Ad-hoc Working Group agrees on five principles of integrating FISO into UIPM

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First meeting results in drafting of integrated vision and mission statements

Integration to apply at national level with only one National Federation per country

Obstacle sport categories to be incorporated into UIPM Sports

The Ad-hoc Working Group charged with formalising the integration of the Federation Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles (FISO) into the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) has met for the first time.

Chaired by UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann, the seven-strong group met on November 17 and 18 and agreed on an integrated vision and mission statement for the expanded International Federation. The meeting proved to be harmonious and established a productive and positive environment for the integration and future of the sports.

The group also agreed on five principles of the integration, based on the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in Bath (GBR) in August, namely:

The world governing body of Obstacle sport will be UIPM

There will be only one National Federation per country recognised by the respective National Olympic Committee and under UIPM jurisdiction

FISO representatives will work with their current member National Federations on supporting the integration process

FISO will have representation within UIPM

The three current Obstacle sport categories – Ninja, Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) and Adventure Racing – will be incorporated into the UIPM Sports Pyramid.

All of the above recommendations will be referred to the UIPM Executive Board and FISO Central Board for approval before actions can be formally initiated.

The working group, announced on September 19, is composed of the following Modern Pentathlon and Obstacle sport leaders:

Dr Klaus Schormann, UIPM President
Joel Bouzou OLY, UIPM Vice President
Shiny Fang, UIPM Secretary General
Rob Stull OLY, NORCECA Modern Pentathlon Confederation President
Ian Adamson, FISO Founding President
Alberto Agra, Asia-Pacific Obstacle Sports Federation President
Panna Utpaul, Pan American Obstacle Sports Federation President.

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, Triathle, Biathle, Laser Run and Obstacle Laser Run) which form a development pyramid with Modern Pentathlon at the top. In November 2022, UIPM Congress voted to introduce Obstacle to the UIPM Statutes and Competition Rules, creating a new discipline alongside the established disciplines of Fencing, Riding, Swimming, Laser Shooting and Running (the last two of which are combined to form Laser Run). In August 2023, UIPM and the Federation Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles signed a Memorandum of Understanding to integrate FISO into UIPM to create a sporting movement with more audience and active participants.

About Modern Pentathlon
Created especially for the Modern Olympic Games by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the sport was introduced in Stockholm in 1912 and has been the climax of the Summer Games ever since. The format has been adapted to suit the 21st century and the Modern Pentathlon currently consists of Riding, Fencing, Swimming and Laser Run. In 2023, Obstacle replaced Riding across Junior and Youth age categories, and this change will be implemented at all levels from 2025.

For more information, please contact:
media@pentathlon.org