Opening ceremony: Hungary welcomes the 2015 UIPM World Cup #4

KECSKEMET, HUNGARY The fourth and penultimate stage of the UIPM 2015 World Cup series was officially launched during an impressive opening ceremony in the centre of Kecskemet, Hungary this evening. Over the next five days the best Modern Pentathletes in the world will do battle in the Men’s Individual, Women’s Individual and Mix Relay categories as they bid to rack up qualifying points for the UIPM 2015 World Cup Final. This is the fourth stage of the 2015 UIPM World Cup series and the fifth leg will be the World Cup Final, held in Minsk, Belarus in June. Kecskemet has a lot to live up to after the spectacular action that took place in Sarasota, Cairo and Rome in the previous three legs Women’s Individual qualifying is the opening event on April 30, and the action continues through to May 4. Former Hungarian pentathlon champions László Fábián, János Martinek and Attila Mizsér were all present to greet the athletes and spectators at the Opening Ceremony, emphasising the proud tradition of Hungarian pentathlon. At UIPM 2015 World Cup #3 in Rome, Hungary won two silver medals through Robert Kasza and Zsofia Foldhazi, and the host nation will be hoping for an even better performance from their representatives on home soil. Competition will be fierce due to the prestige of World Cup medals and the importance of Olympic ranking points. Laura Asadauskaite (Lithuania), winner of gold at both World Cup #2 and #3 and the reigning Olympic champion, has now mathematically qualified for the UIPM 2015 World Cup Final and will not be competing in Kecskemet. However, many Olympic dreams will hinge on performances here and in the final in Minsk, where one Olympic qualifying place is available. The Mayor of Kecskemet, Mrs Klaudia Szemerey-Pataki, the President of the Hungarian Modern Pentathlon Federation, Dr Géza Réczei, and the UIPM Secretary General, Mrs Shiny Fang, addressed the athletes and team representatives who attended the Opening Ceremony. The Mayor said: “We are glad to welcome 150 athletes from 36 nations all over the world. It is pleasure that Kecskemet can organize this event and follow such other cities as Sarasota, Cairo and Rome. Let us give our full support to every single athlete who is giving their best performance here.” Dr Réczei added: “This is the fourth station of the UIPM 2015 World Cup Series and the gate of the Olympic Games for us. I would like to thank the city, the mayor and Mrs. Shiny Fang, the Secretary General of UIPM, for supporting the fantastic event we have organized here in Kecskemet.” Shiny Fang, after officially opening the competition, said: “We wanted to keep the World Cup here not only because we had the best offer from the city but also we have one of the most professional organising committees in the world. “This sport gives us a lot. As the sport's governing body, UIPM is also trying it's best to contribute back the sport and the athletes. Finally, I wish good luck to all the athletes.”