UIPM 2018 CONGRESS: PENTATHLON WORLD GATHERS FOR 70TH ANNIVERSARY CONGRESS

Delegates meet in Limassol (CYP) for general assembly and gala dinner

Annual Awards winners and future competition decisions to be announced

UIPM becomes first International Federation to recognise Olympian board members with OLY title

LIMASSOL, CYPRUS: November 9, 2018 – Delegates from across the global pentathlon community have gathered in Cyprus for the 70th Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) Congress.

This year’s Congress – the last before the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games – includes a gala dinner marking the 70th anniversary of UIPM, which was formed during the 1948 Olympic Games in London (GBR).

The anniversary dinner on Saturday, November 10 will be attended by dignitaries including UIPM Patron HM King Constantine and Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC).

This special event, featuring the UIPM 2018 Annual Awards, will take place after the first of two days of Congress, attended by more than 80 nations this year. Now a biannual event, UIPM Congress gives National Federation delegates the opportunity to vote on a range of motions proposed by themselves and by the UIPM Executive Board (EB).

Today saw the conclusion of a two-day Executive Board meeting in Limassol (CYP) during which the EB reached decisions on future competitions, which will be announced during Congress.

UIPM broke new ground during the meeting by becoming the first International Federation governing an Olympic sport to award the OLY title to all Olympians currently serving on the EB.

Kitty Chiller (AUS), Aya Medany (EGY), Janusz Peciak (POL), Jorge Salas (ARG), Rob Stull (USA), Dmitry Svatkovsky (RUS) and Andrejus Zadneprovskis (LTU) were the seven Olympians who received a framed OLY certificate and pin from UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann and UIPM Vice-President Joel Bouzou (FRA), who already held the OLY title in his capacity as President of the World Olympians Association.

OLY was launched by the World Olympians Association on November 11, 2017 and so far 10,000 Olympians have registered for the title. Serving as a symbolic recognition of an Olympian’s status in society, OLY acts as a reminder of their achievements and of their responsibility to embody the values of Olympism in everyday life.

President Dr Schormann said: "We are happy to be here in Cyprus where the UIPM Congress is being hosted for the second time.

"It is a real honour for us to have some very special VIP dignitaries here to join us in celebration of 70 years of UIPM.

"We have a close relationship with the leadership of the Cyprus Modern Pentathlon Federation and we are grateful to them and to the Cyprus Olympic Committee for hosting this Congress in Limassol."

The 70th Anniversary Gala Dinner on November 10 will include the announcement of the winners of the 2018 UIPM Annual Awards, which recognise the best-performing athletes and coaches during the calendar year as well as celebrating excellence in competition organisation.

President Dr Schormann added: "The UIPM Congress is a very strong democratic forum and many interesting motions are on the agenda this year. It will also be a pleasure to present the UIPM 2018 Annual Awards to our dedicated athletes, coaches and competition organisers."

About UIPM

UIPM (the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne) has governed the core Olympic sport of Modern Pentathlon since its formation in 1948. Today it oversees a range of multi-discipline sports (Tetrathlon, Laser-Run, Biathle/Triathle and World Schools Biathlon) which form a development pyramid with Modern Pentathlon at the top.

About Modern Pentathlon

Created especially for the Modern Olympic Games by its founder, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the sport was introduced in Stockholm in 1912 and has been the climax of the Games ever since. The format has been adapted to suit the 21st century and the Modern Pentathlon now consists of Fencing, Swimming, Horse Riding and Laser-Run (running/shooting).

For more information, please contact:

Florent BOAS, UIPM Media

media@pentathlon.org

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