UIPM major push to pentathlon in China

Article posted by Coliseum, November 5^th, 2024

Image: UIPM

A pompous ceremony was held recently to launch construction of the new pentathlon complex in Kunming, China.

‘UIPM World Pentathlon’ stated that the International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) Asia-Pacific Development Centre (APDC) headquarters will be lodged in the Kunming Shipen Temple Area of Wuhua District (China) covering an area of 1,607 acres. It will comprise the UIPM APDC headquarter office, the Modern Pentathlon Business School and the Modern Pentathlon Sports Park.

The pentathlon is an athletic event comprising five different events for each competitor, in particular (also modern pentathlon) an event involving fencing, shooting, swimming, riding, and cross-country running.

The International Modern Pentathlon Union, commonly known by the acronym UIPM, has been the international governing body of modern pentathlon since its foundation in London (UK) in 1948. Its headquarters are in Monte-Carlo, Monaco (country in Europe), and it had 115 National Federation members in 2018 and 133 members in 2024.

‘UIPM World Pentathlon’ further stated that the APDC, incorporating the UIPM Altitude Training Base and the UIPM Asia-Pacific International Event Centre, is seen as a transformative base for the UIPM Sports movement in China, the wider Asian continent and for the global athlete community.

The Asian Modern Pentathlon Confederation (AMPC – the governing body for modern pentathlon in Asia) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) of intent for cooperation with the APDC bringing strong and long-term support for the above project which was conceived in 2022 with a site selected in 2023.

The Altitude Training Base and the International Event Centre are planned to be located in the Yunnan Central New District covering an area of 2,517 acres. The main construction includes the training facilities and the event centre complex, the Europe Industrial Park, the Modern Pentathlon sports college, the athletes’ village, and the other supporting facilities.

The state-of-the-art facilities will not only help the UIPM in the goal of growing the sport in a key region of focus but they will also provide a key Asian base capable of hosting top-class global, continental and national competitions and events.

After the completion of the above project the venue will be qualified to host major UIPM international events such as the Pentathlon World Championships, the Pentathlon World Cups and other related competitions.

The development center has received strong support from the Yunnan Provincial Government and the Kunming City Government and their faith in the project was reinforced during discussions held recently with the UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann where both sides reinforced their determination to realize the full potential of the above development. The general office of Yunnan’s Provincial Government stated in a letter to the UIPM that “they are attaching great importance to this project”.

The Governors of Yunnan Dianzhong Area Management Committee and the Wuhua District Committee have helped the project to get rolling and has asked the relevant departments to support its progress in a streamlined manner.

Dr Schormann expressed his full support for the project, saying, “I am delighted at the outcome of the recent meetings with the provincial and City Governors in Kunming. Modern Pentathlon has a wide influence in the world and we have already seen exciting growth across the Asian continent resulting in a big increase in athlete participation and Olympic medals for China (2012), Korea (2021 and 2024) and Japan (2024). The construction of the Asia-Pacific Development Centre will inject new vitality into sport development across the region giving the National Federations a base where the athletes can train, where competitions can be held and where audiences from across China and the world can be enamored by a wonderful sport that has an exciting future.”

The above launching ceremony was attended by distinguished sports functionaries.

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