The national governing body for the Olympic sport of Modern Pentathlon, Pentathlon GB has won two prestigious awards for its World Championships held at the University of Bath in August 2023.
Pentathlon GB scooped the Best Event category at this year’s Bath Awards 2024, and won the UIPM’s (The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne) Event of the Year.
The World Championships were an international qualifying event for the Paris 2024 Olympics, showcasing approximately 700 elite athletes, including Team GB Olympic champion Joe Choong. It was one of the biggest sporting events ever staged in the South West of England, featuring hundreds of athletes, coaches, support staff, volunteers, delegates and media, as well as 4,500 spectators from across the globe.
The event had a specific focus on young people and inclusion, with the local economy benefitting from an injection of more than £1 million via thousands of participants and visitors to the city.
The Pentathlon GB-managed event debuted spectators being able to enjoy watching fencing, horse-riding and laser run (running and laser shooting) live from their seats at the outdoor arena, while the swimming section, which took place in the University’s Olympic-sized pool, was broadcast live via a large video screen in the stadium.
It is the first time Great Britain has hosted the World Championships since 2009, with the BBC broadcasting coverage of the men’s, women’s and mixed relay finals. The Laser Run World Championships, also held as part of the event, included a Para Laser Run category for the first time.
Alongside the sporting competitions, Pentathlon GB converted the University of Bath’s indoor tennis courts into a ‘have a go’ fencing and laser shooting zone, with additional activities for all the family, including time trials against the champions, design a swim cap and a fun obstacle course for younger children.
Trafford Wilson, CEO of Pentathlon GB says: “We are over the moon to have been recognised at these two awards, and I am extremely proud of my team’s hard work in bringing the World Championships to life. These awards are for them. Hosting the World Championships in Bath in the same year as we celebrated 100 years of pentathlon in Great Britain and its 25-year connection with the city was momentous for us and so we are particularly honoured to have won at the Bath Awards 2024.”
“However, the true triumph of our World Championships is best gauged by its enduring legacy. The team at Pentathlon GB is consistently working to grow our sport and is focused on taking participation to new heights in partnership with local clubs and schools, helping to make modern pentathlon more accessible and inclusive. This includes introducing a new ‘friendly’ brand, Penta+, to help bring in and inspire a new audience.”
