LAUSANNE, Switz., March 22, 2024 – The FIE is saddened to learn of the passing of Mourad Klioua (ALG) on March 1, 2024. A Category B FIE referee in three weapons, he officiated at numerous international competitions.
Klioua was a former member of the Executive Board of the Algerian Fencing Federation and for several years served as Chairman of the Algerian Federation Referees’ Commission. Over the decades, he trained numerous referees to officiate nationally and internationally.
He was born in 1944 and was known affectionately to his friends and family as “Uncle Mourad”. An excellent fencer as well as coach and trainer, he began his fencing career with the Gendarmerie Nationale in 1967. He was Algerian fencing champion several times, and also was the Arab sabre champion and fenced on the Algerian national team. He later went on to coach sabre for his club and then for the Algerian national team.
An announcement from the Algerian Fencing Federation stated “Mr. Mourad Klioua will leave a great void in the Algerian fencing family”.
The FIE extends its sincere condolences for their loss to Mourad Klioua’s family and friends, the Algerian Fencing Federation and the African Fencing Confederation, and expresses its deepest sympathy during this difficult time.