BEIJING, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Klaus Schormann, president of modern pentathlon's international governing body UIPM, is confident that the sport will gain more popularity at the 2028 Olympic Games.
As the 2024 Modern Pentathlon World Championships unfolded in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan province, Schormann, also member of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Culture and Olympic Heritage Commission, sat down with Xinhua to discuss significant changes planned for the historic Olympic sport.
"The accessibility that we are presenting our sport to many more countries than we could do in the last years," Schormann stated. "We don't want to see only the privileged countries compete with horses. Now, we have an open gate for everybody who is a partner inside the union, suddenly you will see some other countries on the podium, not only the traditional horse countries."
Modern pentathlon, rooted in the ancient Olympic pentathlon and introduced at the 1912 Stockholm Games, now comprises fencing, swimming, equestrian show jumping, and a combined laser run (running and shooting). However, the sport will undergo a major transformation for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where riding will be replaced by obstacle racing.
This change follows controversies at the Tokyo Olympics, where German coach Kim Raisner leaned over a fence to strike the horse Saint Boy, which refused to jump the fences in the show-jumping round. The incident put the sport under pressure to replace the equestrian portion or risk missing the LA28.
UIPM managed to find the solution, the obstacle racing, and ensured the sport's place in the 2028 Olympics.
Critics view the change as a compromise to retain Olympic status, but Schormann believes the change will democratize the sport in many ways, such as lowering the cost.
"We will be one of the lowest-cost sports in Los Angeles 2028," the German promised.
Meanwhile, Schormann was optimistic about obstacle racing's potential to attract a broader audience. "Shows like 'Ninja Warrior' have proven the popularity of obstacle racing in the United States and Japan. Integrating this into modern pentathlon can boost interest, especially among youngsters," he noted.
Since its initial test at the 2022 UIPM World Championships in Ankara, Turkey, obstacle racing has quickly gained traction among athletes.
"We have athletes come to me after competitions, saying they wanted to try the obstacle one more time," Schormann shared, adding that obstacle racing was included in every youth and junior world championship over the last two years.
Schormann revealed that the new discipline won't have a fixed prototype for now - it needs advice from athletes, coaches, and professionals to reform in the next two years and will submit the final version to the IOC before the qualifiers for the Los Angeles Olympics.
There are confirmed changes in the upcoming months, including a new modern pentathlon competition format in Paris. The competitions will be held at the iconic Palace of Versailles from August 8 to 11, with semifinals and finals condensed into a 90-minute schedule at a single venue. This format contrasts with previous editions, where events were spread out and lengthy.
"Our new Modern Pentathlon format is strongly aligned with these two principles: it will dramatically improve the experience for fans and viewers while maintaining the essence of the sport," said the UIPM president.
The revamped schedule has already led to a significant increase in broadcast agreements. Schormann noted that around 190 countries and regions have signed with Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) for Paris modern pentathlon, compared to just four to six for previous Games.
Looking ahead, Schormann envisioned modern pentathlon shedding its traditional image and embracing entertainment to captivate younger audiences.
"The excitement of obstacle racing and the thrill of fencing can attract more spectators," the 77-year-old said. "Entertainment is crucial for engaging the youth."
Schormann also saw the potential to integrate modern pentathlon into urban settings and family-friendly formats. "Our goal is to make the sport accessible to all ages, perhaps through family competitions where each member participates in different events," he suggested.
Urban planning for obstacle courses has also piqued the interest of government officials, with beachside races being particularly well-suited. Additionally, Schormann highlighted the success of the first IOC eSports Week in Singapore, where the e-laser run event gained significant popularity.
"Believe me, modern pentathlon will be one of the most exciting sports in Los Angeles 2028," Schormann concluded.■