Pentathlon Governing Body

[Daffodil]

I'm afraid it was just the men's competition yesterday. We have the women's today. It can't be any worse, can it?
I've looked up the Governing Body of this sport, under whose rules the Olympic competition is run, and it's based in Monaco. I suggest everyone, myself included, who has been so shocked by the jumping element of this, should write to them expressing the same outrage that has appeared here. Looking at their website (www.pentathlon.org) it says "The sport of Modern Pentathlon has been called the “true Olympic sport” and the “sport that most accurately conveys the ideals of Olympism". I fear they will take some persuading to change their rules. Their address is:
UIPM Headquarters
Stade Louis II, Entrée E
13 Avenue des Castelans
98000 Monaco

Tel : (377) 9777 8555
Fax : (377) 9777 8550

www.pentathlon.org

 

[gummybear]

What makes me laugh is the article that was in (I think) the Guardian this week about dressage and basically ripping it to shreds - bet there is nothing in there about the pentathlon and how poorly the horses were ridden, pulled about etc. Something should definately be done about it.

 

[Flame_]

It should be a fantastic sport! The trouble is some of the blokes yesterday would never have been picked for a pony club team. The plebs who do the selecting need to raise the bar on who gets to go to the Olympics, placing much more emphasis on being a decent standard of rider.

 

[0ldmare]

I agree we should all write to the governing body - well done for finding it. They either need to change the qualification criteria and change the rules for how many refusals etc or drop the riding element. Perhaps we should start a petition. I feel really strongly about it and was very upset at the abuse that went on yesterday

 

[Walrus]

I have to say I was really shocked by the clips I saw yesterday. I think something the pentathlon governing body need to consider is the image this projects to others about their sport. It could be a great sport and the skill required to get an unfamilier horse round a course of jumps under olympic atmosphere and pressure should not be underestimated, but the display put on in Beijing was quite frankly distressing and disurbing. I think maybe it needs to be pointed out to the govering body that the Olympics are possibly the only time their sport is broadcast to the world and it is their opportunity to show thier sport off in a good light. The fact of the matter is that the coverage their sport has recieved so far has either upset and angered people (such as many people of here) or it has been seen as a great joke (see Gabby Logan etc laughing at the "monkey magic" clips on the bbc roundup yesterday evening). Regardless of the fact that the beeb clearly see this terrible display as a joke I doubt this is how the people involved in the sport would want it to be protrayed - as the butt of Olympic jokes and not taken seriously as a sport. The clips really did shock me totally and I'm at a loss as to why the fances have to be so high and all this missing out of fences. Dear god I hope the women are better!

 

[babymare]

I was damn right disgusted at the ddisplay yesterday. I understand they have only 20 mins to get used to the horse and this may not be their strongest discipline but heaven forbid they are meant to be the best in the sport in thier country and surely they train!!!!!!!! The standard of riding was , at best , appalling and at worse damn right cruel. The use of the whip and the heavy hands made me shudder. So so so angry that this is displayed to the world and the picture it paints for pure showjumping !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Walrus]

Ok, I'm supposed to be writing an important report but procrastination has taken over. I was looking at th rules for the riding phas (yes, I'm that sad) and found this:

5.3.2 At Olympic Games and World Championships the LOC must appoint a course builder and
inform the UIPM. The course builder must plan and prepare the course adjusting the size of
the obstacles to the quality of the horses and in such a way that capable riders will benefit
from their skill. The UIPM TD must inspect the course about a week prior to the competition
and is authorised to make any change judged to be necessary.


So perhaps th course didn't need to be so big. Also it says that a rider must leave the ring if the horse falls for the scond time! WTF!! I mean even in cross country - one horse fall and out!

 

[Madasmaz]

Monkey magic...they must have all been blind saying that no horses were injured, the one that fell and got its back foot stuck in the wall was definately lame when it got itself free...not funny, down right cruel and stupid. As for the riders...I just pray they got more than bruises, that will teach them!