UIPM confirms 2024 hosts and awards Pierre de Coubertin Medals and Hall of Fame honours

• Competitions next season heading to China, Egypt, Lithuania, Portugal and Guatemala 
• Harland (GBR) and Bunyard (GBR) honoured as UIPM inducts eight individuals to Hall of Fame
• Pentathlon GB celebrates centenary by handing out Lifetime Achievement Awards

The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) has announced competition hosts for 2024 as the UIPM 2023 Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships approaches its climax.

The city of Zhengzhou in China will host the UIPM 2024 Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships. A symbolic handover will take place between the Chinese and British delegations on Monday at the end of this year’s flagship competition.

On the second day of a UIPM Executive Board (EB) meeting that took place at the University of Bath, the following competition hosts for 2024 were decided:

• UIPM 2024 Junior World Championships – Egypt
• UIPM 2024 U19 World Championships – Lithuania
• UIPM 2024 U17 World Championships – Portugal
• UIPM 2024 U15 World Championships – Guatemala
• UIPM 2024 Biathle-Triathle World Championships – Egypt

The EB made its decisions the morning after UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann inducted eight people to the UIPM Hall of Fame and awarded two UIPM Pierre de Coubertin Medals at a special ceremony in the Pump Rooms at the Roman Baths.

A joint reception held by UIPM and Pentathlon GB, which is celebrating its centenary in 2023, also enabled the National Federation to present lifetime achievement awards to individuals who have given exceptional service to Modern Pentathlon.

The UIPM Hall of Fame was instituted in 2016 and now consists of 23 recipients. The eight 2023 entrants are:

• Emile Jarrot (FRA) – posthumous
• Jeremy ‘Jim’ Fox (GBR) – posthumous
• Kuisung Choi (KOR)
• Gyula Bretz (HUN)
• Dorota Idzi (POL)
• Kitty Chiller (AUS)
• Alain Lunzenfichter (FRA)
• James S. Davis (USA)

Two outstanding servants from the host nation of the ongoing UIPM 2023 Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships were also honoured with the UIPM Pierre de Coubertin Medal during the reception:

• Major Terry Bunyard
• Georgina Harland

** Click here to download photographs of the Joint Reception **

President Dr Schormann said: “We had a very special evening hosted by Pentathlon GB in association with UIPM, and it was an opportunity to recognise volunteers and distinguished servants for their lifetime achievement in Modern Pentathlon, and to celebrate 100 years of the Modern Pentathlon Association of Great Britain and the 75th anniversary of the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne.

“We also gave special Pierre de Coubertin awards to two long-serving members of our community, Terry Bunyard and Georgina Harland, and we inducted eight individuals into the UIPM Hall of Fame. It was very special to hear several inductees making such touching speeches after receiving their certificates, which really underlined the way our society is based on respect for the legacy of Coubertin. There was also a special moment when Jim Fox’s grandson Ben accepted the award on behalf of his late grandfather and read out a statement in the name of the family.

“It was a very special occasion and we have to thank all involved, including the Bath and North East Somerset Council and the University of Bath who have supported us so well in hosting the UIPM 2023 Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships.”

Two leading British Olympic pentathletes, Beijing 2008 silver medallist Heather Fell and 2018 world champion James Cooke, appeared on stage to present lifetime achievement awards to Bill and Jan Bland, Jean Childs, Howard Jones, Mick Flaherty, Phillip Hobbs, Martin Dawe, Dr Paul Jackson, Jan Bartu, Jabeena Maslin and Tristan Robbie.

Pentathlon GB CEO Trafford Wilson said: “Pentathlon GB’s single biggest asset is our people. At our Centenary Event held last night, we recognised 11 long-service award recipients, who have played a significant role in contributing to our sport’s success over many years. We thank all award recipients for their service to Pentathlon GB and for the important role they have played in shaping our sport’s very proud history.”

The climax of the UIPM 2023 Pentathlon World Championships will be available to watch live on UIPM TV – Semi-finals, Finals and Mixed Relay. Viewers in the host nation Great Britain can also see live coverage of the Finals on the BBC iPlayer, while the Finals will be covered on the BBC Sport website and app.