UIPM Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships in Minsk (BLR) postponed

• Executive Board decides competition cannot take place in 2021 due to instability in host nation
• Local organisers in Belarus praised as UIPM gives commitment around future hosting
• Alternative venues under discussion for UIPM’s flagship competition in June 2021

The Executive Board (EB) of the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) has voted to postpone the UIPM Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships in Minsk, Belarus scheduled to take place in June 2021.

The flagship competition of the 2021 season, which will be the final qualification event for the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, will now take place in an alternative venue on the same dates (June 7-13), with an announcement due to be made in the coming days.

The UIPM EB was unanimous in its commendation of the local organizing committee, led by the Belarusian Federation of Modern Pentathlon (BFMP), and expressed its commitment to the combined World Championships taking place in Minsk (BLR) at a future date.

Outlining the reasons for the postponement, UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann said: “The UIPM Executive Board has been closely monitoring developments in Belarus in recent months and assessing the viability of the UIPM 2021 Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships taking place in Minsk as planned. 

“The sanctions imposed by the International Olympic Committee on the National Olympic Committee of Belarus in December 2020 were also noted.

“Having remained in close contact with the Belarus Federation of Modern Pentathlon throughout this process, it was important that a decision was made that would protect this strong partnership and the future development of our sport in Belarus.

“The EB reviewed the situation this week and, first of all, declared its complete confidence in the Local Organising Committee being able to stage a competition of the highest quality in the wonderful city of Minsk when the time is right.

“After a detailed discussion, the EB voted to move the UIPM Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships in Minsk to a future date because of a growing concern that the present instability in the host nation could jeopardise the success of UIPM’s flagship competition.

“There was a particular concern that numerous competing nations would be reluctant to travel to Belarus at this time, and EB members wanted to protect the fairness of the competition and the Olympic qualification process without adding pressure to the already difficult circumstances of the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.

“In many ways our combined World Championships represents the pinnacle of our sport. It aligns the showpiece elements of Modern Pentathlon – this year with the additional context of Olympic qualification – with the exciting development opportunities provided by the inclusion of the most popular UIPM Sport, Laser Run.

“I am pleased that, in taking the difficult decision to move the competition to an alternative venue in 2021, the EB has protected the sanctity of this event while expressing a commitment to the future development of our sporting movement in a very active and progressive Modern Pentathlon country.”

The UIPM competition season is scheduled to get underway with UIPM 2021 Pentathlon World Cup Budapest from March 24-28. Visit the Events section of the UIPM website for more information.