LAUSANNE, Switz., Nov. 30, 2019—After exactly 20 years, the Annual Congress of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) returned to the Olympic capital, with more than 300 delegates gathered in Lausanne, at the SwissTech Convention Center.
The President of the International Fencing Federation, Mr. Alisher Usmanov, welcomed, at the opening of the Congress, Mr. Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who addressed the Congress and handed-over to Mr. Usmanov the IOC Trophy of Olympic Values.
Mr. Bach greeted the members of the Executive Committee and delegates warmly, saying: “I am happy for the many achievements of fencing and how fencing is living the Olympic Values.” Mr. Bach went on to encourage delegates to “be a part of the change you want to see.”
Awards
Challenge Chevalier Feyerick
Every second (odd-numbered) year, the Challenge Chevalier Feyerick is awarded to an individual fencer team or group of fencers, or member federation that, during the last two years, has shown the most chivalrous and unselfish attitude and spirit of sportsmanship and Fair Play, serving as an example to others in the future.
The Congress presented the 2019 Challenge Chevalier Feyerick to Mr. Thomas Bach.
Fair Play Trophy
Based on the proposal of the FIE Fair Play Council, the FIE Executive Committee awards the Fair Play trophy to one or several individuals in world fencing who exhibited a significant act of fair play during the year. For 2019, the award was given to the following fencers:
- the Hungarian Men’s sabre team: Tamás Decsi, Csanád Gémesi, András Szatmári, Áron Szilágyi;
and
- Boladé Apithy (FRA)
Ranking winners
Each team and individual winner of the year’s top-level world junior and senior rankings in epee, foil and sabre as well as overall nations are awarded at the Congress. This year’s recipients of awards include the following:
• Epee
o Senior Team: Russia (women), Russia (men)
o Senior Individual: Man Wai Vivian Kong(HKG), Kazuyasu Minobe (JPN)
o Junior Team: Russia (women), Hungary (men)
o Junior Individual: Federica Isola (ITA), Davide Di Veroli (ITA)
• Foil
o Senior Team: Russia (women), USA (men)
o Senior Individual: Inna Deriglazova (RUS), Alessio Foconi (ITA)
o Junior Team: Italy (women), Russia (men)
o Junior Individual: Martina Favaretto (ITA), Mohamed Hamza (EGY)
• Sabre
o Senior Team: France (women), Korea (men)
o Senior Individual: Olga Kharlan (UKR), Sanguk Oh (KOR)
o Junior Team: Germany (women), Italy (men)
o Junior Individual: Yoana Ilieva (BUL), Lorenzo Roma (ITA)
• Nations Grand Prix
o Seniors: Russia
o Juniors: Italy
New Member Federations
The Congress approved the final affiliation of the following countries:
- Cape Verde
- Kenya
- Oman
- Papua New Guinea
The number of members federations is now 157 worldwide.
World Championships Hosts
The Congress awarded to Egypt the organisation of the 2021 Senior Fencing World Championships. For the year 2022, a call for candidatures for all the championships was launched.
Furthermore, the Congress approved the report of the Executive Committee, the financial documents and the budget for the year 2020, an increase to 30 percent of the representation of women in the FIE Commissions beginning with the 2020-2024 quadrennium, and the possibility for World and Olympic Champions to distinguish themselves by having their names printed on the backs of their fencing jackets, respectively, in red and gold.
After the closing of the event, the International Fencing Family gathered for the Congress Dinner for delegates and guests including IOC President Thomas Bach at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne.
View more photos from the #FIECongress here.