Modern pentathlon
The 2008 Beijing Olympics is at hand and the sports lovers are already busy packing their bags. The Beijing Olympics 2008 has all the sports included into the Olympic Games including the modern pentathlon.
The modern pentathlon sports contest consists of five events. Modern Pentathlon has been derived from the Greek penta, meaning five.
The events that constitute the modern pentathlon are épée fencing, pistol shooting, 200 m freestyle swimming, show jumping on horseback, and a cross-country run. This sport is called the modern pentathlon to distinguish it from the ancient athletics pentathlon because none of the events of modern pentathlon were included in the ancient Olympics.
The modern pentathlon sporting event was invented by the founder of the modern Olympic Games- Baron Pierre de Coubertin. The events of the ancient pentathlon were modeled to fathom the skills of the ideal soldier of Greek age; and Coubertin created the contest to test and stimulate the skills of a 19th century cavalry soldier behind enemy lines. Riding, shooting, swimming, running are all parts of a soldiers activities on the battlefield.
The modern pentathlon sports was first included in the Olympic Games in 1912, and was won by a Swede named Gösta Lilliehöök. George S. Patton, who was to be the Future American World War II General, finished fifth.
The modern pentathlon has been a part of the Olympic Games since then. A team event was included to the pentathlon in the Olympic Games in 1952 and discontinued in 1992. An event for women was added to the Olympic Games in 2000. In the years, between the Olympics, a World Championship for modern pentathlon is held. This World Championship was initiated in 1949.
Originally the modern pentathlon world championship continued for four or five days; however in 1996 a one-day format was adopted to boost the event's commercial image. However, in spite of the event's strong pedigree its lack of popularity outside Eastern Europe has led to demands for its removal from the Olympic Games in recent years. However, a vote by the International Olympic Committee on July 8, 2005 keeps it in the Olympic Program at least till 2012. The modern pentathlon in Beijing Olympics shall hopefully entertain the sports enthusiast. The sport is governed and controlled by the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM), which is the International Modern Pentathlon Union.
