For the second time in six months, Egypt will play host to the Modern Pentathlon World Cup. Inas Mazhar reports "We have awarded Egypt the organisation of World Cup Two because of its superb organisation of a World Cup event in September 2006," Union International de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) president Klaus Schormann said. "The Egyptians surprised us with their facilities and hospitality. In our evaluation of the international events of 2006, Egypt was the best organiser, so this year they were given the opportunity to organise three events -- the African championships last month, this World Cup and the Biathle Championships in Hurghada next month," Schormann said. Altogether 152 athletes, 86 men and 66 women representing 27 countries will take part in the four-day World Cup which will be held at Al-Shams Club and the Armed Forces Equestrian Club, both in Heliopolis. "We are expecting strong competition not only in the number of participating countries but in quality as well," said UIPM director Mauro Tirinnazi who arrived three days ahead of the competition to supervise a judges seminar for Egyptians and other Arabs. Instructors at the one- week course included Walid Sayed, Awad Sami, Tirinnazi, Chairman Vladimir Miller and Ivar Bnandelius. Following the theoretical studies, the judges will be tested for the World Cup event from 22 to 25 March. The World Cup taking place in Cairo is the second in 2007. The first was held earlier this month in Mexico. The third will take place next month in April in Mellfield, Great Britain. The fourth event will take place in Budapest in May and the women's in Moscow. The men's fifth will be held in Poland, while the women's is in Hungary. A World Cup series for men and women has been held since 1990. Each year four to six World Cups and a World Cup final are held; the whole package is called a World Cup Circuit. The best 36 athletes qualify for the World Cup final via a league table constructed from their three best results at World Cup competitions. The women's semi-final will take place today. Group A will start with shooting, fencing, swimming and running while Group B will start with fencing then shooting, swimming and running. Competitions are from 8am to 6pm on the same day. Groups A, B and C will compete in the men's semi-final tomorrow. Group A will start with shooting, while Group B will start with the fencing whereas Group C will start with swimming. Shooting, fencing, swimming and running will take place in Al-Shams Club. Equestrianship will be held in the Armed Forces Equestrian Club. The women's final will be on Saturday while the men's final will conclude on Sunday. Head coach of the Egyptian teams Merek Makay of Poland selected the teams that will take part in World Cup Two -- four men's teams and two women's teams each comprising three athletes. The men's teams include Amr El-Geziri, Omar El-Geziri and Raouf Hossam. Emad El-Geziri, Mena Tadros and Yasser Hefni. Ibrahim Nofel, Mustafa Nofel and Mohamed Fakhri. Karim El-Lebidi, Mahmoud El-Naggar and Alieddin Gomaa. The women's teams include Omnia Fakhri, Aya Medani and Yasmine Khaled. Reem El-Sayed, Gihan Tawfik and Nada Ashraf comprise the second team. In preparation for World Cup Two, the Egyptians warmed up in the African championships which were held in Cairo last month and in which Medani and El-Geziri successfully earned two places at next year's Olympic Games in Beijing.The Africa championships were attended by Schormann and executive board members Sameh Guemeih, Africa Confederation president and Tirinnazi. Schormann was happy with the results of the Egyptians and said they had "real talent." He told Al-Ahram Weekly that if Egypt maintained its winning streak, "we might find an Egyptian stepping on the Olympic podium." In the African tournament, Medani led from the first event, winning the shoot and swim and with only one fault in the ride. She was also the fastest runner and easily crossed the finish line ahead of her closest rival, compatriot Fakhri. For the 18-year old, Beijing will be her second Olympics after Athens where she came 28th. Amr El-Geziri had a hard trip to Beijing. After two events it was his brother Omar who was leading but Amr's swim of just under two minutes took him into the lead, followed by a faultless ride which gave him an 11-second advantage in the run. Holding off his brother in the 300m course, Amr ran into his first Olympic Games.Seventy-two male and female athletes take part in the final of the Olympic Games -- 36 men and 36 women. Two quota places are awarded to each NOC: two men and two women. To be eligible to fill qualification places, athletes must have achieved the minimum 5,100 points for men and 4,800 points for women.Qualification is attributed to the athlete by name. NOCs with more than two athletes have the authority to decide which two athletes they will enter. Athletes must qualify through an official Olympic competition, the pentathlon world ranking, the Tripartite Commission Invitation or by the host nation provisions.Those who secure berths at the Beijing Olympic Games are the top three athletes at the 2007 World Champions and the winner of the 2007 World Cup final. Nineteen places will come from the continental championships to be held between January 2007 and 15 August 2007. One place goes to Africa, five to Asia, one to Oceania, four places to Pan-America and eight to Europe. Also, the top three athletes at the 2008 World Championships qualify for the Olympics in addition to the first seven athletes from the world ranking of 1 June 2008. The host nation automatically qualifies with one athlete.
