To enter the Asian Varsity Competition in Singapore 16 and 17th August.

Contact the AFF via your State Association.

New Zealand will hold the Oceania Veterans Championships on Wed October 22 and Thursday 23 at the Fencing Institute.

For more information contact your State Federation.

The FIE updated Rules (In English) are now available from the BFA site.

British Fencing

The Calendar for next season 08/09 is now online at FIE

Italian fencing site Feder Scherma has an article on Vezzali’s win in the Havana World Cup.

Valentina Vezzali has won a record breaking 60 Gold Medals.

Legendary…

The FIE has adjusted the commencement date for the introduction of the fully conductive Bibs on Foil Masks.

The FIE (and AFF) has set the date as of 1 January 2009, and will be compulsory for Foil Fencing at International / National Competitions from that date forward.

The FIE has expressed an interest in having FIE approved Points, with a stamp on the Barrel and Tip.

Here is a photo  of the the proposed Foil Point.

Beijing 2008 Olympic Fencing Qualification 

For some exciting matches in this years Beijing 2008 Olympic Qualification.

check out FencingChannel TV

The Olympic Test Event in Beijing “Good Luck Beijing” was held between 18-20 April.

For full results go to Beijing or FIE

For a full listing of Medals and Classement go to FIE

The Medal Table results

1

USA

4

1

1

2

ITA

3

8

2

3

HUN

3

1

5

4

RUS

2

3

6

5

UKR

2

1

–

6

KOR

1

–

4

7

POL

1

–

1

7

JPN

1

–

1

7

EGY

1

–

1

10

CHN

–

2

1

According to an article on Fencing.Net  (6 March) The USFA is having to address related rumours to its financial status.  The article states that the USFA has budget debts of somewhere between $250,000 to 1 millon US Dollars.

Read more

 To view the latest FIE letter regarding the upcoming Korean Mens/Womens Foil Tournament changes and information for interested manufacturers of fencing pistes.  FIE Letter March 

Interpretations of the interview by Jean-Marie Safra with FIE President

Rene Roch in “Escrime Internationale.”  [No 61. 12/2007]

Mr Roch explained that the transparent mask being brought in for compulsory use in Foil (World Cup Competitions – tableau 32) as of January 1 2008 was of a unanimous vote *.  Enabling the fencers to get used to it prior to Beijing in August, and that new technologies should be embraced.  Sabre fencing viewing has improved in the public’s opinion because of the transparent mask.  The reintroduction of the mask bib as target area for foil is believed to be safer as there is no need to limit the width of the bib.

Video refereeing has been a great introduction, it reduces refereeing errors, and removes doubt from the fencers mind. It also reflects an improved image of fencing.  The international recognition has and will continue to increase.  In 2008 referee’s will be further trained on video usage.

On the Beijing Olympic front Mr Roch is very impressed vith the venues to be used for the Games.  Situated in ideal locations and due to the expected results of the Chinese fencers the venues should be filled.  The FIE is still  fighting to regain the 12 Olympic medals it desires and extra 40 places for the following games.  He also mentioned that each of the 212 athletes will plant a tree of their choice in Beijing.

Mr Roch announced the intention of the FIE to have a website dedicated to real time video competitions where anyone can go and watch all the world cup tournaments….

   * please note due to the publication being 2 months old, refer to SFA post “Visors Banned and Epeeists Warned” February 1 2008 and the attached FIE urgent letter.  

Christian d’Oriola has been heralded in the latest “Escrime Internationale” No 61

“Death of an expert swordsman” 

For all fencing enthusisasts, the name should be synomonis with beautiful and graceful fencing.   A remarkable career. 2 Olympic titles, 4 world titles and countless medals won with the French team.  A remarkable athlete who was able to bridge the gap between non electric and electric fencing.

Commonly known as the “first musketeer”.

Christian d’Oriola was 79 

Vale.. 

The FIE has announced that each of the 212 athletes who qualify for the 2008 Beiijng Olympics will each plant a tree at the Beijing Fencing Centre.

This evolved out of the FIE’s desire to improve the athlete’s and the global fencing family awareness of the environment around them.

An urgent letter has been issued following an incident involving a mask with a transparent visor during a training session in Venezuela. A Venezuelan fencer was rumoured to have been injured in training while fencing epee. As a result of the incident a ban has been placed on fencing with transparent visors for foil fencing; it’s not clear whether this is a mistake and the ban has been applied to epee. The letter also requests referees to clamp down on the use of violent tactics in epee bouts.

You can read the complete urgent letter here.