UIPM President’s Activities: February 2024

06.02.2024: Belgian NOC

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann convened with Olav Spahl, Sport Director of the Belgium Olympic & Interfederal Committee, to explore ways for establishing a vibrant Modern Pentathlon Federation in Belgium.

Their discussions centred around supporting athletes in their journey to fulfil their Olympic aspirations, particularly with the upcoming Paris 2024 Games and beyond.

The Belgian NOC has shown keen interest in further developing the sport of Modern Pentathlon, particularly with the emergence of Obstacle as a new discipline. Belgium has the potential to implement UIPM strategies tailored for smaller nations to integrate Modern Pentathlon as an Olympic sport.

Former Belgian NOC President Raoul Mollet participated in 1936 and 1948 in the Olympic Modern Pentathlon.

 

07.02.2024: UIPM Sponsors

President Dr Schormann was joined by Executive Assistant Lena Nussbaumer in a meeting with UIPM Sponsor Dr Wolfgang Dietz and his wife, Stefanie.

They discussed the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the future partnerships between UIPM and Dietz AG, based on the integration of Obstacle.

05.02. – 12.02.2024: Online meetings

Throughout the first two weeks of February, President Dr Schormann participated in various online calls with UIPM Commissions, Working Groups and external experts. His purpose was to provide updates on the current sport-political landscape within the Union and to engage in discussions on various topics.

The calls encompassed meetings with the Sport for All Commission, the Masters Committee, the Fencing Working Group, culminating in an Executive Board Meeting on 12 February.

During these meetings, it was possible to address important points for an even better and broader development in the future, as well as to consider different approaches to solutions, such as those proposed by the Medical Committee on how to better document and enquire about possible injuries in the future.

 

07.02.2024: UIPM competition hosts

The UIPM President invited the Presidents of all UIPM 2024 Pentathlon World Cup organising committees for a collaborative meeting.

The purpose was to exchange sports-related information and provide updates on the upcoming season. In this session, the Presidents and Secretaries General from Egypt, Hungary, Türkiye and Bulgaria had the opportunity to share their experiences, discuss current challenges and explore positive prospects for the future.

The meeting was attended by Sharif Elerian (UIPM Vice President, Egyptian Modern Pentathlon Federation President); Prof Dr Veli Cakir (Turkish Modern Pentathlon Federation President); Attila Mizser (Hungarian Modern Pentathlon Federation Secretary General); Andrey Kuzmanov (Bulgarian Modern Pentathlon Federation President) and Kameliya Aleksandrova (BMPF Secretary General).

 

13.02.204: Monaco, MON

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann held a private meeting with UIPM's Honorary President, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco (IOC Member), where they engaged in discussions covering matters pertinent to the Union and broader topics within the Olympic movement.

President Dr Schormann provided HSH Prince Albert with updates on the integration process of Obstacle/FISO and shared information about ongoing consultations within UIPM Committees and Commissions following the decision of the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai (IND) to maintain Modern Pentathlon’s place in the Olympic programme.

Furthermore, they delved into discussions about the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where Riding will appear in the Olympic Modern Pentathlon for the last time, and extensively explored strategic initiatives for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Transitioning from the sport-political agenda, HSH Prince Albert and President Dr Schormann focused on ensuring robust governance of UIPM both at present and into the future. Additionally, they raised environmental issues and what UIPM can do to become even more sustainable and eco-friendly.

At the end of a lengthy meeting, UIPM Vice President Joel Bouzou OLY joined for further discussions.

Before his meeting with HSH Prince Albert II, the UIPM President visited the UIPM Headquarters to speak with staff members and work out future steps in all departments from financial, operational and development to logistics and hospitality, in respect of the Paris 2024 Games.

 

15.02. – 18.02.2024: Frankfurt-am-Main, GER

Each year UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann attends the annual Joint Committees Meeting, where members of the UIPM Athletes, Coaches and Technical Committees convene to deliberate profound strategies for future actions within Modern Pentathlon.

These discussions are crucial in shaping the sport's development, especially in anticipation of the upcoming Olympic Games in LA28. Key topics of discussion centred around refining the Fencing format for LA28 and devising strategies to enhance Modern Pentathlon's appeal and engagement with audiences.

Prior to the Joint Committees Meeting, on February 15-16, a gathering of marketing experts and Obstacle insiders convened with UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann and Secretary General Shiny Fang, alongside UIPM Branding & Marketing Manager Alexandre Mauran and long-standing agency partner OIKO, to explore avenues for the organisation’s rebranding and future prospects.

