BUDAPEST, Hungary, October 15, 2025 – Members of the FIE Bureau met in Budapest with key Hungarian sports authorities to discuss the opening of an International Academy and the establishment of programmes dedicated to sports-related education for federations and confederations and athlete career support, benefitting fencing athletes, coaches and officials worldwide.
The FIE Bureau met with several Hungarian dignitaries, including Mr. Ádám Schmidt Dr., Hungarian Secretary of State for Sports; Mr. Zsolt Gyulai, President of the Hungarian National Olympic Committee; and Mr. Tamás Sterbencz Prof. Dr., Rector of the University of Physical Education. Attendees from the FIE Bureau included Mr. Abdelmoneim El Husseiny, FIE Interim President; Ms. Gulnora Saidova, FIE Secretary-General; Mr. Ferial Salhi, FIE Secretary-Treasurer; and Ms. Nathalie Rodriguez, FIE CEO.
Another meeting was held with members of the Hungarian Fencing Federation, including Mr. Zsolt Csampa, President and Ms. Henriette Tamas, Secretary-General and FIE Vice-President, where agreements were signed concerning three FIE fencing events to be held in Hungary, and an agreement was signed to act on behalf of the FIE in matters related to the FIE Academy within the scope of Hungarian state administration and national sports governance.
An FIE Technical Office was officially opened, which will be the starting point of the FIE International Academy.
The FIE International Academy enables the formation and recognition of diploma programmes for FIE coaches and formal training for its referees, as well as training in essential areas such as safeguarding, sports management and FIE event organisation. Most importantly, the Academy and its programmes are tailored to develop FIE athlete careers and provide its fencers with robust, comprehensive support in all areas of sport in both competitive and vocational pursuits.
The meetings and announcement of the new FIE Technical Office, as part of launching the FIE International Academy, directly relate to achieving key goals in the 2025-2028 FIE Strategic Plan, in particular Education and Harmonisation. The Plan strives to achieve by 2028 fencing being recognised as a benchmark of institutional excellence, competitive fairness and global fan engagement. The Academy reinforces this overall goal with educational initiatives designed to increase athlete engagement and their personal development, along with in-depth curricula and programmes to support and develop coaches, referees, athletes and other fencing stakeholders globally, in turn growing participation in fencing. In addition, the Academy addresses several additional FIE strategic goals, including increasing certified referees and coaches by 25% by 2027 as well as building global leadership among athletes, coaches and officials.
By modernising and developing its institutional structure, of which the FIE International Academy is an essential part, the FIE is fulfilling its strategic goals in governance, education and development as well as promotion of Olympic values and organisational excellence. This, in turn, benefits all stakeholders in fencing and builds the integrity, popularity and image of the sport at all levels.
