City-centre exhibition celebrates Bath’s proud Pentathlon heritage as University gets ready to host 2023 World Championships
A new outdoor exhibition celebrating 100 years of modern pentathlon and its links with Bath has opened in the city centre as excitement builds ahead of the 2023 World Championships.
The installation comprises 24 illustrative panels that tell the history of modern pentathlon since it was introduced at the Stockholm Olympic Games in 1912. It celebrates the athletes and coaches who have made a special contribution to global pentathlon sporting success for Great Britain that includes seven Olympic medals since the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, of which six have been in the women’s event.
The free exhibition, which is supported by SouthGate Bath and will be located at the Vaults next to Bath Spa Railway Station, opens on Monday 7th August and runs until Tuesday 29th, the day after the UIPM Laser Run and Modern Pentathlon World Championships conclude. They are being held at the University of Bath and will see reigning World and Olympic Champion Joe Choong bid to defend his crown.
Check it out…
📍Bath Spa Railway Station@PentathlonGB #MPWCH23 #LRWCH23 #ModernPentathlon pic.twitter.com/6bJIFFcQa3
— Team Bath (@TeamBath) August 7, 2023
2023 marks the centenary since the foundation of the Modern Pentathlon Association of Great Britain, now known as Pentathlon GB, and 25 years since the association made the Team Bath Sports Training Village its national training centre.
Trafford Wilson, CEO of Pentathlon GB said; “It is incredibly exciting and special to be hosting the World Championships in Bath in the same year as we celebrate 100 years of pentathlon in Great Britain and its 25-year connection with the city. We want to give everyone living locally or visiting Bath in August the opportunity to celebrate our sports history, either by visiting the exhibition, completing the activity pack or coming to the University to get immersed in the World Championships.”
The pentathlon exhibition also features in a special summer activity pack that has been produced to introduce children to the pentathlon family of sports and encourage them to get active by taking part in a treasure hunt involving local businesses around the city centre. The pack was distributed to schools across Bath and North East Somerset Council before the summer holidays and can also be downloaded from www.wch2023.org, where tickets for the Championships are also available.
Councillor Kevin Guy, leader of Bath and North East Somerset, said: “It is fantastic that the city’s close association with these championships is being celebrated with this exhibition and I’d encourage people to go along and discover more about its history ahead of the event. We want to give a warm welcome to all the athletes taking part in the championships so I hope as many people as possible will take the opportunity to go along to the university and enjoy watching world-class sports right here in Bath.”
Guy Henderson, centre director at SouthGate Bath, added: “As the city counts down to hosting the Modern Pentathlon World Championships, it’s very exciting to be partnering with Pentathlon GB on this educative exhibition. Not only do we hope that visitors will enjoy learning about the history of the sport and its connection to Bath but also that it will encourage them to get involved in the celebrations later this month.”
The World Championships take place from 19-28 August and the pentathlon element will be contested in a 90-minute format. Spectators will be able to watch the fencing, horse-riding and laser run live from their seats in an outdoor arena while the swimming section – taking place in the University’s Olympic-sized pool – will be broadcast via large video screen in the stadium. Alongside the competition, the Sports Training Village’s indoor tennis courts will be converted into a ‘have a go’ fencing and laser shooting zone with additional activities for all the family including time trials against the champions, swim cap design table and an obstacle course for younger children.
The World Championships are being delivered in partnership with Bath and North East Somerset Council, UK Sport, The National Lottery and The University of Bath. The event organisers would also like to thank the following for their involvement in the exhibition, street banners and pennants and activity pack; SouthGate Bath for facilitating and giving permission for the outdoor display, Bath BID, Mr B’s Emporium of Books, Bullfrog, Colonna and Smalls, Bath Leisure Centre, Bath Aqua Glass, John Moore Sports and The Pump Rooms.
For more information about the World Championships and to buy tickets, visit www.wch2023.org