Notable attendees included Michael Payne, the International Olympic Committee’s first Marketing Director and Pierre de Coubertin Medal winner, and US Modern Pentathlon Association President Tom Shepard, a former Executive Vice President at Visa International.

They added valuable insights to the discussions, as did International Obstacle Sports Federation (FISO) President Ian Adamson, accompanied by Media Director Travis Ford. The group also comprised UIPM Executive Board Member for Marketing Martin Dawe and Treasurer John Helmick.

 

20.02.2024: Frankfurt-am-Main, GER

The remarkable contribution and lifelong dedication to the German Olympic Academy Willi Daume eV (DOA) of Dr Klaus Schormann, who was one of the founders and a long-standing Board Member, were celebrated during a special ceremony. The UIPM President received a special certificate in recognition and appreciation of his long-standing work since the founding of the DOA on May 4, 2007.

The DOA Executive Board – which includes Prof Dr Holger Preuss (UIPM Innovation Commission Member), Prof Dr hc Gudrun Doll-Tepper (President of the DOA and the European Olympic Academy), Prof Dr Gerald Fritz (DOA Director), Dr med Lenka Dientsbach-Weck and Prof Dr Anette Hofmann – came together with dedicated employees to honour Dr Schormann’s exemplary work and achievements as he concluded his tenure as a DOA Board Member.

 

26.02.2024: Paris, FRA

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann was joined by Secretary General Shiny Fang, Treasurer John Helmick, Service Manager Alexandra Sumina and Executive Assistant Lena Nussbaumer on a visit to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Organising Committee.

Sport project, Equipment, Volunteers, Gustavo Cerqueira, Paris 2024 Modern Pentathlon Sport Manager, discussed various aspects related to:

• Updates on venue preparations and readiness
• Equipment procurement and distribution plans
• Volunteer recruitment, training and deployment strategies
• Coordination with other sports teams for venue sharing and scheduling
• Security measures and emergency preparedness at venues.

Lorick Joseph (Event General Manager – Chateau de Versailles) and Anahid Ruivo (Event Operations Coordinator – Chateau de Versailles) engaged in discussions regarding event management strategies and coordination with representatives.

Elise Francois (Event General Manager – Cluster Nord / North Paris Arena) addressed event management matters, focusing on specific areas concerning:

• Detailed discussion on specific aspects of event management handled by the team
• Updates on any challenges faced and solutions implemented
• Alignment of efforts with overall event objectives and strategies.

Morgane David (Accreditation Project Manager) explored accreditation processes and requirements with the aim of ensuring efficient management of participant credentials. They discussed:

• Accreditation categories and criteria
• Procedures for issuing and validating accreditation passes
• Integration with security measures and access control systems
• Communication strategies for informing participants about accreditation requirements.

Discussions on sport presentation strategies were led by Greg Bowman OAM (Sport Presentation Director), planning for opening and closing ceremonies and spectator engagement activities during competitions.

Clement Dindault (Ticketing Project Manager) informed the UIPM delegation about the following ticketing aspects:

• Pricing strategies for various ticket categories
• Sales channels and distribution methods
• Ticketing policies regarding refunds, exchanges and transfers.

The group also discussed transportation logistics and arrangements with Maxime Mayer (Venue Transport Manager) and Oliver O’Hana (Transport Project Manager - Client Services for International Federations), aiming to facilitate smooth movement during the event. They covered the following points:

• Transport routes and schedules for athletes, officials and spectators
• Parking facilities and shuttle services
• Traffic management plans around venues.

 

27.02.204: Windsor, GBR

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann and his wife Karin attended a service of thanksgiving for the life of HM King Constantine of the Hellenes, who was Patron of UIPM from 1995 until his death in January 2023.

Their attendance was based on an invitation extended by HM Queen Anne-Marie of the Hellenes and HRH Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece. HM King Constantine first served as Patron of the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne et Biathlon (UPMB) from 1995 to 1998, and subsequently for the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne from 1998 to 2023.

In recognition of his contributions, HM King Constantine was inducted into the UIPM Hall of Fame in 2016.

The service of thanksgiving at St Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Windsor Castle was attended by a wide variety of dignitaries including HM Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom, HRH the Princess Royal (also a Member of the International Olympic Committee), and members of the Danish and Spanish royal families.