UIPM President attends Pierre de Coubertin Pentathlon Day celebrations in Athens (GRE)

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann was present in Athens for days of celebrations leading up to the Pierre de Coubertin Pentathlon Day.

On September 7th, Dr Schormann attended an event called “The Journey of the Pentathlon and Olympic Values: from Antiquity to today”. The event took place in the Olympic Center Goudi, in Athens with 200 guests in attendance and a coverage on national television.

Ms Dora Palli, the President of the Hellenic Modern Pentathlon Federation as well as the President of the Olympic Truce of Greece, warmly welcomed Dr Schormann and said: “I welcome a warm friend of Greece and I am glad that our country is taking the reins of sports again. I am very proud and excited about today's event. The modern pentathlon gets the place it deserves and I thank all of you who are by our side.”

A large delegation from the Greek world of politics and business attended the event including the Minister of Sport, Mr Lefteris Avgenakis; the President of the Hellenic National Olympic Committee, Mr Spyros Kapralos; the Deputy Regional Head of the Central Sector of Athens, George Dimopoulos; the Mayor of Athens, Costas Bakogiannis; the Minister of Development Adonis Georgiadis; the Minister of Labor, Kostis Hatzidakis and the Deputy Minister of Health, Zoe Rapti.

Attending the event was also the President of the Hellenic National Olympic Committee and of the European Olympic Committee, Mr Spyros Capralos who received the Pierre de Coubertin medal from the hands of Dr Schormann in recognition of his great achievements in the Olympic Movement and his strong support of Modern Pentathlon since decades.

The event was the occasion for all participants to witness the efforts of development undertaken by the Hellenic Modern Pentathlon Federation and its positive impact on society.

Dr Schormann congratulated the Hellenic Modern Pentathlon Federation for their effort in developing and promoting the sport in the country. He mentioned his pride in being in the land of Olympism which inspired Pierre de Coubertin. He also thanked the International Olympic Committee and the Government of Japan on the successful games in Tokyo and emphasised the importance of the Games and the Olympic values in a time of global turmoil.

A demonstration of the Ancient Pentathlon was made by students of the School of Ancient Greek “Elliniki Agogi” followed by a transition to Modern Pentathlon performed by athletes of the Hellenic Federation.

Towards the end of the event, the Olympic Anthem was heard in a beautiful arrangement followed by a ceremony during which Dr Schormann, Ms Palli and Mr Kapralos were awarded wreaths of olive tree as a symbol of appreciation for their important contribution to sport.

On September 8th, Dr Schormann visited the Olympic Museum in Athens together with George Mavrotas, General Secretary of Sports and Spyros Kapralos, the President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and IOC member among others.