MADRID, 25 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The pentathletes have given their support to the introduction of a new discipline of obstacles for the modern pentathlon, in view of its renewed entry for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the International Union (UIMP) of this sport reported on Tuesday.
The body pointed out in a statement that the athletes who participated in four test events of this new modality organized by the UIMP in 2022 showed a degree of satisfaction close to 90 percent. These tests were part of the process of reforming this sport at the request of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) so that it does not lose its place in the Los Angeles 2028 program and its entry would serve to replace horse riding.
The president of the UIPM, Dr. Klaus Schormann, assured that this ‘feedback’ from the athletes provides them with “essential data” for the introduction of this new discipline. “Not only is the overall satisfaction score very high, showing what we could see with our own eyes from the joy and enthusiasm of the athletes in the four test events, but we also have a lot of constructive feedback,” he said. Press conference.
The leader did not hide that “clearly, there is room for improvement in the way the obstacle courses are configured” and that the group that is in charge of this “will closely study the comments and make recommendations to the Executive Board to carefully plan its integration into the modern pentathlon starting in the 2023 season, with full implementation after 2024.”
“We can safely say that this steeplechase discipline has captured the imagination of our global community and has the potential to transform our historic multisport into a much more popular, accessible and exciting spectator sport that adds value to the Olympic Games and inspires to young people from every country in the world,” he said.
For his part, the Egyptian Ahmed Elgendy, Olympic runner-up in Tokyo 2020, stressed that they must “believe in the future” of their sport and gave their support to this “new movement because the modern pentathlon deserves to remain an Olympic sport”