Pentathletes Will Fire Laser Guns During 2012 Olympics

[Patrick Haynes]

Hi.

I'm working with our provincial (and to some extent national) pentathlon organization, specifically developing a means to performed the combined run/shoot event. While working on this, I've had the pleasure of hearing the rationale for the laser and see what it looks like (sorry: photos only). I don't support, nor do I reject, laser pentathlon pistols. Its their game and let them do what they want.

For the laser system, you'll get a choice of a modified Steyr LP10 or a modified Morini 162EI. The barrels are replaced with an air activated laser system. For all intents and purposes, it should feel like your normal Steyr or Morini upon release. I've attached a photo (taken by Canadian coach Richard Lanning) from the Youth Olympic Games, where the pistols were used in competition.

Personally, I think that until an athlete is close to becoming an international competitor, he or she will likely work with their pellet-based air pistols and falling targets. Its cheaper and easier to run at a local through national events. One of the biggest problems in Canadian Pentathlon (and I'd wager internationally) is the low levels of participation. It is in the associations' best interests to maintain low entry costs for as long as possible. Get the athletes interested and involved with pellets and IF they get good enough, pick up a laser pistol.

Alternatively, some nations (for instance, Japan, I believe) severely restrict the ownership of even pellet guns. The pentathlon powers that be hope that lasers will be a work around to get more "guns" into athletes hands.

Again, I'm not selling this message. I'm trying to explain what I've heard.

I have no concerns about athletes switching between lasers and pellets. If they learn how to sight and squeeze, they'll get comparable results.

I think the biggest challenge to the pentathletes is the chaos that comes from the international federation. An athlete just came back from an event in Chengdu, China. Previously, it was a common practice for the athletes to come into their positions with pellet in hand to load upon arrival. All of a sudden, they're informed at the tech meeting that this practice is no longer allowed. It is common practice for the their federation to come up with rule changes on the fly with little or no warning and even less rationale. When they train, they never really know what they are going to encounter (facilities aren't the issue) when they compete. It makes the dumb ISSF "no pockets" rule look sane in comparison.

Patrick Haynes
Pistol Coach / Canadian Forces CISM Shooting Team

[David Levene]

I understand, from a posting on the Stirton Forum in the UK, that the UIPM Congress has today rejected the use of laser pistols.

Whether it is temporary or permanent, or exactly why they made that decision is not certain at the moment.

No doubt they will clarify the position later.

[peterz]

David,

Do you have a link?

pz

[David Levene]

The post on the Stirton Forum was just that lasers had been rejected, with no further information.

It was however from a friend of nearly 30 years who is a UIPM qualified Judge.

I just had a quick look at the UIPM web site but there's nothing there yet.

[Mike M.]

You know, if they did have the guts to reject the Wii toy, we all should at least donate to the appropriate NGBs.

Maybe even participate if we can.

[peterz]

From the pentathlon web site as a part of a press release before the Congress:

UIPM President Dr h.c. Klaus Schormann issued the following statement at today’s Press Conference:

“Over the past few years we have made some historical decisions to modernise our sport. Now it is time for us to take the next step and complete the revolution and approve the Environmental Friendly Laser Shooting which is essential for our us to develop our sport throughout schools, media and socially. I am confident that the nations will vote positively for this latest step to modernise our great sport which is being supported by the IOC President, IOC Sports Department and LOCOG.”

An incredible surprise if the member NGBs voted it down after the boss made such a strong statement; international governing bodies are usually one-person dictatorships. If the US voted against, I have to find a way to send them a donation.

[peterz]

You have to dig on the UIPM site to find it, but here is the actual decision, fairly solomonic. They threw Dr. h.c. Schormann a bone.

http://www.pentathlon.org/inside-uipm/2010-congress

Several important discussions and discussions were made, with the most historic being a clear statement from all nations their 100% support for the environmentally friendly laser shooting technology being the future of Modern Pentathlon. It has now been revised in the UIPM statutes that all UIPM Junior, Youth A and Youth B will be conducted using Laser Shooting starting from 1 January 2011. This will assist in the development of the Youth of Modern Pentathlon across the globe.

Schormann said

am extremely satisfied about the results from this years Congress. ... With the decision for the Laser Shooting technology we can now develop the sport in all Youth and Junior Competitions World wide with the new laser technology

[David Levene]

You have to dig on the UIPM site to find it, but here is the actual decision, fairly solomonic. They threw Dr. h.c. Schormann a bone.

http://www.pentathlon.org/inside-uipm/2010-congress

While it says that lasers will be used for Juniors and Youths it doesn't mention Adult matches.

Does that mean that they will continue to be used or that they will no longer be used.

[peterz]

I'm no mind reader, but it seems to me that they will not be used in adult matches.

[David Levene]

I'm no mind reader, but it seems to me that they will not be used in adult matches.

Given that, before the vote, they were talking about confirming the use of laser for 2012 and the run-up, and they made no mention of that in the post-vote release, I would tend to agree with you.

[David Levene]

I think this article on the BBC web site confirms it.

I know that sometimes you cannot access the BBC site from outside the UK so the text is:-

Pentathlon drops plan to swap pistols for laser guns

Air pistols had looked to be a thing of the past
The International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) has voted against a plan to replace air pistols with laser guns for the 2012 London Olympics.

The proposal would have cut costs and allowed events to be staged at more venues as it would have been safer.

Pentathlon GB chairman Anthony Temple welcomed the rule clarification.

"This tells athletes and organisers what they need to know and will allow us all to work together to deliver a successful competition," Temple said.

Changing to laser guns would have been the second major change to the sport since the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

[Spencer]

I'm no mind reader, but it seems to me that they will not be used in adult matches.

Until after 2012 Olympics?

[RobStubbs]

I'm no mind reader, but it seems to me that they will not be used in adult matches.

Until after 2012 Olympics?

I guess that's the implication. Presumably they'll have gathered more data on the laser guns in between times so as to have better defined the technical issues, and hopefully have them solved. Post 2012 they'll no doubt meet again and decide the way forward.

Rob.