United States Sports Academy - "America's Sports University"

In light of the International Olympic Committee's recent discussion to drop the Modern Pentathlon from the Olympic Games, the President of the United States Sports Academy, Dr. Thomas P. Rosandich and editors of the Sport Journal feel it timely and important to publish this Special Edition to bring attention to this grave matter. We add our support to retain the Modern Pentathlon as a vital and historic event in the Olympic Games.

We are reprinting opinions of several International Olympic Committee members. The first is an abridged letter from Klaus Schormann, President of the Union Internationale De Penthathlon Moderne. President Schormann's letter is addressed to the President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge.

Monaco, 5 November 2002

According to our discussion during our last meeting in Lausanne, the UIPM is sending a summary of its arguments and response to the Programme Commission report which it feels appropriate to be considered for the Sport of Modern Pentathlon to remain in the Olympic Programme. These arguments which cover a larger spectrum than those developed by the Programme Commission should be given to the IOC executive Board prior to their last meeting in November, and to the IOC Members in case the matter would be voted during the session in Mexico.

1. Answer to the arguments of the Programme Commission

   - Lack of global participation by nation and individual athletes:
   94 Nations from five continents are now affiliated with the UIPM (more are coming as they are in establishment procedure), while the Olympic Charter requires 75 Nations in 4 continents. The sport meets the criteria of the Olympic Charter. We want to remind that Pierre de Coubertin founded the sport in 1912 from scratch on the model of the Ancient Pentathlon, the symbolic and complete sport of the Ancient Games, which means that this sport has never stopped growing since its creation.

   - Significant expense of practicing the sport with resulting difficulties in major development:
   Modern Pentathlon is not more significantly expensive than most of the other Olympic Sports or than those willing to enter the Olympics Programme. *The change of its format to the "One day" in 1992 and the new shooting system (air pistols instead of guns) have reduced the costs for organizing and training. *Facilities already used by other sports are also for Modern Pentathlon inside and outside of Olympic Games, for competing, training and studying. The new compactness of venues in many cities gives new possibilities for Modern Pentathlon. *The reduction of the costs for sport equipment (including horse riding) brings new possibilities. It is to be noted that Pentathletes do not need to have a horse of their own, are not charged for that in competitions, and that the use of local horses do not require any guarantee.

   - High operational complexity: Experience with organization of UIPM events on all continents and in the previous Olympic Games show that all organizers were able easily to offer facilities for the five disciplines of Modern Pentathlon (shooting, fencing, swimming, riding, running) within walking distance. It is to be noted that no specific venue is required for the Modern Pentathlon and that UIPM has developed a policy of polyvalent international technical officials. Modern Pentathlon helps to a more efficient use of venues used at Games time. The official report of the XXVII Olympiad made by SOCOG makes a clear statement on this.

   - Relatively low broadcast and press coverage The relatively low broadcast stated by the Programme Commission does not fit the statistics established by the UIPM, which can easily be checked (see annex 2). All major UIPM events on all five continents were covered by international TV during the last seven years. Due to its TV coverage, the UIPM has developed a successful Marketing Programme (see UIPM budget sent to IOC), which is in very good standing in comparison with other Olympic Sports.

2. Arguments which should be taken into consideration by the IOC to keep Modern Pentathlon in the Olympic Programme.

   - Modern Pentathlon is the only sport that has ever been created in its entirety by Pierre de Coubertin and the IOC, as the Ancient sports were created by the Ancient Greeks, and therefore a symbolic value within the Olympic Games. It was especially designed on the model of the Ancient Pentathlon in order to show all possible skills developed through 5 sport events in one single athlete, and not for a massive number of participants. It is important for the sake of the Olympic tradition.

   - Modern Pentathlon, from the skills it develops, has an educational value: a complete sport, on the physical side - Swimming, running are the basic disciplines, on the mental side - Shooting requires stress control and a precise technique; on the intellectual side - Fencing requires adaptability and intelligence; Riding an unknown horse requires a mix of adaptability, self control and courage.

