UIPM Development Spotlight: Lights are green for 75 Laser Run and Biathle-Triathle Tours
Seventy-five cities across 30 countries. A long thread connecting the world as one big multi-sports movement.
UIPM’s 2023 development tour circuit began in Kuwait City (KUW) and is set to envelop the planet between March and December. The Global Laser Run City Tour and Biathle-Triathle National Tour are back!
Among the changes this year is a hosting fee, designed to make the GLRCT and BTNT models more sustainable and create a higher level of consistency within the product, with organisers able to introduce participation fees.
Equipment support is another enhanced feature, with organisers now able to select from four options:
- Obstacle equipment kit (maximum 1 per NF) – one box of trusses as well as six different obstacle elements
- Pentasuits – 10 per approved event
- Shooting sets (laser pistols and targets) – five sets per approved event with a limit of 25 sets in total
- Fencing – a maximum of two development sets per National Federation
Laser Run
With 58 venues confirmed, the first of two GLRCTs in Kuwait brought the popular urban racing concept to another new territory and other Asian newcomers (United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong, China) will follow in its wake this year.
China, meanwhile, stands ready to host five Category A races, each with an estimated 600 participants. And the circuit sees the return of some of the traditional ‘regulars’ such as Egypt, Georgia and South Africa.
The action began on March 9 in Kuwait City (KUW) with Alexandria (EGY), Bloemfontein (RSA) and Tashkent in Uzbekistan following in the same month.
Biathle-Triathle
Seventeen organisers have stepped up to the plate to give athletes who favour UIPM beach multi-sports opportunities to participate and compete.
Spain comes forward as a new host of three BTNTs, one staged by the National Federation and two others by the Asturia club.
Lithuania made its GLRCT debut in 2022 and this year offers three national BTNT events to enable athletes to continue their development up the UIPM Sports Pyramid and earn selection to the national team.
Moldova is another new host in 2023, while Egypt, Georgia, Philippines and Sri Lanka continue the good vibes from previous years. The action begins in mid-April.
Other multi-sport events
Beyond the GLRCT and BTNT there is a wide range of multi-sport competitions taking place across the continents in 2023.
- UIPM 2023 Laser Run World Championships combined with Pentathlon World Championships – Bath (GBR) August 19-21
- UIPM 2023 Biathle-Triathle World Championships – Bali (INA) November 1-5
- 2023 Southeast Asia Championships (Triathle) – Chon Buri (THA) May 19-21
- European Biathle/Triathle and Laser Run Championships – Erding (GER), June 28 - July 2)
- Mediterranean Beach Games (Triathle) – Irakleion (GRE) September 9-16
- Asian Biathle-Triathle Championships – venue TBC
UIPM Executive Board remarks
UIPM Executive Board Member for Development, Dr Viacheslav Malishev, said: “This year 2023 is the seventh year of the UIPM Global Laser Run City Tour and sixth year of the Biathle-Triathle National Tour.
“It is clear to see that the range of multi-discipline sports under UIPM’s development structure and pathway have become more and more accessible for countries and regions around the world regardless of culture and conditions.
“The various combinations of multi-discipline sports have also helped to establish strong awareness on all continents, among more and more populations, and also among all stakeholders from National Federations and local government and authorities to clubs and other international sports organisations and commercial sponsors.”
Upcoming events
