UIPM President’s Activities: April 2024

08.04. – 10.04.2024: Birmingham, GBR

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann attended the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2024 with Secretary General Shiny Fang, Operations Director Alexandre Franca and Executive Assistant Lena Nussbaumer.

During the trip they also attended the Joint Meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and the ASOIF General Assembly, where Ingmar De Vos was elected as ASOIF President.

The revival of SportAccord after five years enabled more than 1,700 participants from 87 countries to reconnect and interact in person.

UIPM President Dr Schormann had meetings with Col Nilton Rolim, President of the International Military Sports Council (CISM), and his Secretary General, Capt Roberto Recchia.

They discussed potential hosting solutions for future editions of the CISM Modern Pentathlon Military World Championships, which will be held in Spain in 2025 and in Hungary in 2026. The UIPM/CISM Memorandum of Understanding from 2011 will be reviewed with a view to renewal during this year’s World Championships.

Additionally, Dr Schormann took the opportunity to speak with old-time friend and CEO of SportsIn, George Yerolimpos, who offered his help in any kinds for the future of Modern Pentathlon and fully supports the UIPM President’s decision not to seek re-election at the end of the year.

During these days in Birmingham (GBR), the UIPM President also had a meeting with HRH Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Saud, President of the Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee, and Vice President Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdul Aziz.

Various topics were covered, with the emphasis on the 73rd UIPM Congress in Riyadh (KSA) in November 2024. His Royal Highness expressed his continuous support for this important and historical Congress and promised his employees would be ready to assist in any way needed. UIPM President Dr Schormann agreed to stay in close contact with HRH Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Saud and expressed his trust in the good work and ambition of Saudi Arabia to host an excellent UIPM Congress.

Another meeting took place with Jose Perurena, President of the International World Games Association (IWGA), to examine possibilities around UIPM Sports becoming part of the World Games from 2029.

President Perurena, with IWGA CEO Joachim Gossow, explained the possibilities of an entrance through direct contact with the new host city after its election in May 2024, whereby the host city would have the capacity to decide some of the sports on the programme.

 

12.04. – 15.04.2024: Hwaseong, KOR

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann was present at the 2024 Asian Modern Pentathlon Confederation (AMPC) Congress, which was extraordinary based on the number of nations represented and candidates to become AMPC Board Members.

After a thorough election process, the new AMPC office-bearers were announced and all elected representatives will begin their mandate after UIPM 2024 Congress.

The UIPM President gave a speech about the founding of AMPC in 1986 together with former UIPM Vice President Kuisung Choi, and the close cooperation that has existed since.

During an official reception, IOC Member and Korean Olympic Committee President Keeheung Lee made a personal speech to the Asian community and especially to the Korean Modern Pentathlon Federation, which he formerly served an Executive Board Member.

As part of the festivities, President Dr Schormann joined President Lee, former AMPC President Hyunjun Kim and his successor Hanjoon Lee, Monsung Lee from the Sport Council and the Mayor of Hwaseong, Myeonggeung Jeong, in cutting a cake to celebrate the good cooperation between AMPC & UIPM and the successful Asian Championships.

The UIPM President joined UIPM and AMPC representatives in a visit to the National Training Center (NTC) of the Korean Sports & Olympic Committee, where UIPM Technical Committee Member Dongkook Chung acts as Vice Chief.

The state-of-the-art outdoor and indoor multi-sports facility will become one of the world's biggest sports complexes, as it will cover 37 different events and be able to house up to 1,115 athletes.

After the visit, the UIPM and AMPC delegates attended the Asian Championships to watch the Senior and U19 Men’s & Women’s Finals.

 

17.04. – 21.04.2024: Ankara, TUR

Amidst recent developments, the Turkish Modern Pentathlon Federation (TMPF) finds itself in a transitional phase, with notable changes in its leadership structure. Following discussions with the President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the Minister of Youth and Sports, Osman Askın Bak, Dr Veli Ozan Cakır has been appointed as the General Director of Sports Services.