   - Modern Pentathlon has an entertainment function at the Olympic Games. Since the Atlanta Olympic Games and the introduction of the One-Day Format, the interest of spectators at Games Time has grown dramatically, which can be easily shown by statistics on the number of spectators at the Sydney Games: full venue and 15,000 spectators per session, and by an independent survey published in the Olympic Review.

   - An Olympic Sport with reasonable number of athletes and with a high representation of NOCs. Only 32 women and 32 men, a total of 64 athletes (in fact around 0.5% of the total athletes number) competing for only 2 days (6 medals), which means that Modern Pentathlon, as one of the 28 Sports of the Olympic Programme, has a very limited impact on the overall number of athletes in the Games. Remarks: the average number of athletes for the other sports is (10500 - 64) /27 = 386/ At the same time Modern Pentathlon gives to many NECS the possibility to take part in the Olympic Games: In Sydney 48 Pentathletes competed while 24 NOCs were represented. This means 50% of the quota was dedicated to NOC's representation, which is the highest value of all Olympic Sports

   - A Drug-Free Sport
   Since the One Day Format has been created and due to the permanent efforts of the UIPM, Modern Pentathlon has become a drug-free sport. The One-Day format has discouraged prohibited behaviors as there is no interest in using drugs for shooting when fencing comes right after it. Anabolic substances are not useful in a sport that does not place the success of the winner only on his physical skills, but in his overall physical and intellectual harmony.

   - UIPM, a flexible organization
   In addition to the changes in the Modern Pentathlon's format, the UIPM has created an Ad Hoc Commission looking at the optimal evolution of the sport for the future. The purpose is to keep to symbolic construction of Modern Pentathlon in placing its complete skills first, but looking at the same time as its events in order to fit with the evolution of sport practice in general. This commission already collaborates with the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee and intends to do the same with the other International Federations and the IOC.

   Modern Pentathlon is a Symbolic Sport for the Olympic Movement Modern Pentathlon is a true representation of the Olympic Movement. The 5 Olympic rings are reflected in Modern Pentathlon's 5 events and participation from all 5 continents. It is a true sport of the Olympic Games, created by the founder of the Modern Games Pierre de Coubertin and reflecting the ideals embodied by the Olympic Movement. It has to remain an indefatigable part of it.

   The concept and the philosophy of the pentathlon are 2710 years old, as described by Aristotle: "The most perfect sportsmen are the Pentathletes because in their bodies strength and speed are combined in beautiful harmony". Created by the Greeks and renovated by the founder of the Games, it shows the symbolic complete athlete in his body, will and mind as stated and described in fundamental principle 2 of the Olympic Charter. Let's keep this part of the soul of the Olympics, let's keep it on the field of play, let's see it on the stadium, and not only in the Olympic Museum in the future!

	Total Participating NOC's	Total Disqualification Quotas	Percentage
Acquatics-Diving	42	158	27%
Acquatics-Swimming	150	983	15%
Acquatics-Synchro Swim	24	104	23%
Acquatics-Water Polo	13	234	6%
Archery	46	128	36%
Athletics	194	2468	8%
Badminton	28	172	16%
Baseball	8	192	4%
Basketball	18	288	6%
Boxing	75	312	24%
Canoe-Slalom	21	83	25%
Canoe-Sprint	43	265	16%
Cycling-Mountain Bike	33	80	41%
Cycling-Road	44	216	20%
Cycling-Track	38	190	20%
Equestrian	37	204	18%
Fencing	40	200	20%
Football	20	432	5%
Gymnastics-Artistic	43	195	22%
Gymnastics- Rythmic	20	84	24%
Handball	19	329	6%
Hockey	15	352	4%
Judo	90	400	23%
Modern Pentathlon	24%	48	50%
Rowing	51	549	9%
Sailing	69	404	17%
Shooting	103	411	25%
Softball	8	120	7%
Taekwondo	51	103	50%
Table Tennis	48	172	28%
Tennis	52	192	27%
Triathlon	34	100	34%
Volleyball-Beach	23	96	24%
Volleyball	17	288	6%
Weightlifting	76	264	29%
Wrestling	55	319	17%

