UIPM President’s Activities: September 2023

04.09.2023: German Olympic Academy

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann met the Director of the German Olympic Academy (DOA), Dr Gerald Fritz, in Darmstadt (GER).

They discussed educational issues for young athletes and sport society in general, to work out special Olympic educational tools linked to the Olympic Summer Games 2024. President Dr Schormann sits on the IOC Olympic Culture & Education Commission, which cooperates with the Olympic Academies and the IOA in Olympia (GRE), based on the philosophy of Baron Pierre de Coubertin.

 

08.09. – 13.09.2023: Heraklion, GRE

UIPM President Dr Schormann thanked the President of the International Mediterranean Games Committee (CIJM), Davide Tizzano, for the inclusion of Tetrathlon in the 3rd Mediterranean Beach Games.

During the competition they discussed the future inclusion of Triathle in the Mediterranean Beach Games and the possibility to expand the competition with the addition of Obstacle to create a new Tetrathlon. More than 10 National Olympic Committee (NOC) Presidents visited the competitions and gave their clear support for the future of Modern Pentathlon with Obstacle integrated.

Theodora Palli, President of the Hellenic Modern Pentathlon Federation, and her team contributed strongly to the success of the competition held in Heraklion on the Greek island of Crete.  

 

14.09.2023: Vilnius, LTU

The UIPM President visited Daina Gudzinviciute, Lithuania NOC President and IOC Member en route to the UIPM 2023 Pentathlon Junior World Championships in Druskininkai (LTU). President Dr Schormann was accompanied by the Lithuanian Modern Pentathlon Federation President, Aistis Baronas.

They had a long discussion about Modern Pentathlon and the performance of Lithuanian pentathletes, emphasising the Olympic gold and silver medallist Laura Asadauskaite as an example. They also reflected on the international UIPM competitions that the NF organised successfully in Vilnius and Kaunas over the past years as well as this year’s European U19/U17 Championships in Druskininkai and the 2nd FISU University World Championships Modern Pentathlon that will be held in Kaunas in 2024.

NOC President Gudzinviciute underlined during a briefing about the new format of Modern Pentathlon that the integrated Obstacle discipline gave many young athletes more opportunities to participate in the multi-sport of Modern Pentathlon.

President Dr Schormann shared updates on the political landscape within international sport affecting the Olympic Movement. He received a special award for ongoing support of the Olympic movement in Lithuania.

 

15.09. – 17.09.2023: Druskininkai, LTU

On the first day of his visit to the UIPM 2023 Pentathlon Junior World Championships, President Dr Schormann briefed the Deputy Mayor of Druskininkai, Simonas Kazakevicius, about the changes of Modern Pentathlon through the replacement of Riding. With Obstacle as a new discipline Modern Pentathlon adopts a more urban format for the future and new possibilities come up for young athletes.

The Deputy Mayor and head of culture and tourism of Druskininkai, Antanas Urbonas, gave a presentation of the city linked to sport and culture.

Lithuanian NF President Baronas expressed his willingness to maintain a close partnership with UIPM, offering training sessions for international athletes and organising future competitions. NF Secretary General and 2013 world champion Justinas Kinderis OLY joined all meetings and provided the UIPM President with information about national development and partnerships between Baltic countries.

 

20.09. – 28.09.2023: Hangzhou, CHN

At the beginning of the 19th Asian Games, the Asian Modern Pentathlon Confederation (AMPC) convened its General Assembly and had a meeting with the UIPM President Schormann to update him on the ongoing developments across Asia.

Additionally, Dr Schormann informed AMPC about current issues of sporting politics such as the possibilities for neutral athletes with Russia and Belarus passports to participate in UIPM competitions, and he outlined UIPM's future plans regarding the integration of the Obstacle discipline in Modern Pentathlon.

At a welcome dinner for the Asian Games, organized by the Hangzhou Sports Bureau (HAGOC) and Gao Zhidan (Director of China’s State General Administration of Sports), the UIPM President was joined by 1st Vice President Juan Antonio Samaranch and Secretary General Shiny Fang in thanking and congratulating the Local Organising Committee on the excellent organization and hospitality of the Asian Games.

Modern Pentathlon took centre stage at the beginning of the competition with 10 quota places at stake for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. During the Women’s Final, President Dr Schormann met with Japan NOC President Yasuhiro Yamashita (IOC Member). During the Men’s Final, UIPM and AMPC President Hyunjun Kim were honoured to meet with the Korea Prime Minister, Ducksoo Han, and Korean NOC President, Keeheung Lee.

During his stay in Hangzhou (CHN), the UIPM President visited numerous sports to get a clear picture of the Games and the diverse spectator experience. He discussed various political matters related to the development of sport in Asia and worldwide with international colleagues, including the Acting President of the Olympic Council of Asia, Raja Randhir Singh.

On September 28, the UIPM President Dr. Klaus Schormann had a working meeting with the new President of the International Military Sports Council (CISM), former pentathlete Col Nilton Rolim. They discussed the development of Modern Pentathlon within the military movement and what impact the new Obstacle discipline will have. Furthermore, they strengthened the partnership between CISM and UIPM and looked forward to the 2024 CISM Military World Championships.

 

26.09. – 27.09.2023: Zhengzhou, CHN

UIPM President Dr Schormann, together with Secretary General Fang, took a break from commitments in Hangzhou (CHN) to visit the venue for the UIPM 2024 Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships in the city of Zhengzhou.

UIPM’s flagship event will finally go to China four years after being postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the competition will take place in a state-of-the-art Pentathlon Stadium with all five disciplines accommodated in one field of play.

President Dr Schormann and Mrs Fang took part in a press conference before unveiling a countdown plaque for the combined 2024 competition where Laser Run will take place from June 7-9 and Modern Pentathlon from June 10-16.

They were joined at this official function by Daoming Ji and Bin Zhang (Chairman and Secretary General of the Chinese Modern Pentathlon Association), Jiyang Li (Deputy Director of the Henan Provincial Sports Bureau), Hongmin Chen (Deputy Mayor of Zhengzhou Municipal People’s Government), Ning Liu (Deputy Director of the Zhengzhou Sports Bureau) and Yingqiang Geng (Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Zhengzhou Tourism and Sports Group).

 

29.09. – 30.09.2023: Wuxi, CHN

The UIPM President visited the factory of UIPM sponsor Absolute Fencing and discussed upcoming projects in 2024 with CEO Gary Lu.

Together they visited Fencing training facilities and the sport complex of the Jiangsu Xishan Senior High School. With Principal Mr Leizhen Xia they discussed the long partnership between UIPM and the high school, which in 2017 received the UIPM Pierre de Coubertin Medal for their strong development of sport as an important educational tool.

President Dr Schormann was appointed to the position of the Sports Development Consultant for Jiangsu Xishan Senior High School on September 29 by the Principal, Xia Leizhen.