UIPM 2018 Global Laser-Run City Tour: World champion beaten in Finland double-header

They already produced a Laser Run world champion in 2017 and now Finland can claim to have hosted not one but two editions of the Global Laser Run City Tour.

The double-header began in Veikkola on August 16 and concluded on August 18 in the capital city of Helsinki, which hosted the Finnish Laser Run Championships in conjunction with the GLRCT. The field was international, with athletes from five countries taking part.

In Veikkola, more than 300 people participated in an event organised jointly by the Finnish Fencing and Pentathlon Association (FFPA), Veikkolan Veikot sports club and Helsinki Modern Pentathlon.

Terho Mustonen, FFPA President, took care of the organisation alongside board members Janne Saarikko and Riina Pitkänen and former Olympian Minna Lehtola.

The Helsinki event strongly reflected the tradition of Finnish pentathlon, with legends such as 1972 Olympic bronze medallist Veikko Salminen among the audience. The event was organized within 100 meters of the Helsinki Central Railway Station, next to the national theatre.

Eevi Bengs (FIN), the reigning women’s individual Laser Run world champion, was beaten to the gold medal in the Finnish Championships by Laura Salminen (FIN). Tiitus Ämmälä (FIN), who teamed up with Bengs (FIN) to win a Mixed Relay silver medal at the 2017 World Championships, won the men’s individual title.

A spokesperson for the local organising committee said: “Finland looks forward to again becoming an organizer for major UIPM events and in 2022, through the UIPM Masters World Championships, we aspire to stage a Helsinki Olympics Modern Pentathlon jubilee event in the original competition venue.

“Our two Global Laser Run City Tours were a wonderful success with a lot of joy throughout both events and strong competition. Our thanks go to Ecoaims, the Finnish equipment provider, who provided strong support for the events.”

The UIPM Global Laser-Run City Tour was created in 2017 to deliver an exciting, dynamic and fun competition to participants of all ages and offer them an entry point to UIPM Sports.

The Global LRCT took place in parks, stadiums and iconic urban venues in 60 cities around the world in 2017, with more than 15,000 participants. There are about 100 events scheduled in 2018.

Laser-Run is a development sport of UIPM but aspiring athletes of all ages also have the chance to compete for global titles at the UIPM Laser-Run World Championships, which are taking place in Dublin (IRL) on September 28-30, 2018. You can register for the open division here and view the invitation to National Federations here.

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