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By Mallory Mattingly
The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics added a new sport to the lineup.
The Ninja Warrior obstacle race has “sealed a deal with Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne to incorporate the format into the new Modern Pentathlon discipline of ‘obstacle racing,'” Variety reported.
Related: American Ninja Warrior Daniel Gil Takes Faith to the Finish Line
According to a press release from UIPM, Tokyo Broadcasting System Television (TBS) is the “producer of the megahit television format SASUKE, which is internationally known as Ninja Warrior. Since its first broadcast on TBS in 1997, SASUKE/Ninja Warrior has become a global phenomenon. The program has aired in more than 160 countries and regions, with local versions produced in over 25 countries. The US version will premiere its 18th season on June 8, 2026.”
The Pentathlon was originally introduced to the Olympics in 1912 and included five disciplines: fencing, swimming, equestrian, show jumping, running and shooting. In 2023, the International Olympic Committee voted to update the event to Modern Pentathlon to include obstacle racing.
“What an incredible honor it is for our Federation to be working closely with TBS, the broadcaster that gave Ninja Warrior to the world,” Rob Stull, UIPM President, said. “It is 30 years since TBS turned obstacle racing into a television phenomenon with the original SASUKE, so our two organizations are a great fit in terms of heritage and innovation.”
He continued, “Modern Pentathlon has held a continuous place in the Olympic Games for over a century, constantly evolving over the decades to satisfy the viewing preferences of sports fans around the world. Ahead of LA28, this agreement represents a wonderful and unique coming together of primetime entertainment and Olympic sports culture.”
“Since its launch 30 years ago, SASUKE/Ninja Warrior has continued to evolve constantly,” Katsuaki Setoguchi, Executive Officer, TBS Holdings, added. “It is a tremendous honor that our journey has converged in this way with the history of the Modern Pentathlon — a sport beloved around the world which has continued to innovate for more than 100 years — culminating in its establishment as an Olympic sport.
“This is truly a groundbreaking milestone. Going forward, TBS and UIPM will work even more closely together to ensure that, on the world’s greatest stage — the Olympic Games — both SASUKE/Ninja Warrior and the new Modern Pentathlon continue to grow as sports and entertainment beloved by people all around the world,” he said.
The integration of the globally popular Ninja Warrior obstacle format into the Modern Pentathlon for the 2028 Los Angeles games marks a historic convergence of primetime entertainment and traditional Olympic heritage.
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