In light of recent public communications, World OCR considers it necessary to provide institutional clarity for its members, athletes, partners, and the wider obstacle sports community.
World OCR is an independent international federation, established in 2024, with its own governance, mandate, and strategic direction, and will continue its activities without interruption. All disciplines developed within the World OCR framework will continue to be governed and developed through a distinct international pathway, separate from that of UIPM.
For clarity, the recent vote for the dissolution of World Obstacle, as presented by UIPM, concerned only that: the dissolution of World Obstacle. As a matter of public record, it is now certain that World Obstacle will cease to exist. That decision does not, in itself, constitute a merger, nor does it establish a clearly defined legal and governance framework for the admission, affiliation, or integration of former World Obstacle member organizations into UIPM structures, whether at national or international level.
This point is particularly relevant given that UIPM already operates through existing national member federations under its own statutory structure, namely the national modern pentathlon federations. Furthermore, UIPM’s public announcement refers to a transition status described as “UIPM Member Candidates.” However, World OCR has not identified any reference to such a category in UIPM’s published statutes, nor any published statutory instrument clearly defining its legal meaning, rights, obligations, or effect within the UIPM membership framework. UIPM’s statutes state that only national modern pentathlon federations may become members, and that only one such federation per country may be admitted. In the absence of a published statutory basis for the “UIPM Member Candidates” designation, that terminology does not, in itself, establish a clearly documented and demonstrable direct legal connection between former World Obstacle member organizations and the UIPM membership structure, whether at international or national level.
Upon the cessation of World Obstacle, its former member organizations will no longer be affiliated to that body at international level, while at the same time, no published framework has been identified that clearly establishes their institutional position within a new international governing structure or defines their formal relationship with the national modern pentathlon federations.
The resulting landscape will remain characterized by two separate structures, with distinct mandates: UIPM, together with its national modern pentathlon federations, operating within its own statutory framework; and World OCR, together with its national member organizations, developing and governing its own disciplines through a separate international structure.
Public statements suggesting a single settled governance outcome across all obstacle-based sports worldwide should therefore be read with appropriate institutional caution. The present reality remains more differentiated than such statements may imply. World OCR is not part of UIPM and is not connected to UIPM through governance, structure, or sporting jurisdiction. The disciplines developed by World OCR remain under World OCR governance and will continue to be developed independently.
As a young federation, World OCR remains focused on building a credible and sustainable foundation for long-term sport development. Its priorities remain clear: grassroots growth, sound governance, national federation building, and the progressive development of its own disciplines at national and international level.
World OCR will therefore continue its operations with full commitment to its members, athletes, and partners.
Contact us: For more information please contact the media relations team: contact@wocr.org
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