UIPM Judges Certification Programme: Preparations for 2023 European Games ramp up with course in Spala (POL)

With a hectic season of elite Modern Pentathlon competition already under way, it’s not just the athletes who are taking a step up — the judges are too. 

An important and hugely productive UIPM Judges Certification Programme (JCP) course took place in Poland last week to prepare a cohort of judges for the upcoming 3rd European Games in Krakow (POL), with almost 50 judges taking part. 

Under the expert tutelage of UIPM Executive Board Member for Sport, Montreal 1976 Olympic champion Janusz Peciak OLY (POL), the course took place in Spala from April 20-23. The European Games will take place from June 25 to July 1 with 16 automatic quota places at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on offer to European athletes. 

With so many of the stars of the sport expected to descend on the city, the preparations ramped up on the judging side too. A total of 48 judges took part in the course, with 22 women and 26 men honing their skills under the direction of Janusz Peciak. 

The judges were put through their paces across all five disciplines during the course. Seven judges took the step up to Level 3 (International Judge) certification with 22 moving up to Level 2 (Judge) and 19 newly-minted judges achieving Level 1 (Assistant Judge).  

UIPM Executive Board Member for Sport Janusz Peciak OLY said: “It was a real honour for me to play a part in getting Poland ready for the upcoming 2023 European Games. Judges are absolutely vital to everything we do in our great sport and we are always excited to see new participants begin their journey in the UIPM Judges Certification Programme. 

“Just as importantly, seeing judges move on up the ladder gives me great pleasure. I thank our participants for their efforts during the course and look forward to some great competitions later this summer.”