UIPM Global Laser Run City Tour: Circuit resumes in Egypt and New Zealand

Like every other aspect of the UIPM Sports movement, the highly successful Global Laser Run City Tour had to be paused for the past 12 months due to measures imposed to tackle the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.

However, in the early stages of 2021, the Tour has resumed with the first instalments taking place in safe and secure conditions in Egypt and New Zealand.

Athletes of all ages flock to Alexandria (EGY)

Such is the strength and popularity of the UIPM Sports movement in Egypt, high participation rates are a perennial feature of competitions at all levels.

The first UIPM Global Laser Run City Tour of 2021 was no exception, as 255 male and 177 female participants across age groups from Under 9 to Masters 60+ gathered in Alexandria (EGY) to compete on February 11.

Hussein Gamal, GLRCT Competition Manager and Egyptian Modern Pentathlon Federation Treasurer and Board Member, said: “We are happy to see how the Laser Run competitions are welcomed in Egypt and our athletes and families enjoy the competitions we organize.

“The huge participation of the athletes and participation of the families in the Global Laser Run City Tour in Alexandria on February 11, 2021 was a good illustration of that statement.

“We also trying to promote the participation of our special needs athletes in our future competitions. We believe sport participation is everybody’s right.”

Alexandria (EGY) will play host to the UIPM 2021 Junior and Youth World Championships in July.

Inclusion tops the agenda in Hamilton (NZL)

New Zealand has been one of the global success stories in minimising the impact of COVID-19 and the Modern Pentathlon community has been able to continue encouraging participation.

This was beautifully illustrated on March 7 when the UIPM Global Laser Run City Tour visited a new venue at the Waikato University in Hamilton (NZL).

Athletes enjoyed relaxing on the village green, running an undulating lap of a lake through a short-section forest and shooting in an undercover urban area. Disabled and visually-impaired athletes participated alongside able-bodied athletes.

“Inclusion is key to growing the sport of Modern Pentathlon in New Zealand, and the GLRCT is the perfect introduction,” said Modern Pentathlon New Zealand President Kaewruethai Collings. 

Like in Alexandria (EGY), athletes competed in age categories from U9 to 60+ and racing was held in line with strict COVID-19 protocols.

“The GLRCT is really just the start of our 2021 competition calendar,” added President Collings. “Later in the year we are planning on running a second Laser Run event, as well as our annual competition, and a variety of smaller events.

“In addition, we have secured several school Laser Run programmes and introduction to Modern Pentathlon to run, which is very exciting!”