HSH Prince Albert Reaffirms Modern Pentathlon as the Soul of the Olympic Movement to be Maintained for the Sake of Olympic Tradition and Values

In a recent address to the International Olympic Committee in Switzerland, HSH Prince Albert Monaco made the following address:

"I'm here not only because I am the Honorary President of the UIPM, nor because Monaco is host to the Headquarters of the UIPM, I'm here above all as an IOC Member who is fearful that some very important part of the values and the philosophy of the Olympic Movement handed down to us by Baron Pierre de Coubertin might be lost forever if Modem Pentathlon should disappear from the Program.

The cultural dimension of this sport, its ancient roots and the educational value of its different components are an important legacy for the IOC, for the Olympic Movement. This dimension is more important than the sport itself, the consequences of its demise larger than anyone of us in this room.

Some people will argue that tradition and values are not the only elements that should guide us. If you look around you, watch TV, or read a newspaper article, you will find quite a few people saying the opposite: 'that a society has lost points of reference, that values have diminished...' Why not continue to provide our youth with the kind of values and symbol that this sport possesses and that they obviously are looking for? Why challenge a sport that celebrates and showcases the versatile, complete athlete?

According to the latest figures from the Sydney Olympic Games, more people than ever seem interested in watching athletes test their abilities in combined events.

Is it right to deny the development of a sport that is growing in popularity and has sustained youth programs? There is a quote from a young Cuban athlete in your brochure: ' I want to compete in Modem Pentathlon at the Beijing Olympic Games.' Is it right to deny Jose Fernandez and his friends, the opportunity to realize his dreams in an existing Olympic Sport?

Having said all this, we are not stifled in tradition, we are not dinosaurs, we are willing to be open to change, if it is for the better.

The American philosopher and author, Tom Wolfe, once wrote in his book, The Search for Excellence, 'We must learn to accept change, as much as we hated to in the past.' I'm sure he meant changes in our society, changes in behavior, changes in economics, etc ... not changes in our values.

The values of education and culture, and understanding through sport, are everlasting and something we in the Olympic Movement should hold sacred."

UNION INTERNATIONAL DE PENTATHLON MODERNE UIPM

I am just back in my home after a lot of travelling (see annex). In Busan during the Asian Games (Modern Pentathlon was included with the whole competition-programme: individual women/men and relay women/men and team-medal) I could speak with a lot of IOC Members, NOC Presidents and media people. As you can see (annex) my schedule for the next weeks is very bussy, therefore I think,we should meet us in Colorado Springs at the GAISF meeting.(20.-24.11.2002) I send you some documents about the "IOC Programme Commission" and our actions now for your information. UIPM needs from all institutions of international-sport-scene support. Public statements in favour for Modern Pentathlon are needed.

UNION INTERNATIONALE DE PENTATHLON MODERNE - UIPM
President Klaus Schormann
Schedule September until December 2002 Patron:

06.	-	08.09.2002	Biathle World Championships	Cagliari	-	ITA
09.	-	10.09.	Executive Board UIPM	Cagliari		ITA
		11.09.	working-meeting NOC-Germany - only Presidents -	Frankfurt/M	-	GER
		12.09.	meeting DOG-Darmstadt	Darmstadt	-	GER
		13.09.	Freiburger Kreis SEMINAR - Clubs / Federations - statement DSB President M.v. RichtMofen	Darmstadt	-	GER
		14.09.	meeting with business-people	Stuttgart		GER
18.	-	21.09.	meetings in Beijing-BOCOG - Olympic Games 2008 meetings with IOC Members	Beijing		CHN
23.	-	30.09.	Junior World Championships and meetings with IOC Members	Sydney		AUS
		04.10.	meeting with IOC President Rogge	Lausanne		SUI
08.	-	15.10.	Asian Games in Busan and meetings with IOC Members	Busan		KOR
		17.10.	Council LSB Hessen - Federations	Frankfurt/M	-	GER
18.	-	20.10.	40th anniversary MP Bavaria - Gala and competition -	Munich		GER
24.	-	27.10.	Pan American Championships - Qualification Pan American Games 2003 -	Rio de Janeiro		BRA
		31.10.	meeting in Rome WCH-2003-Pesaro	Rome		ITA
02.	-	03.11.	General Assembly NOC Germany	NUrnberg		GER
08.	-	09.11.	General Assembly MP-Germany/DVMF	Darmstadt		GER
		15.11.	100th anniversary German Tennis Fedr Berlin	Berlin		GER
21.	-	24.11.	GAISF General Assembly ASOIF Extraordinary GS go 11 USA	Colorado Springs		USA
26.	-	29.11.	IOC-EB and Extraordinary Session	Mexico-City		MEX
04.	-	07.12.	DSB-Congress and General Assembly	Bonn		GER
07.	-	15.12.	EB-UIPM and General Assembly UIPM	Cairo		EGY

