The International Fencing Federation (FIE) conducted a two-day site visit in Los Angeles on 27–28 January 2025, marking an important step in preparations for the delivery of fencing at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028.
The FIE delegation was led by Secretary General Gulnara Saidova, together with Vice President Donald K. Anthony, Jr., Executive Committee Member Arno Schneider, Sport and Event Manager Jennifer Yamin, and USA Fencing CEO Phil Andrews. The group was welcomed by a cross-functional team from the LA2028 Organising Committee, led by Jack Smith and Jim Gregory, with representatives from venue development, sport operations, accommodation, transportation, medical services, results, ticketing, communications, logistics, and hospitality.
Discussions on the first day focused on accommodation planning for International Federations and International Technical Officials, followed by an in-depth review of the proposed fencing venue at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Particular attention was given to the field of play, functional spaces, and fencing-specific operational requirements, ensuring that the venue design meets international standards and the demands of elite competition. Meetings also addressed competition scheduling, training facilities, hospitality concepts, transport planning, sport equipment requirements, and the overall Sport Delivery Plan.
The second day included visits to several hotels under consideration for accommodating International Technical Officials, National Technical Officials, and the FIE delegation. Further working sessions explored key operational areas such as workforce planning, testing and readiness, ticketing strategy, logistics and arrivals, medical services, and results systems. These discussions enabled the FIE to provide technical input and ensure continued alignment with Olympic best practices.
The visit concluded with a “Next Steps” session, confirming areas of strong alignment, identifying follow-up actions, and reinforcing timelines for the next phases of preparation. Overall, the meetings were highly successful and confirmed a strong and constructive collaboration between the FIE and the LA2028 Organising Committee.
As part of the outcomes of the visit, the FIE confirmed its intention to work closely with the LA2028 Organising Committee and USA Fencing on promotion and visibility activities for fencing on the road to the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028. This cooperation will support the global promotion of fencing and contribute to the successful delivery of the sport in 2028.
Overall, the site visit strengthened collaboration between the FIE and LA2028, validated key planning concepts, and established a clear framework for advancing fencing’s operational readiness on the road to Los Angeles 2028.