UIPM President’s Activities: January/February 2023

09.01.2023: Monaco, MON

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann and his wife Karin attended a reception to mark the 50-year anniversary of the International German Club of Monaco (CAI). Both Dr and Mrs Schormann are Honorary Members of CAI.

The reception was held at the Hotel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, hosted by Karl Varnis, Honorary President and Founder of the CAI, under the patronage of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, UIPM’s Honorary President.

President Dr Schormann visited UIPM Headquarters during the trip and briefed staff members on the urgent steps to be taken during online meetings ahead of the 2023 season.

11.01.2023: Luxembourg NOC

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann met with Dr Sandra Heck, Executive Board Member of the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE), and Raymond Conzemius, Technical Director at the National Olympic Committee of Luxembourg (COSL). The online meeting related to the development of Modern Pentathlon in Luxembourg, starting with Laser Run competitions and leading to the creation of a National Federation (NF) in future.

 

16.01.2023: UIPM Executive Board

After the 72nd UIPM Congress in November 2022, UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann chaired the first online conference of the UIPM Executive Board to discuss with all Members the necessary steps for the upcoming season.

The EB clarified important actions for local organising committees and received a briefing from President Dr Schormann about all activities following on from the successful Congress. They spoke deeply about the IOC policy linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the consequences for athletes from Russia and Belarus based on the fact the Paris 2024 Olympic qualification is beginning this spring.

It was also important to hear updates on various development projects around the world and actions relating to the establishment of the new Obstacle discipline, ahead of its formal integration into Modern Pentathlon in under-age UIPM World Championships later in 2023.

 

17.01.2023: IOC President

A day after the UIPM EB meeting, Dr Klaus Schormann and other IF leaders joined a call with IOC President Dr Thomas Bach, who told the IFs the IOC would maintain its position in relation to the war in Ukraine. He also explained in more detail about the principle of neutral representation and the exclusion of any Russian or Belarusian national symbols, colours, anthems or flags.

The call enabled all IF leaders including President Dr Schormann to get a full understanding of the IOC’s direction. 

 

17-18.01.2023: UIPM Historical Book

President Dr Schormann hosted Martin Dawe (UIPM Executive Board Member for Marketing) and Alain Lunzenfichter (UIPM Pierre de Coubertin Commission Member) in his office in Darmstadt (GER) where they resumed work on a historical book about Modern Pentathlon.

Working as an editorial team they structured the content and discussed important matters linked to historical information held within the UIPM Archive in Darmstadt. The trio also worked on a list of members for the Hall of Fame to propose to the UIPM Executive Board. The new inductees will be celebrated during the UIPM 2023 Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships in Bath (GBR).

 

19.01.2023: UIPM Riding Working Group

President Dr Schormann joined the latest meeting of the Riding Working Group formed after the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (held in 2021) to develop and evolve the Riding discipline within Modern Pentathlon during the Paris 2024 cycle.

The Working Group includes experts from the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), extending the long-held collaboration between the two sports.

 

20.01.2023: New 5th Discipline Working Group

After the successful 2022 Congress, UIPM decided to schedule some online follow-up meetings with members of the New 5th Discipline Working Group to make sure that everything is in line and to discuss last steps before the IOC Session in Mumbai (IND), which will vote on the proposals of the IOC Programme Commission in respect of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games sporting programme.  

 

27.01. – 29.01.2023: Stockholm, SWE  

As part of a long-time partnership the UIPM President and his Executive Assistant, Lena Nussbaumer, were invited by the International Handball Federation (IHF) to the Semi-Finals and Finals of the Men’s Handball World Championships. President Dr Schormann handed over the Player of the Match award after the Germany v Norway match to German goalkeeper Andreas Wolff.

During his visit the World Championships, Dr Klaus Schormann had the opportunity to speak to a lot of international sportspeople and to exchange thoughts about issues of sporting politics around the world.  

