Competition

Fencing for Everyone: Inaugural Event This Weekend in Brindisi!

18 October 2024

This weekend, Brindisi will host the highly anticipated inaugural event of the new "Fencing for Everyone" circuit. Created to provide additional opportunities for young athletes following the changes to the FIE calendar, this innovative circuit is open to Cadets, Juniors, and U23 fencers. With four events scheduled in each weapon over the course of the season, "Fencing for Everyone" aims to offer a stage for young talents to showcase their skills, gain experience, and compete at a high level.

What is "Fencing for Everyone"?

"Fencing for Everyone" is an exciting new initiative created by the European Fencing Confederation (EFC) to provide more opportunities for young fencers across Europe and beyond. This project addresses the gap left by recent changes to the FIE calendar, ensuring that athletes from Cadet to U23 levels have additional chances to compete and develop their skills on the international stage.

The circuit includes four individual tournaments and four team tournaments for each weapon and gender, offering a broad platform for competition. The events are open to fencers from EFC-affiliated countries, as well as athletes from other continents registered with the FIE. Participants must be between the ages of 13 and 23, and each nation can register up to 24 fencers per event. This initiative not only supports individual growth but also fosters collaboration through team competitions, where countries can register one team, ensuring that younger athletes are included in the lineup.

A key feature of "Fencing for Everyone" is its emphasis on inclusivity, making it accessible to a wide range of fencers, regardless of age category, by offering tailored competitions for both U-20 and U-23 fencers. The results from these tournaments contribute to the EFC European Cup rankings, with the top athletes and teams in both age categories being awarded prestigious titles at the end of the season.

This innovative project also includes substantial rewards for the top fencers. Winners of the U-20 European Cup will receive a cup, certificate, and a prize of €3,000, while U-23 winners will be awarded €2,000, along with similar honors. The best three results from "Fencing for Everyone" tournaments, along with two results from FIE Junior World Cups held in Europe, will determine the final rankings.