President Dr Schormann leads UIPM’s 75th anniversary celebrations

• International Federation marks three-quarters of a century since formation
• UIPM President recalls importance of accord struck during 1948 London Olympics
• ASOIF President salutes ‘rich Olympic tradition’ of Modern Pentathlon’s governing body

The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) is 75 years young.

On this day in 1948, the first autonomous governing body of the Olympic sport of Modern Pentathlon was formed in Sandhurst Camberley (GBR), 50km from the city of London where the 1948 Olympic Games was taking place.

For the previous 36 years of its existence since being introduced by Baron Pierre de Coubertin in Stockholm in 1912, the five-discipline multi-sport had been run by an International Olympic Committee (IOC) commission.

On August 3, 1948, on the fifth and last day of the Olympic Modern Pentathlon, 17 representatives of 16 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) came together at the Royal Military Academy to establish an accord that would enable the sport to evolve and grow into an inclusive global movement.

The first UIPM President in 1948 was Tor Wibom (SWE), and he was succeeded a year later by the 1920 Olympic champion, Gustaf Dyrssen (SWE), who served until 1960. General Sven Thofelt (SWE), the 1928 Olympic champion, led UIPM from 1960 to 1968 and the combined Union Internationale de Pentathlon et Biathlon (UIPMB), until 1988. His successor, Igor Novikov (USSR), served from 1988 to 1992 when UIPMB was split, resulting in the creation of the International Biathlon Union. The current incumbent, Dr Klaus Schormann, was elected to lead UIPM in 1993.

As the longest-serving UIPM President, Dr Schormann has led and overseen the evolution of Modern Pentathlon into a sport compatible with the 21st century which continues to respect Coubertin’s original premise – to examine the complete athlete.

Features of the evolution during the Schormann era include:

• Modern Pentathlon’s journey from five days to one day, and now to a showcase of five disciplines in 90 minutes – a compelling event to suit modern viewers and spectators
• The integration of Obstacle in place of Riding, now in place at Youth and Junior levels, making the sport more globally accessible, reducing cost and complexity and adding youth appeal and relevance
• UIPM’s growth into a worldwide family of more than 130 member nations enabling athletes of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy multi-sports and pursue the Olympic dream via Modern Pentathlon
• Full gender equality achieved with the inclusion of women in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games following years of discussions between President Dr Schormann and the IOC President, Juan Antonio Samaranch
• UIPM Headquarters set up in Monaco with a professional management structure registered under Monegasque law in 1997.

President Dr Schormann led the tributes to the 75-year-old Union today.

 

Dr Klaus Schormann | UIPM President

“For me this anniversary is something really special. Having first been elected in 1988 as UIPMB Vice President for Marketing and Publications, and then as UIPM President in 1993, I have been involved in the leadership of our Union for 35 of its 75 years. In 1993 we had 63 National Federations; now we have more than 130.

“On August 3, 1948, our Union was created by the 16 nations that competed at the London Olympics, and it happened at Sandhurst Camberley – a great academy for the Commonwealth, where the Olympic Modern Pentathlon had just been organised.

“From 1912 to 1948, the IOC managed Modern Pentathlon through a Commission, while the NOCs worked closely with military and police departments to prepare athletes. Right up until the Munich 1972 Olympics, military figures dominated the so-called ‘officer sport’.

“The creation of the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne was the start of a more organised and independent Modern Pentathlon movement. Since that day we learned how fast we could grow, with more nations joining, and soon the first World Championships was held.

“I am proud of the great teamwork inside the UIPM Executive Board together with all UIPM Committees and Commissions and working groups that have resulted in UIPM becoming a very dynamic International Federation, always following the guidance of the Olympic movement and focusing on the present and future generations.

“Our founder and creator, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, would also be proud to see the honest way in which we are following his philosophy to this day, taking care of his legacy and heritage.

“I quote Coubertin’s original premise for Modern Pentathlon: ‘To test a man’s moral qualities as much as his physical resources and skills, thereby producing the ideal, complete athlete’.

