LONDON, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Modern pentathlon is likely to attract more young people to watch by introducing obstacles to the programme, a recent survey in the U.S. implied.
According to UIPM, the world governing body of modern pentathlon, a poll of 1,500 U.S. citizens found that 45% of Generation Z (born in 2000 and later) and 41% of Millennials (born between 1982 and 1999) were more likely to watch the Olympic Games on TV if it featured a Ninja-style obstacle race.
At Paris 2024, horse riding will sing its swan song in modern pentathlon history, after which the sport will comprise obstacle, fencing, swimming and a laser run at all levels.
With this move, the UIPM is also eager to secure modern pentathlon's place at the LA 2028 Olympic Games.
"The survey also found that 42% of Gen Z and 41% of Millennials were more likely to follow the Olympic Games on social media if it featured a Ninja-style Obstacle race, with one in two Gen Z and Millennials surveyed stating that they watch Obstacle racing shows," said the media release by the UIPM on Thursday.
A new obstacle discipline is currently being integrated into modern pentathlon at the junior and youth levels. More than two-thirds of survey respondents said they would be more likely to watch the new-look modern pentathlon at the Olympic Games, and 46% of those cited enjoying Ninja-style Obstacle races as the reason, with 34% describing the reason for their answer: 'I think the modern pentathlon needs to embrace change'.
After the Tokyo Olympic Games, The UIPM was asked by the IOC to finalise its proposal for the replacement of horse riding and the overall competition format, and demonstrate a significant reduction in cost and complexity and an improvement across the areas of safety, accessibility, universality and appeal for young people and the general public, so as to be included in the LA28 Initial Sports Programme.
The 140th IOC Session will be held in Mumbai, India this October with the programme for Los Angeles 2028 to be finalised. ■