UIPM President’s Activities: October 2022

05.10 - 09.10.2022: Zielona Gora, POL

Since 1976 the Polish Modern Pentathlon Association (PMPA) has organised international competitions in Drzonkow / Zielona Gora. 

During his visit to the UIPM 2022 Junior World Championships, UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann met with Modern Pentathlon leaders from around the world to discuss the New 5th Discipline process ahead of UIPM 2022 Congress.

During Test Event IV on October 7-8, President Dr Schormann spoke with many participating athletes and coaches to get their feedback and share reflections on their experience after they finished the course.

Andrzej Krasnicki, President of the Polish Olympic Committee, was in attendance and he met with UIPM President Dr Schormann to discuss the 2023 European Games in Krakow as well as matters of international sport politics, relating to the invasion of Ukraine and how the PMPA and the wider Polish Olympic community has helped Ukrainian athletes. 

President Dr Schormann received a historical medal marking 100 years of the Polish Olympic Committee from President Krasnicki.

The UIPM President was invited by the PMPA, along with Executive Board (EB) Members, event partners and official delegates, to come together for an exchange of thoughts about the Test Event.

UIPM Executive Board

On October 9, a UIPM EB meeting was held with all those present in Poland and other Members connected via conference call. The EB prepared and discussed motions for UIPM 2022 Congress. President Dr Schormann also gave a briefing about the Test Event in the context of the entire Obstacle Discipline testing phase. They also discussed in detail the mooted 2023-2024 period of transition for Youth & Juniors to start adopting the new discipline.

18.10. – 21.10.2022: Seoul, KOR

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann, accompanied by Executive Assistant Lena Nussbaumer, took part in the General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC).

During the trip, President Dr Schormann met with NOC Presidents and IOC Members and discussed the changes in Modern Pentathlon since the decision by UIPM 2021 Congress to seek an alternative discipline to Riding after the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

The clear message given by the NOCs was that they were in favour of Modern Pentathlon’s evolution, especially with the focus on accessibility, cost reduction and increased fairness for athletes. Among the NOC representatives was Gene Sykes, the incoming Chair of the United States NOC (USOPC), who confirmed that NBC – the US Olympic broadcasting rights-holder which televises Ninja Warrior on primetime – likes the direction of travel and supports the changes being implemented by UIPM.

Also, NOCs that do not have Modern Pentathlon Federations expressed their interest to create new NFs that will enlarge their offer of sports. They were also very interested in Biathle / Triathle and Laser Run competitions. Throughout the trip the UIPM President was supported by the Korean Modern Pentathlon Federation and Sangkeong Yeo, Secretary General of the Asian Modern Pentathlon Confederation (AMPC).

MOU between ANOCA & UIPM

On October 21, UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann and Mustapha Berraf, President of hte African National Olympic Committees Association (ANOCA), signed a Memorandum of Understanding designed to stimulate the development of UIPM Sports across Africa.

The signing of the MOU took place during the ANOCA General Assembly, attended by 54 African nations.

UIPM meets AMPC

On October 21, UIPM President Dr Schormann had also a meeting with AMPC President Hyunjun Kim and EB Members from the Korean Modern Pentathlon Federation. The meeting was also attended by UIPM Honorary Member Kuisung Choi. The main topics were sports development in Asia, with special focus on the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou (CHN) and the UIPM 2023 Biathle-Triathle World Championships in Bali (INA).

26.10. – 30.10.2022: Machico, POR

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann attended the UIPM 2022 Biathle-Triathle World Championships on the island of Madeira and had important meetings with the National Federations of Saudi Arabia, Iran and Kuwait.

All three Federations have invited the UIPM President to visit their country as they aim to move forward with development steps to build up their Modern Pentathlon Federation with the aim of training athletes to take part in Pentathlon World Cups and World Championships. All three countries expressed their happiness of the evolution of Modern Pentathlon in the coming years that promises to make the sport more accessible around the world.

Mrs Razan Alayed from Saudi Arabia expressed a big interest and wish to host a UIPM competition in 2023 or 2024, such as a Junior or Youth World Championships, and to become a strong partner in future after 2024 when the sport will begin a new era at all levels.

Iran also showed an interest in increasing the activities of its National Federation, which is currently under one umbrella with Triathlon. NF President Dr Mahdi Goudarzi was very happy to speak with UIPM President Dr Schormann and EB Member for Development Dr Viacheslav Malishev, explaining the situation in his country and what it would mean for the sport if Riding were replaced. Dr Schormann and Dr Malishev gave him ideas about what could be done in future years.

UIPM President Dr Schormann also had a talk with Kuwait NF Secretary General Faisal Fahad Al Hamad, who explained that so far Modern Pentathlon in Kuwait is running as a Commission but they want to become a full member of the NOC soon.