“I quote Aristotle: ‘The most perfect sportsmen are the pentathletes because in their bodies, strength and speed are combined in beautiful harmony.’

“These historic statements are of course equally valid and applicable to female pentathletes.

“Today we mark UIPM’s 75th anniversary and later in August, we will have a special celebration not far away from Sandhurst Camberley in Bath, where our flagship UIPM Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships will take place in the country where our Union was born. I think we all have many reasons to be very happy and proud about that.”

Francesco Ricci Bitti | Association of Summer Olympic Federations (ASOIF) President

“On behalf of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), I congratulate the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) on its 75th anniversary.

“With the sport’s heritage closely linked with the Modern Olympic Games founder Baron Pierre de Coubertin, modern pentathlon enjoys a rich Olympic tradition since being first included at the Stockholm 1912 Games. UIPM has also shown an appreciation of innovation and a willingness to evolve with the times.

“UIPM was one of the founding ASOIF members and we have always enjoyed a strong and fruitful relationship. I should like to take this opportunity to wish you a successful Paris 2024 Olympic Games next year and all the very best for the future.”

 

James S. Davis | President, New Balance

“New Balance congratulates UIPM on its 75th anniversary. We are proud to have been part of the history of this sport for more than 25 years. New Balance is proud to sponsor the sport of Modern Pentathlon and the highly talented athletes who compete in it.”

 

Joel Bouzou OLY | UIPM Vice President | World Olympians Association President

“2023 marks 111 years since Modern Pentathlon was introduced in the Olympic Program by Baron Pierre de Coubertin in Stockholm’s Olympic Games.

“The three 1s in 111 represent the three ways our wonderful sport is sacralised as the first among sports, as the best one to symbolise the complete athlete (1), the Olympic spirit (1) which prevailed in the ancient times when the Olympic Games were surrounded by the Olympic truce (1).

“The whole story started in 708 BC when Lampis from Sparta reached Olympic glory. That was 2731 years ago and this very long time tells about the evolution of Pentathlon, the most symbolic sport of the Olympic programme.

“Today we are also celebrating the 75th birthday of the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne, which received from the IOC in 1948 the privilege and the responsibility to make sure Pentathlon lives in modern times and in the future.

“Seventy-five years is long for a human life but short in comparison with the longevity of Pentathlon’s spirit.

“So, whatever the necessary evolutions will be, let’s remain strong and united to carry on this beautiful symbol, which is so important in the world of today and in the future!” 

 

Tatiana Ardabieva (RUS) | President, European Modern Pentathlon Confederation; long-serving UIPM Executive Board Member

“For seven and a half decades, the International Union of Modern Pentathlon with pride and dignity has demonstrated the unity of athletes of all the continents and fully justified its title ‘Modern Pentathlon’ by constantly modernising the sport according to modern trends, attracting young people to its ranks.”

 

Hyunjun Kim | President, Asian Modern Pentathlon Confederation

“We are happy to join in celebrating UIPM's 75th anniversary.

“We believe that a new-look Modern Pentathlon with Obstacle will be a more dynamic and appealing sport around the world.

“We, Asia, one of the most active continents, will always support the UIPM in the future.”

 

Jorge Salas OLY | President, South American Modern Pentathlon Confederation

“On August 3, 1948, the International Union of Modern Pentathlon was created. Today from South America we want to pay tribute to three moments in these 75 years.

1. To the vision of Baron Pierre de Coubertin and to all those who kept alive that memorable legacy.
2. To the development of our sport in South America; today with legitimate pride we can say that our Confederation has managed to incorporate all countries as active members. Modern Pentathlon is part of the programme of all the South American and Pan American events. We are proud to say that we were able to organize the Olympic Games in Rio and the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.
3. The present and the future are our challenge, we support the policy of change and renewal. We thank President Dr Klaus Schormann and his team for the enormous effort they make to carry out this stage of necessary and beneficial changes at a global level.

“Happy anniversary dear UIPM!”