UIPM and World Obstacle join forces in new title partnership

• Two federations collaborate on competition rebrand
• Rebranded #1: World Obstacle / UIPM 2023 OCR World Championships
• Rebranded #2: World Obstacle / UIPM 2023 Ninja World Cup USA

UIPM and World Obstacle have collaborated on the rebranding of two major Obstacle competitions to include the name of both International Federations (IFs).

The two competitions are now named the World Obstacle UIPM 2023 OCR World Championships and World Obstacle UIPM 2023 Ninja World Cup USA.

The alliance reflects the collaboration between the sports enabled by the decision of the UIPM 2022 Congress to add Obstacle as a new discipline of Modern Pentathlon.

This historic change provides a pathway for obstacle athletes around the world to realise their Olympic dream.

It also transforms Modern Pentathlon, creating the potential to engage an estimated 1bn people who watch global hit television show competitions like Ninja Warrior and SASUKE, and compete worldwide in mass participation events like Spartan.

At least nine UIPM National Federations have led the way by implementing the change in national competitions, helping athletes to prepare for the three UIPM Pentathlon World Championships in summer 2023 that will go down in history as the first global competitions to include the new format.

Running in parallel to those age-group competitions will be two major Obstacle events that become the first to reflect UIPM’s collaboration with World Obstacle.

World Obstacle / UIPM 2023 OCR World Championships

Taking place in Genk (BEL) from September 14-17, the flagship annual Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) event includes a 100m sprint category similar to the format that is being introduced in Modern Pentathlon, as well as 3km and 15km endurance events. There are numerous age categories starting at Youth (age 10-15), including para categories.

The Belgian Obstacle Course Racing Association (BOCRA) and the City of Genk will host the 2023 Championships in the 12,000-hectare Thor Park.

World Obstacle / UIPM 2023 Ninja World Cup USA

Taking place in Orlando (USA) from July 27-30, the North American leg of the 2023 Ninja World Cup follows the opening Asian event which took place in Manila (PHI) in April and the upcoming European leg in Swiecie (POL).

Produced by World Obstacle and The ATS Team, Ninja World Cup USA will be hosted at the Orange County Convention Centre alongside the International Obstacle Sports Expo. The format is a 100m head-to-head sprint familiar to viewers of the popular Ninja television shows. 

World Cup USA will be held in conjunction with the Ultimate Ninja Athlete Association (UNAA) World Series Finals, World Ninja Athlete Games (WNAG) Championships, and the Federation of International Ninja Athletics (FINA) World Finals. 

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann said: “UIPM’s partnership with World Obstacle in the naming of two major Obstacle racing competitions in 2023 is a significant step.

“Through this partnership we can demonstrate that UIPM is getting actively involved in the existing Obstacle racing scene and creating pathways for athletes who are ready to transfer their skills to a new challenge and join our multi-sports movement.

“The new, more accessible Modern Pentathlon with Obstacle creates an incredible opportunity for athletes in all countries. We are merging a new, TV-friendly and mass participation sport with the prestige and heritage of the Olympic Games.”

World Obstacle President Ian Adamson said: “Obstacle athletes and national federations are collaborating with their pentathlete colleagues in many countries, putting into practice sport solidarity and the power of the unity of multi-sports. Obstacle athletes of all ages are excited for the possibilities the collaboration presents.”

About UIPM

UIPM (the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne) has governed the core Olympic sport of Modern Pentathlon since its formation in 1948. Today it oversees a range of multi-discipline sports (Tetrathlon, Triathle, Biathle, Laser Run and Obstacle Laser Run) which form a development pyramid with Modern Pentathlon at the top. In November 2022, UIPM Congress voted to introduce Obstacle to the UIPM Statutes and Competition Rules, creating a new discipline alongside the established disciplines of Fencing, Riding, Swimming, Laser Shooting and Running (the last two of which are combined to form Laser Run).

About World Obstacle

World Obstacle, the Fédération Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles (FISO), is a Swiss based not-for-profit independent international sports organization made up of volunteers to develop obstacle sports and events worldwide. FISO provides governance, systems, and structure to represent the needs of its member national federations and their athlete communities in over 110 countries.