New Tetrathlon format for Youth Olympic Games passes second test in Cairo (EGY)

A new competition format proposed for introduction at the 2022 Youth Olympic Games has moved closer to fruition after a second successful test event.

New Tetrathlon, which adds Fencing to the established development sport of Triathle (Shooting/Swimming/Running), was tested by pentathletes in Cairo, Egypt on April 9 after being presented for the first time in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in March.

The aim of the new format is to make the competition more dynamic and exciting for athletes and spectators, with a more compact field of play, a smoother flow and closer alignment with the development path of the UIPM Sports Pyramid.

UIPM’s goal is to use the new format for the 4th Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal in 2022 – the first Olympic Games to be held in Africa.

The proposed changes – which would replace the traditional Tetrathlon format of Swimming, Fencing and Laser Run – are also in line with strategic guidance from the International Olympic Committee to “continue to use the YOG as an incubator for innovation”.

On April 9, 24 male and 24 female athletes aged 14 to 17 sampled New Tetrathlon for the first time at the Al Rehab Club in the capital of Egypt.

A detailed report was sent to the UIPM Executive Board and members of the Athletes, Coaches, Medical and Technical Committees.

The results of each event will be analysed in detail by a working group set up after the joint UIPM committees meeting in Frankfurt (GER) in January 2019. A final report will then be submitted to the Executive Board, which will lead the decision-making process about the new format in September 2019.

UIPM Executive Board Member for Sport, the 1976 Olympic champion Janusz Peciak, said after attending the second test event: “This new format gives spectators and media more drama and action, as the leaders are changing all the time and gaps between athletes are smaller. It is really attractive for youth athletes.”

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann added: “Modern Pentathlon has been a central part of the success of the first three Youth Olympic Summer Games in Singapore (2010), Nanjing (2014) and Buenos Aires (2018) and the traditional Tetrathlon format has served us well during these Games.

“However, the Olympic sporting movement never stands still and this is also true of our Pentathlon movement. We always embrace the opportunity to innovate and evolve, and I look forward to seeing the outcome of the testing process of the New Tetrathlon format after two successful exercises in Buenos Aires and Cairo.”