The creators of the popular TV show Ninja Warrior will be involved in creating the obstacle course that will feature in the modern pentathlon event at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
A tie-up between the Tokyo Broadcasting System Television (TBS) firm and modern pentathlon's UIPM governing body was unveiled earlier this week.
TBS is the company behind the Japanese TV show Sasuke (running since 1997), globally known as Ninja Warrior, and will collaborate with the UIPM on creating a course for the new discipline of obstacle racing. That will replace equestrian show jumping in modern pentathlon.
Specifically, UIPM gains the right to use obstacles and other elements taken from Ninja Warrior and designed by TBS while building its course.
In that show, contestants have to move through a timed obstacle course testing their coordination, grip, and agility, all over a body of water that a mistake can see them fall into.
TBS, meanwhile, is also set to act as one of the Japanese broadcast partners for the 2028 Olympics, in a deal running through the 2032 edition.
The UIPM first began tests around obstacle racing following the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and then in 2023, the International Olympic Committee voted to incorporate the new modern pentathlon format into LA28.
An inaugural Obstacle World Championships then took place in Beijing, China, two years ago. Other test events have also taken place, meanwhile, taking inspiration from Ninja Warrior as well as from other obstacle sports.
Rob Stull, president of the UIPM, has said: "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.”
Katsuaki Setoguchi, TBS Holdings' executive officer, added: "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.”
There are now local versions of Sasuke in 25 countries.
