President’s welcome

Dear athletes, dear coaches and trainers, dear guests and officials, 

I wish you a warm welcome to UIPM’s second major competition of the 2024 Olympic year!

At the end of this captivating season we will see the hard training of many of our athletes rewarded with the ultimate opportunity - to compete in the Olympic Games in front of an audience of billions.

While Paris is their final destination, Ankara is one of the key venues of the 2024 season – not only because we are here for this week’s UIPM Pentathlon World Cup but also because we will be back in this wonderful capital city for the UIPM Pentathlon World Cup Final (May 22-26).

The 72 athletes who perform best in the first four rounds will earn a place in the World Cup Final, which is followed by one last opportunity to win automatic qualification places for Paris 2024 at the UIPM 2024 Pentathlon World Championships in Zhengzhou (CHN), from June 9-16.

Türkiye has become a trusted ally and a highly respected nation within our global movement. Not only can we expect excellent organisation and hospitality throughout this week’s competition, we know that our hosts will be watching the competition closely as their own athletes aim to prepare in the best way to fulfil their Olympic dreams.

My thanks go to the Turkish Modern Pentathlon Federation, the Turkish Government and National Olympic Committee. I also want to thank all volunteers, sponsors, supporters and media representatives.

In four months, after Paris 2024, all eyes will turn to Los Angeles 2028, where our new Obstacle discipline will be introduced to the Olympic Games. Already it has been implemented in the UIPM 2023 World Championships for Junior, U19 and U17 athletes, leading to the decision of the 141st IOC Session to confirm Modern Pentathlon on the programme for LA28.

The future is bright for Modern Pentathlon!

Competition this week will be intense, but I urge athletes to never forget their responsibility to compete in a spirit of fair play, as our founder Pierre de Coubertin envisaged, and respect the Olympic values as we together enjoy the glory of our unique multisport. Faster, Stronger, Higher … Together.

Dr Klaus Schormann

UIPM President