UIPM 2019 Global Laser Run City Tour: Biathle-Triathle crossover achieved in Machico (POR)

Not one but three UIPM Sports were contested by international athletes on the beautiful island of Madeira (POR) this summer.

Shortly after the 2019 European Biathle-Triathle Championships, the city of Machico hosted Portugal’s latest Global Laser Run City Tour, encouraging crossover between the three development sports and enabling athletes from visiting countries to enjoy a ‘bonus’ competition and stay on Madeira that little bit longer.

The combined approach made it a true festival of UIPM development sports, with 140 athletes from 12 countries taking part, and demonstrated the appeal of Laser Run to Biathle and Triathle athletes.

A spokesperson for the local organising committee said: “On a very sunny day we received 140 athletes from 12 different countries at Machico, Madeira island of Portugal for the UIPM 2019 Global Laser Run City Tour.

“It was a day of new experiences for some athletes because we invited the local clubs that already had some contact with Biathle and Triathle to take part in the competition. It was a moment of discovering new capacities and sharing knowledge with each other.”

Great Britain’s athletes were particularly strong, but medals were also awarded to teams from countries such as Georgia, Germany, Italy, Estonia and Ukraine. Athletes took part in age categories from Under 90 to Masters 70+.

Portugal’s latest GLRCT in Machico came in the wake of events on the mainland in Portimao, Abrantes and Alenquer, with Amadora and Braga still to come.

The Global Laser Run City Tour was created in 2017 to provide an entry point to UIPM Sports for people of all ages in urban communities around the world.

Another 100 cities have been selected in 2019 as hosts of the GLRCT or the Biathle/Triathle National Tour. The full calendar can be viewed at the UIPM website, where you can also find more information on UIPM’s various multi-discipline sports.

In September, the UIPM Laser Run World Championships was incorporated into the Pentathlon World Championships for the first time in Budapest (HUN), where Laser Run also featured as a showcase sport at the 1st World Urban Games.

In December, Laser Run and Triathle will both feature for the first time in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines.

Have you liked the UIPM Laser Run page on Facebook yet?