UIPM President's Activities: March 2021

05.03.2021: Interview with German broadcast transmitter

 

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann gave an interview to RaDar, a German broadcast station. They spoke about matters relating to the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games hosted in 2021, including the difficulties of finding good training conditions to be prepared for the Olympic qualification competitions.

President Dr Schormann also spoke about development actions undertaken during the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic and the support provided by UIPM to National Federations in the interests of health and safety.

He underlined the importance of the vaccination of athletes, coaches and officials to give them reassurance about travelling to UIPM Pentathlon World Cups and World Championships, and also to participate in good health conditions. Dr Schormann has asked governments to understand the importance of supporting all individuals connected to the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

 

10.03. - 12.03.2021: 137th IOC Session

 

The UIPM President and Secretary General, Shiny Fang, attended the 137th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session via video conference.

Dr Thomas Bach was re-elected as IOC President until 2025, and the IOC Session also approved the IOC Olympic Agenda 2020, presented Olympic Agenda 2020+5 and discussed the presentation of Brisbane 2032, which has been installed by the IOC as “preferred host” of the Games of the XXXV Olympiad.

 

 

15.03.2021: Meeting with Fabrizio Bittner and Andrea Dell’Amore

 

The President of the Italian Modern Pentathlon Federation (FIPM), Prof Fabrizio Bittner, joined technical official Andrea Dell’Amore on a visit to the UIPM President’s Office in Darmstadt (GER).

President Dr Schormann provided his guests with a general briefing about the UIPM movement with specific focus on preparations for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

Prof Bittner stated a strong wish to maintain very close relations between FIPM and UIPM, offering to arrange UIPM competitions for different age groups in the coming years, as well as Pentathlon World Cups and Pentathlon World Championships.

They discussed the development of Para Pentathlon, which was introduced first to UIPM by Luca Pancalli (former pentathlete and President of the Italian Paralympic Committee) and Los Angeles 1984 Olympic champion Daniele Masala 10 years ago.

President Dr Schormann also provided his guests with a tour of the UIPM Archive.

 

17.03.2021: Meeting with Veronika Ruecker and Prof Dr Ockenfels

 

UIPM President Dr Schormann had an important meeting with Veronika Ruecker, CEO of the German National Olympic Committee (DOSB), and Prof Dr Hans-Michael Ockenfels, UIPM Doping Review Panel Chairman.

They discussed the COVIC-19 situation and how athletes can be protected; for Dr Schormann the focus should be on the vaccination of athletes to ensure safe training and competitions.

They agreed to work more closely on the medical movement for the benefit of athletes. Difficulties can be presented by inconsistency of measurement in different countries, but they must establish a general system for athletes which every country can adapt.

Furthermore, Dr Schormann, Mrs Ruecker and Prof Dr Ockenfels discussed aspects of the German NOC and the international Olympic movement relating to sporting politics.

22.03 – 23.03.2021: Monaco, MON

 

The UIPM President flew to Monaco to visit UIPM Headquarters for the first time since attending the official opening of the new office base in late 2020.

President Dr Schormann had a long discussion with UIPM Operations Director Alexandre Franca about all competitions in 2021 season and the management of the pandemic. They evaluated all documents of the New Modern Pentathlon Format Task Force relating to the upcoming test event of the Paris 2024 Olympic format in Budapest from April 21-25.

Dr Schormann also met with Finance Director Valerie Russo to discuss the present situation of all financial issues based on the postponed Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

On the second day of his visit, Dr Schormann met with Bruno Philipponnat (Head of Mission reporting to UIPM’s Honorary President, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco). They discussed the close partnership between UIPM and the Principality.

 

24.03. – 28.03.2021: Budapest & Szekesfehervar, HUN

 

On the first day of his visit to UIPM 2021 Pentathlon World Cup Budapest, UIPM President Dr Schormann attended an IOC Conference with International Federation (IF) Presidents and Secretary Generals.

During the conference they discussed various aspects of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 in 2021. Since the IOC announced together with Japan that international spectators would not be permitted to attend the Games, it was important to discuss how the IFs could handle ticketing and other consequential aspects.

On March 25, UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann travelled to Szekesfehervar (HUN) to inspect facilities for the UIPM 2021 Pentathlon World Cup Final. Together with HMPA Vice President and Athens 2004 Olympic gold medallist Zsuzsanna Voros, HMPA Secretary General Istvan Gallai, Istvan Toth (President of Alba Volan SC) and Istvan Bozai (Managing Director of the City Guard of Szekesfehervar), he officially announced Szekesfehervar as the host venue and gave interviews to media about the importance of the competition.

Dr Schormann expressed his thanks to Mr Toth and all partners in Hungary that the country was able to step in and organize the World Cup Final after the UIPM Executive Board voted to relocate it from Seoul (KOR). The Hungarians have proved their professional approach to competitions over many years and the UIPM global community can count on their experience.

 

On March 26, the UIPM President attended the Women’s Final and awarded prizes to the athletes on the podium, including two women from Great Britain (Kate French and Joanna Muir). He also met with Krisztian Kulcsar (President of the Hungarian Olympic Committee) and the President and Secretary General of the Modern Pentathlon Federation of Uzbekistan, Bakhromjon Gaziev and Kseniya Gulyamova.

Attending the first competition of the year enabled Dr Schormann to speak with honoured guests of the Olympic movement and representatives of various National Federations in person, a very important process during the pandemic time where there are so many consequences for the global sporting movement.

With NOC President Kulscar and Dr Gyula Bretz, President of the Hungarian Modern Pentathlon Association (HMPA), Dr Schormann discussed the successful Pentathlon World Cup in Budapest, giving special thanks and respect for the well-arranged COVID-19 protocols in operation.

They spoke about the upcoming test events for the new Modern Pentathlon format, which will take place in Budapest (HUN) from April 21-25, with the Pentathlon World Cup Final following (May 12-17) in Szekesfehervar (HUN). The UIPM President underlined that Hungary has been one of the strongest pillars of the Union for many years.

On March 27, during the Men’s Final, four Presidents of the Olympic Movement convened: UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann, HMPA President Dr Gyula Bretz, Hungary NOC President Krisztian Kulcsar and Dr Jeno Kamuti, President of the International Fair Play Committee (CIFP).

They discussed the Olympic Movement and the IOC’s new Olympic Agenda 2020+5, which was presented at the 137th IOC Session and in video conferences with NOC and IF Presidents and Secretary Generals.

Later that day President Dr Schormann invited UIPM Executive Board members, technical officials and local organising committee (LOC) representatives to a social dinner to discuss organisational aspects of the competitions and political issues. All those who attended the dinner had submitted negative COVID-19 tests beforehand.

On March 28, the day of the Mixed Relay, President Dr Schormann met all technical delegates and officials who had overseen the smooth running of the competition in Budapest (HUN).

The UIPM President analysed the successful organization of the Pentathlon World Cup with competition director Sandor Karman, discussing how all athletes from 36 nations had been presented with the best conditions for a fair competition.

President Dr Schormann passed on his respect to the LOC and the super horses and said he was very impressed by the high level of performance of all athletes.