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UIPM 2021 Youth World Championships in Alexandria (EGY) rescheduled

Tetrathlon
  • New dates in September for combined U19 and U17 competition
  • Executive Board moves to protect health and wellbeing of young athletes
  • UIPM 2021 Junior World Championships to go ahead in Alexandria (EGY)

The Executive Board of the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) has voted to reschedule the UIPM 2021 Youth World Championships (U19/U17).

The competition, which had been due to take place in Alexandria (EGY) in July, has been moved to September 13-19.

The rescheduling decision was taken on grounds of health and wellbeing with regard to the high number of minors from around the world who will participate in the competition.

The UIPM 2021 Junior World Championships, which attracts mostly adult participants aged 21 and under, will go ahead in Alexandria (EGY) from July 12-18.

Like all UIPM competitions held so far in 2021, the UIPM Youth World Championships (which combines Under 19 and Under 17 age categories) will be run according to a set of COVID-19 Coronavirus protocols designed to prioritise the health and safety of all participants – athletes, coaches, technical officials and organisers.

Protocols are applied to all aspects of each competition from inbound and outbound travel to accommodation and local transportation, with the intention of minimising risk of COVID-19 infections. Special publications including the Event Organizers Infection Prevention Guidelines and Operational Vade Mecum can be found at UIPM’s COVID-19 information page.

The protocols were applied effectively during the UIPM 2021 Pentathlon World Cup season, with all positive tests and close contacts quickly identified and measures taken to prevent the spread of infection.

Following concerns raised by several nations that would ordinarily send teams to the Youth World Championships, the Executive Board (EB), with guidance from the UIPM Medical Committee, took the view that the Union had a duty of care to protect minors from situations that could have a negative impact on their health and wellbeing.

One such situation is quarantine, which may be applicable in accordance with Egyptian law in some instances where athletes test positive for COVID-19 or are identified as a close contact.

The peak summer temperatures of up to 40C in Egypt in July were another factor taken into account by the EB.

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann said: “Our priority is the health and safety of all people taking part in our competitions and we have a particular duty of care in protecting young people.

“On behalf of the UIPM Executive Board I want to send a message to the young athletes affected by the decision to reschedule the UIPM 2021 Youth World Championships. We know you are ready, we know you are excited, and we ask you to be patient for a little longer so we can provide safe conditions for you to return to international competition along with your coaches and families.

“Keep training, keep taking part in any local and regional competitions that your federation is able to arrange, and never give up on your sporting dreams.

“I would like to thank the Egyptian Modern Pentathlon Federation (EMPF) for their constant cooperation and also to express my gratitude to our friends at Arab Academy for Science Technology & Maritime Transport, who will host the competitions in both July and September, for their flexibility and understanding.”

Sharif Elerian, EMPF President, added: “As the host nation for several major UIPM competitions this year, Egypt is looking at the safety and good health of all worldwide athletes, coaches and other participants as its main target.

“Meanwhile, we all want to make sure that everyone has the chance to play and compete in the UIPM Youth World Championships (U19/U17). I think this second postponement will provide enough time for all the young athletes who are the future of our sport to prepare and participate.

“I thank UIPM, the Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport, the Egyptian Olympic Committee and Egyptian Ministry of Sport, for their understanding and cooperation in this matter and their full support for the new timing in September. We hope it will be a great competition and experience for all.” 

The UIPM Youth World Championships (U17/U19) was last held in Sofia (BUL) in July 2019.

In July 2020, UIPM agreed to cancel the UIPM 2020 Youth World Championships (U19/U17), which had been scheduled to take place in Hurghada (EGY) in October 2020.

 

 

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