UIPM 2023 Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships: President’s welcome

Dear athletes, dear coaches and trainers, dear guests and officials!  

I wish you a warm welcome to this very special edition of our flagship annual competition, the UIPM 2023 Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships.

Here in Bath you will be surrounded by history – and I’m not only talking about the remarkable heritage of this ancient spa city. You will also be immersed in the history of Modern Pentathlon, as we join the local organising committee in celebrating the role of Baron Pierre de Coubertin in founding this wonderful sport.

This month we are also marking 75 years since the formation of UIPM, which took place not far from here at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst Camberley on August 3, 1948, during the Modern Pentathlon at the London 1948 Olympic Games. Pentathlon GB is also celebrating its centenary and 25 years since the establishment of its training centre here in Bath.

From the past to the future, we find ourselves at a very important moment in the life story of Modern Pentathlon. The integration of Obstacle at the recent UIPM U19 and U17 World Championships – to the delight of so many young athletes who are enjoying and thriving on this new challenge – has demonstrated that we are on the right path to securing Modern Pentathlon’s place in the Olympic programme after Paris 2024.

This week, however, is all about the present – and this competition is a wonderful opportunity for our current elite generations of Modern Pentathlon and Laser Run athletes to showcase their incredible athleticism, courage and versatility.

First we have the Laser Run World Championships, a highlight of the season for so many hundreds who participate in our most popular development sport. And then we have the Pentathlon World Championships, offering not only the kudos of world titles but also up to six qualification places in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The UIPM 2023 competition season has already been a magnificent showcase for our sport, with thrilling competitions in Alexandria, Ankara (x2), Budapest, Cairo, Istanbul and Sofia enabling athletes of all age groups to compete across the five disciplines of Modern Pentathlon.

Great Britain has been a pillar of our global sports movement for many years, creating a steady stream of champion athletes who are great ambassadors for Modern Pentathlon and high-performance sport, and I have no doubt that our hosts here at the University of Bath will stage a wonderful and unforgettable World Championships. I would like to thank Pentathlon GB for arranging this competition with support from key partners including UK Sport, The National Lottery and Bath & North East Somerset Council.

In a time of transition and transformation for our sport, one constant remains and that is the importance of teamwork. I thank all volunteers, sponsors, supporters and media representatives who will play a vital role in the success of this World Championships.

As always, I ask athletes to remember their responsibility to compete in a spirit of fair play, as Coubertin envisaged, and respect the Olympic values as we together enjoy the glory of our wonderful sport. Faster, Stronger, Higher … Together.

Dr Klaus Schormann | UIPM President