UIPM President’s Activities: August 2023

19.08. – 28.08.2023 – Bath, GBR

During the UIPM 2023 Pentathlon & Laser Run World Championships, UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann had opportunities to welcome UIPM sponsors, Olympic friends and officials, former pentathletes and long-time contributors of the sport.

In his speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Laser Run World Championships he underlined the big success of this development sport as a global showcase of urban sport within the UIPM movement. President Dr Schormann also welcomed the strong development of Para Pentathlon, which shows that UIPM includes all societies of the sport community in its multi-sport movement.

On August 24, UIPM celebrated its 75th anniversary together with Pentathlon GB, which was celebrating its 100th anniversary. New members of the UIPM Hall of Fame were inducted: Emile Jarrot (received by Joel Bouzou); Jeremy Fox (received by his grandson, Benjamin); Kuisung Choi (received by Sangkeong Yeo); Gyula Bretz, Dorota Idzi, Kitty Chiller, Alain Lunzenfichter and James S Davis (received by Matthew Barnes).

President Dr Schormann also awarded the UIPM Pierre de Coubertin Medal to Major Terry Bunyard and Georgina Harland in the fantastic Pump Rooms in the Roman Baths.

During a two-day UIPM Executive Board meeting in the University of Bath, the UIPM President briefed EB colleagues on matters of international sporting politics, including the ongoing military occupation of Ukraine, which has led to the establishment of an independent UIPM panel that will now start to work on applications from athletes from Belarus and Russia who want to compete as neutral athletes in UIPM international competitions.

President Dr Schormann, Secretary General Shiny Fang and Vice President Joel Bouzou also briefed the EB on recent developments in relation to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games sporting programme. Discussion also surrounded UIPM’s integration of World Obstacle based on a Memorandum of Understanding, and the future structure of UIPM Confederations.

On the second day of the meeting, the EB awarded UIPM competitions in 2024 to Egypt, Guatemala, Lithuania and Portugal after online and offline presentations by the various bidding teams.

In a special ceremony on August 26, the UIPM President presented Pentathlon GB – as one of the oldest Modern Pentathlon Federations – with an oak tree bronze plaque as a symbol of the strength and deep roots of the sport.

President Dr Schormann was joined by Alexandra de Navacelle de Coubertin in presenting the award to Pentathlon GB Chair, Diana Hunter, underlining the great development, expertise, experience and outstanding performance of the NF over the years.

UIPM also welcomed the President of the International Obstacle Sports Federation (FISO), Ian Adamson, together with a FISO / Spartan Race delegation, to further strengthen their future partnership.

The UIPM President was joined by the FISO President, as well as UIPM Secretary General Shiny Fang and FISO Board Member Giles Chater, in signing a Memorandum of Understanding which underlines the process of UIPM integrating Obstacle as a new discipline in place of Riding.

This year already the UIPM U17 and U19 World Championships took place with Obstacle as a new discipline, with the UIPM Junior World Championships still to come, and all senior events will incorporate the new discipline starting in 2025 after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

President Dr Schormann welcomed HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco to the World Championships and thanked the UIPM Honorary President for his strong and ongoing support of all actions. They shared thoughts about international sports politics in this difficult time around the world.

Together with Francesco Ricci Bitti (President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations), President Dr Schormann discussed important matters of the Olympic movement, underlining the specific role of sport in modern society for health integration, education, respect, independence and peace. They discussed how the Olympic Movement must stay as a strong pillar around the globe, bound by the word “together” which became more important during the past year and is reinforced by fair actions in solidarity day by day.

During these days, UIPM was also privileged Eng Gumel Ahmed (IOC Honorary Member) as an honoured guest, and President Dr Klaus Schormann welcomed sponsors and discussed possibilities around present and future partnerships, while briefing them about Modern Pentathlon and UIPM multi-sport development opportunities.

The Modern Pentathlon team for Paris 2024 also visited the competition as part of preparations for next year’s Olympic Games. The delegation included MP Sports Manager Gustavo Cerqueira, Technical Operations Manager Margot Laplaine, Service Manager Alix Sibiodon and Riding Manager Christophe Boisson.

The UIPM President and Secretary General discussed important points with them relating to the new Modern Pentathlon format and the 90-minute showpiece. They also faciliated a special exchange of information between the organising teams of Paris 2024 and the UIPM 2023 Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships.

On August 28, UIPM had a Riding Working Group meeting to discuss the next steps based on the Riding performance for the upcoming events until Paris 2024. UIPM wants to ensure that the safety of athletes as well as for the horse is given and also looks forward to a good presentation at the Paris Olympic Games where Riding will be part of the Olympic Modern Pentathlon at the last time. As UIPM President, Dr Schormann opened the meeting.