Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/336863
The Sarasota-Bradenton area officially has been awarded the Modern Pentathlon First World Cup of 2015, which is expected to bring a larger number of athletes to the area than the Modern Pentathlon events earlier this month, organizers have announced. The competition will take place Feb. 18-21, Rob Stull, spokesman for USA Modern Pentathlon, and Katherine Harris, executive chairwoman of Sarasota Bradenton Modern Pentathlon, said in a news release. Stull noted the Modern Pentathlon World Cup Final, held June 5-8 in the area, "left a very positive impression on the executives and board mem- bers of both USA Modern Pentathlon and the Union International de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM)," the release continues. "Pentathlon is really in tune with the impor- tance of forming a local fan base," added Stull in the release. "Usually, with these events, you only get friends and family as spectators; we don't typically attract the local community. In [Sarasota and Bradenton], we actually had local community leaders, residents, students and athletes who cheered on the games." Originally, Sarasota and Bradenton won the bid for the 2015 Second World Cup, along with the 2016 World Cup Final and Olympic Trials. However, "the true test for future events was this past event," the release points out. The success of the recent World Cup Final was a result of "the unconditional energy and passion of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC)," led by Harris, a former congress- woman from Sarasota and long-time fan of the sport, the release notes. "Sport unites countries; it transcends every- thing," said Harris in the release. "We're the ideal community; we should have the ideal sport." Sarasota and Bradenton can expect more than 200 international athletes for the First World Cup of 2015, the release adds. "This event is also expected to attract visits from dignitaries" during the height of the Sarasota- Bradenton season, it says. "Taking advantage of the timing, the LOC is already working on getting more local arts and cultural groups involved as well as making plans for athletes to go to schools and various organizations to speak to students," it concludes. COUNTIES AWARDED A DIFFERENT MODERN PENTATHLON EVENT IN 2015 Modern Pentathlon features competition in fencing, swimming, shooting and stadium show jumping. Image from the Sarasota-Bradenton Modern Pentathlon website Sarasota News Leader June 27, 2014 Page 75