LAUSANNE, Switz., Dec. 3, 2018—The third year of the FIE program “Donate Your Fencing Gear!” is underway. National fencing federations are strongly encouraged to submit solidarity and development projects for 2019, so fencers may benefit and receive support for the year.
The designated ambassadors Donate Your Fencing Gear! for this third edition include Olga Kharlan (UKR) and Benjamin Kleibrink (GER), members of the FIE Athletes Commission, joined by Anne Sauer (GER), supporter of the program since its beginning.
In the two years since its inception, 180 fencers, five manufacturers and eight fencing clubs donated almost 2000 items, collected during five events:
- Leipzig Senior Fencing World Championships (2017)
- Lausanne during World Fencing Day (2017)
- Tokyo during the Prince Takamado Foil World Cup (2017)
- Verona Junior and Cadet Fencing World Championships (2018)
- Wuxi Senior Fencing World Championships (2018)
To date, 14 countries have benefitted directly from the program: Colombia, Brazil, Rwanda, Senegal, Kyrgyzstan, Honduras, Samoa, American Samoa, Ecuador, Mexico, Benin, Paraguay, Philippines and Morocco.
Notably, the FIE Donate Your Fencing Gear! project was the subject of a case study conducted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Department for Corporate Development, Brand and Sustainability, which was presented during its International Federations Forum 2017.
A crucial role in the program is played by the members of the Commission for Electronic Signalling, Material and Installations, who are responsible to ensure the donated equipment is safe to use. Janet Huggins (GBR), Atsushi Harinishi (JPN), Gamil Elzeftawi (EGY) and Gudjon Ingi Gestsson (ISL) are the delegates who have devoted their attention to examine and certify the security of all the collected materials.
The application process for the year 2019 will be closed in January, and the country/federation beneficiaries for this third-annual round of donation distributions will be announced.