UIPM President’s Activities: March 2023

01.03.2023: UIPM Women’s Commission

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann, joined an online meeting of the UIPM Women’s Commission to brief Members about the ongoing situation of UIPM as well as about the delicate situation of Russian & Belarusian athletes in sport. He then followed the meeting, led by Women’s Commission Chair Cassandra Choh.

The Commission agreed to support the increase of women coaches and judges – education is the key to empower women to take bigger roles. Ms Choh, President of the Singapore Modern Pentathlon Association, also said the Commission and NFs needed to continue to advocate for respect and fairness, which were universal.

Commission Members shared a consensus view that it is necessary to have more women in leadership to close the gap between male and female leadership in the past years.

 

06.03.-12.03.2023: Cairo, EGY

President Dr Schormann attended the season-opening UIPM 2023 Pentathlon World Cup Cairo, where he had several meetings with the Egyptian Minister of Sport & Youth, Dr Ashraf Sobhy.

He also discussed steps for future development and integration with various National Federation leaders including Uganda Modern Pentathlon Federation President Simon Peter Komakech and Secretary General Joseph Ssemmanda, Lebanese Modern Pentathlon Federation President Ibrahim Khalil Zein and UAE Modern Pentathlon Federation Chairman Dr Huda Abdul Rahman Al Matrooshi.

The meetings with Lebanon and UAE were also joined by Asian Modern Pentathlon Confederation President Hyunjun Kim and Secretary General Sangkeong Yeo, who are important allies for developing Asian federations in supporting them to become established Modern Pentathlon nations.

President Dr Schormann mentioned the importance of communication and the advantages the new Obstacle discipline will bring to Modern Pentathlon worldwide. Lebanon and UAE are especially looking forward to the new discipline and the chance to use it as a vehicle for accelerated development.

With Uganda President Komakech, UIPM President Dr Schormann discussed together with UIPM Secretary General Shiny Fang and EB Member for Development Dr Viacheslav Malishev the challenges facing African nations in the various regional zones. Mr Komakech stated that Uganda is now starting more and more to develop Modern Pentathlon and that the Federation has cooperative agreements for training to provide athletes with a base to become pentathletes.

On March 9, the UIPM President visited Sameh Guemeih’s family, with whom he has retained close contact and friendship.

The late Sameh Guemeih, a UIPM Honorary Member who served as President of the African Modern Pentathlon Confederation for more than 20 years, counts as one of Modern Pentathlon’s greatest leaders and proponents. He played a vital role in the development of the UIPM Sports movement across Africa and especially in his home country in Egypt, which has become a strong pillar of UIPM thanks to people with true vision and a commitment to sporting excellence.

 

14.03.–15.03.2023: Bath, GBR

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann was joined by EB Member for Marketing Martin Dawe for a site visit of the venue for the UIPM 2023 Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships. The visit to Bath provided important opportunities to discuss political aspects of UIPM’s flagship competition with the newly elected Chairwomen of Pentathlon GB, Diana Hunter, and CEO Trafford Wilson. The visit also included meetings with the local organising team.

While in the UK, UIPM President Dr Schormann had an online meeting with Clark Chittenden, Head of External Affairs and International Relations at UK Sport. On this call was also Jennifer Browning (International Relation Advisor at UK Sport) and Pentathlon GB CEO Trafford Wilson.

Dr Schormann had the chance to explain the ongoing situation of change within the UIPM and to highlight what was done in recent months to ensure that Modern Pentathlon will stay in the Olympic movement after Paris 2024.

 

21.03.2023: UIPM Business Affairs Committee

President Dr Schormann joined the online meeting of the UIPM Business Affairs Committee (BAC), which discussed various matters including Uniform Guidelines & Rules. He briefed all members about the financial and sport-political situation worldwide and underlined new possibilities on the commercial side, relating to the inclusion of Obstacle during UIPM’s Junior and Youth World Championships in 2023.

Martin Dawe gave a review of branding around the new Obstacle discipline and how this can be adapted in the near future. Furthermore, topics like TV, media and event presentation were covered. President Dr Schormann also raised the importance of new sponsors in connection with the new discipline, which UIPM needs from 2025 onwards, to assure that the sponsors are representing the five disciplines in the best possible way.

 

24.03.2023: UIPM Executive Board

The UIPM President chaired an online meeting of the UIPM Executive Board in which the main topic was the possibility of Russian & Belarussian athletes being permitted to resume participating in some Modern Pentathlon competitions.

Another key agenda item was Modern Pentathlon’s ongoing mission to remain in the Olympic Games sporting programme and what needs to be done in the run-up to the IOC Session in Mumbai (IND) in October 2023. This requires a collective effort by EB Members, ensuring that all stakeholders are fully aware of the added value that the new Modern Pentathlon will bring to Los Angeles 2028 and all future Olympic Games.

Additionally, UIPM Athletes Committee Chair Yasser Hefny OLY presented a proposal for building a development performance programme for developing countries, while the Executive Board discussed the bidding process of the elective UIPM 2024 Congress and the upcoming season in detail.

 

27.03.2023: IOC President IF Consultation

UIPM President Dr Schormann joined IOC President Dr Thomas Bach’s latest consultation call with International Federations (IFs), whose leaders were invited to speak about Russia’s ongoing occupation of Ukraine and what possibilities the IFs see to bring Russian & Belarusian athletes back to the competitions and potentially back to the Olympic Games Paris 2024.