UIPM 2021 Junior and Youth World Championships postponed

• Executive Board votes for new dates due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic 

• Under 21 and combined U19/U17 competitions rescheduled for July 2021  

• UIPM expresses full confidence in local organisers in Alexandria (EGY)  

Issued jointly with the Egyptian Modern Pentathlon Federation and the Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport  

The Executive Board of the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) has voted to postpone the UIPM 2021 Junior World Championships and UIPM 2021 Youth World Championships, both of which were scheduled to take place in February 2021. 

The competitions have been rescheduled to take place in Alexandria (EGY) on the following dates: 

• July 4-10: UIPM 2021 Youth World Championships (U19/U17)  

• July 11-17: UIPM 2021 Junior World Championships   

To accurately assess the viability of the upcoming championships, the EB was provided with information about the global impact of the ongoing COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, travel restrictions facing incoming teams from other countries and current virus levels in Egypt. 

The EB was also presented with a report on the readiness of local organisers in Alexandria (EGY) to stage the proposed competition in line with UIPM’s new Event Organizers COVID-19 Infection Prevention Guidelines.  

After assessing all of the information at its disposal, UIPM’s highest decision-making body voted to postpone the competition in the interest of protecting the health of all participants.  

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann said: “With great regret we announce the postponement of the UIPM 2021 Junior World Championships and UIPM 2021 Youth World Championships. 

“The Coronavirus pandemic is seriously testing the resolve of most countries around the world and health must be the priority at this uniquely challenging time. I feel very sorry for our junior and youth athletes that they must continue to wait for their chance to compete on the world stage again.  

“I say to those athletes today: be assured that you are the future of our movement. Across our global community we will continue to work tirelessly to provide you with the opportunities you deserve. Keep training in a safe way, listen to the advice of your government and medical experts and look after your health. Your time will come! 

“While the EB has decided to reschedule these competitions to a later date in 2021, we have every confidence in the local organising committee to organise these competitions in the safest possible circumstances with all precautions in place according to the UIPM guidelines. 

“I thank our friends from the Egyptian Modern Pentathlon Federation and the Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport for their understanding and their patience.” 

Sharif Elerian, President of the Egyptian Modern Pentathlon Federation, said: “We have waited for nearly a full year for official Pentathlon competitions to take place again. An extra four-month delay we can all withstand together.  

“The most important thing is the safety and good health of all our athletes, coaches and other participants. This delay will give more time for all our athletes worldwide to prepare better and thus give everyone a fairer chance in competition.  

“I thank UIPM, the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport, the Egyptian Olympic Committee and Egyptian Ministry of Sport, for their understanding and cooperation in this matter and their full support for the new timing in July. We hope it will be a great competition and experience for all.” 

Prof Ismail Abdel Ghafar, President of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport, said: “We will be honoured and privileged to host the upcoming UIPM 2021 Junior and Youth World Championships on our campuses at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport in the beautiful city of Alexandria.  

“We fully comply with and understand the reason behind the postponement of both competitions and thank UIPM and EMPF for all their efforts and collaborations with us in trying to ensure that both competitions are still held in 2021 and are arranged with the highest possible levels of safety and competence.  

“We will be ready in July to welcome you all in Alexandria.” 

The decision to postpone the competition follows the cancellation of the UIPM 2020 Junior World Championships – scheduled to take place in Drzonkow (POL) last September – and the UIPM 2020 Youth World Championships (U19/U17), which would have been staged in Hurghada (EGY) in October. 

In response to those two cancellations, UIPM agreed to a proposal from Alexandria (EGY) to host both competitions as early as possible in 2021. 

The next competition on the UIPM calendar will see the resumption of qualification for the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. UIPM 2021 Pentathlon World Cup Budapest is scheduled to take place in the capital of Hungary from March 24-28.