UIPM 2018 Biathle/Triathle World Championships: Development continues at pace in Hurghada (EGY)
Biathle/Triathle
Biathle and Triathle are two of the cornerstones of the UIPM Sports development programme and they will once again become one during the UIPM 2018 Biathle/Triathle World Championships.
Close to 500 athletes from ca. 30 different countries are preparing to take part across the full scope of age categories in Biathle (Run-Swim-Run) and Triathle (Swim-Run-Shoot), with medals at stake across individual and Mixed Relay events.
Biathle ranges from Under-9 to Masters 70+ and Triathle from Under-11 to Masters 60+.
The 2017 championships were held in Viveiro (ESP), where South Africa emerged with an exceptional 42 gold medals across all categories.
With this year’s competition taking place in Africa, South Africa will again be a force to be reckoned with but there is also likely to be a large and competitive contingent from the host nation, Egypt, whose development programme has proved to be exceptionally strong in recent years.
During the Opening Ceremony on October 26, a special tribute will be paid to the Masters athlete Derek Oehley (RSA), who died suddenly earlier this month, aged 54.
Mr Oehley and his partner Bridgid Hamilton-Russell had been preparing to compete in the Mixed Relay in Hurghada (EGY) having taken part in the UIPM Laser Run World Championships in Dublin (IRL).
UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann said: “I warmly welcome all participants to the UIPM 2018 Biathle/Triathle World Championships.
“The UIPM Sports movement has gone from strength to strength in Egypt, with many excellent competitions such as the Pentathlon World Cup and the 2017 Pentathlon World Championships in Cairo, and with many impressive results for the country’s athletes at all levels again this year.
“We are delighted to be here now in Sahl Hasheesh, Hurghada, for a competition that is very important for the development of our sports in communities and countries around the world.
“It is important that we continue to develop the sports which form the base of a pyramid structure supporting our core Olympic sport of Modern Pentathlon. Biathle and Triathle play a critical role in encouraging young athletes to take up UIPM Sports and develop their multi-disciplinary abilities.”
The action at the UIPM 2018 Biathle/Triathle World Championships runs from October 25-28. Results are available at the UIPM website and fans can stay tuned to the World Pentathlon pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates and photography.