UIPM Delegation visits IOC regarding the Olympic Programme

HSH Prince Albert reaffirms Modern Pentathlon as the Soul of the OlympicMovement to be maintained for the sake of Olympic Tradition and Values

International Pierre De Coubertin Committee and DeCoubertin's Family callfor Pentathlon's respect and promotion

08 October 2002

On 4 October, a UIPM delegation composed of President Klaus Schormann, Honorary PresidentHSH Prince Albert of Monaco, First Vice President Juan Antonio Samaranch and SecretaryGeneral Jodl Bouzou was welcomed at the IOC headquarters by IOC President Jacques Roggeaccompanied by Sport Director Gilbert Felli and his new assistant Olivier Lenglet.

The purpose of the meeting was to answer to the Programme Commission's recommendations tothe IOC Executive Board and to present additional arguments to be considered by the IOCExecutive Board before their final decision during their meeting in Mexico City, 26-27 November.

After the opening by IOC President Rogge, the UIPM President Klaus Schormann referred to theletter sent to the IOC that answered the points raised by the technical report of the ProgrammeCommission. "We now have more than 95 countries in the five continents whilst De Coubertinstarted the sport from scratch in 1912 and the media coverage of our events has dramatically increased since the adoption of the'One-Day'forinat. Our sport is only using existing venuesduring the Games and therefore is not expensive, as stated in the report- Equally, compact venuesin modern cities allow more and more pentathletes to practise the sport and combine it withstudies". President Schormann also mentioned the surveys made during the last Olympic Games byan independent observer, Prof Dr. Mfiller from the research group of the Gutenberg University inMainz, and by SOCOG, which both support the UIPM.counter arguments. Dr Rogge confirmedthat he took into account the point made by President Schormann concerning the flexibility ofUIPM in terms of the sports evolution.

HSH Prince Albert of Monaco took the floor to explain why he attended the meeting:"Mr President, I'd like to thank you as well for the opportunity to meet with you and Mr Felli tohave this open and frank discussion on our sport.I'm here not only because I am the Honorary President of the UIPM, nor because Monaco is hostto the Headquarters of the LTIPM, I'm here above all as an IOC Member who is fearful that somevery important part of the values and the philosophy of the Olympic Movement handed down to usby Baron Pierre de Coubertin might be lost forever if Modem Pentathlon should disappear fromthe Program.The cultural dimension of this sport, its ancient roots and the educational value of its differentcomponents are an important legacy for the IOC, for the Olympic Movement.