Dr Cakir is now continuing as Honorary President of the TMPF, while Ercan Taciroglu (former EB Member) has assumed the role of the Acting President with the responsibility of maintaining the progression of the Modern Pentathlon movement in Türkiye.

During his visit to UIPM 2024 Pentathlon World Cup Ankara, UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann chose to acknowledge the esteemed Ankara Equestrian Club as it hosted this prestigious event for the third consecutive year, further solidifying its reputation as a cornerstone of elite Modern Pentathlon competition.

Following the success of the UIPM 2024 Pentathlon World Cup Final in Ankara (TUR) in winning Best Promoted Competition at the UIPM 2023 Annual Awards, President Dr. Klaus Schormann presented an award to Prof Veli Cakir beneath the oak tree they planted together in 2022.

The competition was also used for a pilot school project organised and supported by the Turkish Government, to introduce children to different sports in Turkey and enlarge their knowledge as well as to raise awareness about Modern Pentathlon. They prepared an Obstacle course and Laser Run track for the children to try. This pilot project was used to adapt to other regions in Türkiye as well.

 

25.04. – 28-04.2024: Budapest, HUN

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann was joined by UIPM EB Member Rob Stull, newly-elected Hungarian Modern Pentathlon Federation (HMPF) President Gabor Balogh, HMPF Secretary General Attila Mizser and UIPM Executive Assistant Lena Nussbaumer in a meeting with Hungary’s State Secretary for Sport, Dr Adam Schmidt, at the Defense Ministry.

The meeting was about the development of Modern Pentathlon in Hungary, especially since a new board has been elected and expressed a wish to host the flagship UIPM 2027 Pentathlon World Championships in Budapest (HUN).

In addition, President Dr Schormann thanked President Balogh and State Secretary Schmidt for the interest to host the CISM Modern Pentathlon World Championships in Budapest in 2026. The new HMPF President underlined the good existing cooperation with UIPM and their wish to continue an excellent partnership also in terms of developing Modern Pentathlon through schools and clubs.

A lot of former officials and pentathletes from Hungary attended UIPM 2024 Pentathlon World Cup Budapest to observe the modern, exciting, thrilling and innovative sport which has changed dramatically after their time of competing in Modern Pentathlon.

Among the group were Gyula Bretz (former HMPA President), Attila Mizser (HMPA Secretary General, two-time Olympic medallist); Peter Kelemen (1970 world champion), Dr Ferenc Torok (Tokyo 1964 Olympic Champion, former HMPA President, UIPM Hall of Fame inductee), Gabor Balogh (HMPA President, Sydney 2000 Olympic silver medallist) and Janos Bodi (1956 Olympian).

Other VIP guests included Aron Szilagyi (three-time individual Olympic champion in Sabre Fencing), State Secretary Dr Schmidt and Gyula Dallos, Minister Commissioner in Hungary’s Ministry of Defence and a former champion equestrian athlete.

In addition to the meeting with the State Secretary of Sport, President Dr Schormann convened with Zsolt Gyulay, President of the Hungarian Olympic Committee (HOC), as well as Pal Schmitt, former State President of Hungary and Honorary Member of the IOC and UIPM.

Among the attendees were Daniel Gyurta, current IOC Athletes Commission Member and London 2012 Olympic swimming champion, along with Rob Stull, Gabor Balogh, Attila Mizser and Lena Nussbaumer.

During this gathering, discussions centred on the support and collaboration between the HOC and the Hungarian Modern Pentathlon Association (HMPA). The NOC expressed full support for the pending changes to Modern Pentathlon and offered assistance to the HMPA in areas such as Obstacle training and upcoming competitions within Modern Pentathlon like regular World Cups, but also the wish to host the UIPM 2027 Pentathlon World Championships.

The HOC’s endorsement underscores the perceived benefits and positive impact on the sport's future development of hosting UIPM’s flagship competitions.