UIPM 2019 Global Laser Run City Tour: Second time’s a charm in Novosibirsk (RUS)

Laser Run may have established itself as one of the world’s most popular urban sports, but when the chance comes to align to other major sporting events, the benefits are obvious.

This was underlined when the Russian city of Novosibirsk hosted its second Global Laser Run City Tour on September 7, the eve of the 2nd Pierre de Coubertin Pentathlon Day.

With the Siberian Running Festival taking place in Novosibirsk at the same time, there were more than 12,000 spectators watching UIPM’s fastest-growing development sport in the city’s central square.

A total of 320 athletes, professional and amateurs, came from the Russian cities of Novosibirsk, Barnaul, Tomsk and Omsk as well as from neighbouring Kazakhstan.

Sergei Nelubov, Vice Governor of Novosibirsk region, was in attendance along with Sports Minister Sergei Akhapov, who said that Laser Run had become part and parcel of the Siberian Running Festival and had conquered the hearts of athletes and spectators.

The "Race of Generations” relay, which enabled youngsters and their parents to run and shoot together, became an interesting annex to the main competition - the youngest participant was only four years old.​

A spokesperson for the local organising committee said: “The seeds of the success of this competition were sewn in an advertising campaign that promoted the Global Laser Run City Tour widely beforehand, and the event was extensively covered in the media.  

“Thanks to the equipment support of the UIPM, the level of preparation of athletes has risen significantly, as much as the interest in this sport among youth has grown.

“The Laser Run format has gained recognition in Novosibirsk and it fosters the development of Modern Pentathlon in the region.”

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 were 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?