UNION INTERNATIONALE DE PENTATHLON MODERNE

This dimension is more important than the sport, itself, the consequences of its demise larger than anyone of us in this room. Some people will argue that Tradition and Values are not the only elements that should guide us. If you look around you, watch TV, or read a newspaper article, you will find quite a few people saying the opposite: " that a society has lost points of reference, that values have diminished..," Why not continue to provide our youth with the kind of values and symbol that this sport possesses and that they obviously are looking for? Why challenge a sport that celebrates and showcases the versatile, complete athlete. According to the latest figures from the Sydney Olympic Games, more people than ever seem interested in watching athletes test their abilities in combined events. Is it fight to deny the development of a sport that is growing in popularity and has sustained youth programs? There is a quote from a young Cuban athlete in your brochure: " I want to compete in Modem Pentathlon at the Beijing Olympic Games". Is it right to to deny Jose Fernandez and his friends the opportunity to realize his dreams in an existing Olympic Sport?... Having said all this, we are not stiffed in tradition, we are not Dinosaurs, we are willing to be open to change if it is for the better. The American philosopher and author Tom Wolfe once wrote in his book'The Search for Excellence': "We must learn to accept change, as much as we hated to in the past"... I'm sure he meant changes in our society, changes in behaviour, changes in economics, etc... not changes in our Values. The Values of education and culture, and understanding through sport, are everlasting and something we in the Olympic Movement should hold sacred".

UIPM Secretary General Bouzou recalled that Modem Pentathlon does not need any specific venue for the Gaines; that most Modem Cities have multi sport complexes adapted to the organisation of Modem Pentathlon; that 9 Modem Pentathlon's major competitions are seen on international TV in the five continents; that as stated by SOCOG (in their Post Games Report) "the quality of competition and sports presentation, combined with the most comprehensive television coverage ever of Modem Pentathlon in Olympic Games history ensured first class viewing for live spectators and global television audiences". He also acknowledged the fact that Modem Pentathlon is not, and will never be, practised by millions of athletes throughout the world, However it was never designed for this by the founder of the Games Pierre de Coubertin but to be used as a living symbol of all values within a single sport. This was the reason why exceptional personalities like General Patton or Chevalier Raoul Mollet chose this sport in their respective athletic time.

UIPM Vice President Samaranch reminded that 15,000 spectators attended each of the two days of Modem Pentathlon at the Sydney Olympic Games in "sold out" venues, and that there are only 64 athletes competing in Modem Pentathlon, which represents only 0.5% of the overall number, and therefore, that taking the sport out of the Programme would not affect the reality in terms of cost.

IOC President Rogge, following the presentation of all the arguments, informed the UIPM delegation that he would ensure they would all be duly reported on to the IOC Executive Board.

Prof. Dr. Norbert Muller, President of the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee, wrote a letter to the 10C President saying that he had been "informed with great regrets about the proposal of the Program Commission" adding that "this sport represents the real legacy of Pierre de Coubertin which he elaborated personally when he wanted to showcase the Perfect Olympic Man or Woman," He transmitted an appeal from the Committee saying: "the personal legacy of Pierre de Coubertin should be respected and Modem Pentathlon permanently included".

Mr Geoffroy de Navacelle de Coubertin, the great-nephew of Pierre de Coubertin also wrote to the IOC President saying. "Let me tell you my astonishment and my emotion. I have always decided not to interfere with the IOC business. I am simply concerned in making sure that theachievements and the philosophy of Pierre de Coubertin will be respected. This sport is the most symbolic one in showing the perfect athlete. Should you not promote and support it in order to make it grow instead of only promoting "specialists" which media like so much?"

Mr Geoffroy de Navacelle de Coubertin had contacted UIPM President Klaus Schormann during the General Assembly of the International Committee for Fair Play held on 23 March 2002 in Germany, in order to create a permanent "Pierre de Coubertin Commission" within UIPM that he would lead, the role of which will be to promote the philosophy of the founder on the "ground", particularly through Modem Pentathlon events, in close co-operation with the International Pierre de Coubertin Committee, throughout the entire world. The Pierre de Coubertin Commission was established I October 2002 comprising the following members. Mr Geoffroy de Navacelle de Coubertin, Klaus Schormann, Prof Norbert Miffler, Joel Bouzou and Modern Pentathlon Olympic Champions Dr Stephanie Cook (GBR) and Janus Peciak (POL).

UNION INTERNATIONALE DE PENTATHLON MODERNE (UIPM)
Tel. +377,9777 8555 Fax.+377 9777 8550
E-mail: pentathlon @monaco.mc
For more on Pentathlon, visit the website: http://www-pentathlon.org
08.10.2002/ JB