local club Pentasud Master Argeles.

“A very enthusiastic welcome from the municipality and the majestic setting made this day very pleasant even if the race course was not so easy!”

An amphitheatre on a hill in the heart of the Agly Valley played host to its first GLRCT as Latour-de-France joined the list of destinations for the UIPM’s most popular development competition.

With a race course bordering the vineyards, the Green Theatre created a very warm and festive atmosphere allowed the participants to have a very pleasant day. It ended with a Laser Run Country color race for families.

A spokesperson for the local organising committee said: “Primary school children and teachers were delighted to be present at the event and some of them will join the modern pentathlon club ECCM for the 2019-2020 season.

“Organized in partnership with the regional Occitanie Modern Pentathlon Committee and the local club ECCM, this GLRCT 2019 was a success.”

The Global Laser Run City Tour was created in 2017 to provide an entry point to UIPM Sports for people of all ages in urban communities around the world.

Another 100 cities have been selected in 2019 as hosts of the GLRCT or the Biathle/Triathle National Tour. The full calendar can be viewed at the UIPM website, where you can also find more information on UIPM’s various multi-discipline sports.

In September, the UIPM Laser Run World Championships will be incorporated into the Pentathlon World Championships for the first time in Budapest (HUN), where Laser Run is also on the programme for the 1st World Urban Games.

In December, Laser Run and Triathle will both feature for the first time in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines.

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