UIPM - FISO INTEGRATION

On 26 August 2023, FISO and UIPM signed an agreement that identified mutually beneficial areas of cooperation for integration, with the common goal of increasing both the size of the sport’s audience and active participants, under the general umbrella of UIPM representing all related multi-discipline sports and Obstacle Sports.

The FISO Integration Workgroup (IWG) was formed in 2024 to represent FISO sports and member federations, facilitate collaboration  for integration with UIPM, and provide solutions to achieve integration. The IWG includes representatives from each FISO sport and continental region.

Chair: James Burton (British Obstacle Sports / Pentathlon GB)

Sport Representatives

Jen Miller & Chloe Henry (Ninja), Stefano Zappa (OCR), Helene Mattison & Erik Agostinelli (Adventure Racing), Yohann Offerdo (Calisthenics)

Continental Representatives

Claud Eksteen (OSF Africa), Panna Utpaul (Pan Am OSF), Abraham Laines (LatAm OSF), Tom Petryshen (OLY, Pentathlon Canada, Obstacle Sports Canada), Stefano Zappa (EOSF)

OTF Representatives

Ian Adamson (FISO, Ninja USA, USA Pentathlon), Nayibe Statia (EOSF), Al Agra (POSF), Rodolfo Villalobos (OCRCR), Andrew Collings (UIPM EB, President Oceania), Franz van Niekerk (South Africa MPA)

The UIPM Obstacle Taskforce (OTF) was formed on June 5, 2025 to guide the integration of Pentathlon and Obstacle communities worldwide. 

• Frans van Nieckert (RSA) – President of integrated South Africa Modern Pentathlon Association
• Rodolfo Villalobos (CRC) – President of OCR Costa Rica; 
• Ian Adamson (USA) –Television producer, mechanical engineer, sports medicine professional, legal forensic expert
• Bob Clark (USA) – CEO of UNAA
• Cassandra Choh (SGP) – President of Singapore Modern Pentathlon Association; Vice President of Asian Modern Pentathlon Confederation
• Al Agra (PHI) – President of Obstacle Sports Federation Asia Pacific and Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation; 
• Marco Tomasini (MLT) – CEO of International Dart Federation; Secretary General of Malta Modern Pentathlon Association; President of Malta Sport For All
• Nayibe Statia (NED) – OCR Chair of World Obstacle Officials Committee
• Marlena Jawaid OLY (SWE) – Secretary General of Swedish Modern Pentathlon Federation
• Andrew Collings (NZL) – President of the Oceania Modern Pentathlon Confederation and Secretary General of Modern Pentathlon New Zealand

More information here

On 12 September 2025, the 11th FISO Congress and general assembly voted 37 to 3 (2 abstentions) to approve the proposed integration model.

The Vote Text states, in part:

The World Obstacle Congress recognises the importance of a transparent and collaborative integration process between UIPM and World Obstacle. As part of this effort, World Obstacle proposes the establishment of standing committees within UIPM to represent and manage the various sports under its governance, ensuring that each sport retains its autonomy while working within the UIPM structure. 

The World Obstacle Congress therefore proposes to vote on the phased approach to establish this standing committee structure, alongside Executive Board and independent sport representation, as the foundational step in the integration process. This vote will not confirm the full integration of World Obstacle into UIPM, but rather, if UIPM moves towards this model, it will represent a significant step toward integration. National Federations will support integration if an agreed structure is implemented alongside other requirements, with a final vote on dissolution to be taken by World Obstacle once these conditions are met. 

Full Integration Vote Text pdf can be downloaded below.