 

31.01.2023: UIPM Executive Board

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann chaired an online meeting of the UIPM Executive Board (EB) in which the main topic on the agenda was the possibility of athletes from Russia and Belarus participating at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in a neutral capacity.

The IOC has confirmed that the two countries will have no official representation at the Games, but it is examining ways in which individuals who fulfil certain criteria relating to the invasion of Ukraine and anti-doping rules could be permitted entry.

Each International Federation (IF) has been asked by the IOC to carefully consider the options that might facilitate a qualification pathway for neutral athletes, given the political complexities. IOC Sport Director Kit McConnell joined the call and helped the EB to understand some of the context around the IOC’s standpoint, before answering questions.

 

05.02.2023: UIPM Medical Committee

The UIPM President opened an online meeting of the UIPM Medical Committee with a briefing about issues of international sporting politics and the position of UIPM.

Committee Member Dr Douglas Stull provided an important report about medical issues relating to the new Obstacle discipline, with very positive findings. Chair Dr Natalya Ofitserova informed the Committee about anti-doping procedures and risk assessments around the new competition format and all international standards. She also outlined the main directions of the Injury Prevention Programme, emphasising the importance of collecting data and studying permanent injury statistics.

15.02. – 16.02.2023: Munich, GER

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann met together with colleagues Joerg Brokamp and Thomas Urban as the TV 34 council (representing 34 German sport federations) with the TV agency Sport A (ARD & ZDF). They discussed further broadcasting issues and examined the revenues of various sports as well as their popularity, and made new directional decisions.

Dr Schormann also used this trip to meet Christian Keidel (UIPM legal advisor) to discuss matters based on good governance and the consequences for IFs relating to the potential return of Russian and Belarussian athletes to the competitive arena.

He also met with the President of the Bavaria Modern Pentathlon Federation, Olaf Kleidon, to further analyse the integration of Obstacle and what it means for the future in terms of training and competition systems. They also discussed the 2023 European Laser Run & Biathle/Triathle Championships with Obstacle elements taking place in Erding (GER) from June 28 to July 2.

 

17.02. – 19.02.2023: Oberhof, GER

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann attended the International Biathlon Union (IBU) World Championships.

Biathlon belonged to the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) from 1958-1998. 1968 Biathlon was included in the name of UIPM to UIPMB until 1998, when they became completely independent as IBU. To this day, a close relationship and cooperation exists between the two IFs.

Together with IBU President Olle Dahlin, President Dr Schormann discussed the global economic and political situation based on the war in Ukraine. They also discussed the long partnership and historical documentation from both Olympic sports. In summer there will be a joint meeting at IBU headquarters in Salzburg (AUT) to continue this research.

 

24.02. – 26.02.2023: Frankfurt-am-Main, GER

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann again held the annual Joint Committees Meeting in the central European transport hub of Frankfurt (GER). During these three days the Committee Members discussed a lot of matters for the coming season, but also the future Youth & Junior competitions including Obstacle as a new discipline.

President Dr Schormann chaired the joint meeting and briefed all participants about the global international sport movement and economic consequences. He gave clear guidelines for all members of the UIPM Athletes, Technical & Coaches Committees.

Besides the heads of the various committees, the UIPM EB was also represented by Secretary General Shiny Fang, Treasurer John Helmick and Member for Development Dr Viacheslav Malishev. Dr Atanas Andreev (BUL) represented the UIPM Medical Committee in the joint sessions, while Bernhard Petruschinski (GER) was invited as a Modern Pentathlon technical expert and Chair of the Equipment Commission.

 

26.02.2023: UIPM Para-Pentathlon Commission

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann attended an online meeting of the UIPM Para-Pentathlon Commission to brief them about the ongoing situation of Modern Pentathlon, the latest news regarding the new discipline, and gave up-to-date information about discussions that took place during the Joint Committees Meeting in Frankfurt (GER).

For UIPM Para Sports, the change of Riding to Obstacle is a huge step in a new direction. With the new discipline it could be possible to include Para Pentathlon at the Paralympic Games as a recognised sport in the near future.