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UIPM backs #TargetEbola

28 | 11 | 2014

The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne [UIPM], the world governing body of Modern Pentathlon, has become the latest international federation to throw its support behind the WOA’s #TargetEbola campaign, a humanitarian project which aims to raise awareness and funds to help stop the spread of Ebola in West Africa.

Speaking after posing for photos with #TargetEbola t-shirts, UIPM President, Dr Klaus Schormann, said:

“Pentathletes are the children of Pierre de Coubertin. We were created not only to promote the complete athlete but also and more importantly to use sport at the service of society! This is much needed today! Therefore I am proud to back the targetbebola campaign and to support the WOA President who is also a member of our family”

An Olympic Bronze Medallist in Modern Pentathlon in Los Angeles in 1984, WOA President, Joël Bouzou, added:

“I’m delighted to see my fellow Modern Pentathletes get behind #TargetEbola. Pierre de Coubertin said that Modern Pentathlon tested a man’s moral qualities as much as his physical resources and skills and the support of Klaus Schormann and his team proves that these values live on today. I encourage the Olympic Family and the wider sporting world to get behind the campaign and help save lives.”

#TargetEbola was launched in October following a plea to the WOA from two-time Sierra Leone Olympian Francis Dove Edwin, who has been appointed to the Presidential task force to fight the spread of the virus in his home country. Since then the WOA has teamed up with international aid organisation Oxfam and US humanitarian NGO Medisend International to deliver much needed supplies to West Africa.

A growing list of World Olympians are already supporting the #TargetEbola campaign,  Usain Bolt, Novak Djokovic, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, Carl Lewis, Sergey Bubka, Claudia Bokel, Hicham el Guerrouj, Koji Murofushi and Pernilla Wiberg.

World Rugby, SportAccord and the sports business networking platform, iSportConnect have also backed the campaign.

The WOA is appealing to the rest of its 100,000 strong Olympian community and the wider sporting family around the world to get involved and promote #TargetEbola, the donation link, www.targetebola.org/donate, and the SMS details, Text TARGET to 70066 [UK only], by posting selfies via social media.

The #TargetEbola selfie kit can be downloaded here: www.targetebola.org/selfie

Olympians and the general public are encouraged to print off the kit and pose for a selfie.

Alternatively anyone can write #TargetEbola, www.targetebola.org/donate and the SMS number on a piece of paper and take a selfie with it.