Rene Roch is being challenged by Alisher Usmanov

[JEC]

In the December 5th, 2004 Elections, Rene Roch is being challenged by Alisher Usmanov for the presidency of the FIE.


http://www.fie.ch/download/letters/2...022-04-ANG.pdf

http://www.fie.ch/download/letters/2.../fr/CANDID.pdf

[The Armourer]

.... sorry Rene Roch does not necessarily have a job for life there does he? I think there are many people that should present themselves but, hey - thats democracy isnt it?

[Barry Paul]

You can find the Russians manifesto on this fencing forum thread link.http://fencingforum.com/forum/showth...&threadid=3433

[telkanuru]

In Soviet Russia, fax machine send YOU!

[Pelle]

In Soviet Russia, fax machine send YOU!

hahahahaha

and my response? "in soviet russia car drives you!"

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

I think they should fence for it. The winner of the bout gets the presidency. It should be epee, so there is no discrimination.

[edew]

Sounds like a case of ABR, Anyone but Roch.

[JackSparrow]

I think they should fence for it. The winner of the bout gets the presidency. It should be epee, so there is no discrimination.

Roch would probably change the rules half way through the match.

[JackSparrow]

Then again Usmanov might try to bribe the ref. Hmmm ... anything else libelous I can think of to say

[Inquartata]

No, he'd probably throw him into jail and confiscate his holdings, then conduct a suppression of the Chechen fencers. If there are any Chechen fencers.

[JackSparrow]

Well I'm no fan of Roch, but that seems a little harsh.

[ThatReallyHurt]

What exactly has Rene Roch done that makes a lot of people dislike him? Anything really damaging to the sport, like scandals or swiping money, or does it come down to the new rules, equipment requirements, and timings?

Although a scandal may not be a bad thing - fencing needs some more publicity, and as they say (whomever "they" are), any publicity is good publicity...

[edew]

I think all foilists agree that the new timing rules have done nothing to help the sport. I think the saber fencers also agree that the new timing rules, the clear visor mask rule and the reelless system requirements are hacks and really do nothing to promote the sport.

I think many fencers feel that Roch didn't do enough to push for a complete 6 event format for the Olympics with WST and WFT omitted for no particularly good reason.

It's his rather imperial processes in conducting business that also irks many people. Local organizers have to treat him like a god or he gets pissed off and won't work with you.

[fencerontheline]

Eric- I disagree with your last post. The new foil timings make it a much more cerebral game, making foil more about distance and timing than it ever was before. I'd like to still be able to flick, but the rules have changed, I've adjusted as have many fencers, and all in all- the tactical game has been given increased importance.

The lexan and the reelless system are at the very least, things that make the sport more interesting, and innovations like that cause people to ask questions about the sport. It incites curiousity- and that's exactly what we need- to develop an interest in the sport.

That being said- I agree with you about the events at olympics. There was much more that he could have done, and much more that he should have done.

btw- Roch still does act like an imperial ***, and he expects to be treated like a god wherever he goes- so I'm all for a regime change.

~mjd

[cowpaste]

Eh, I really don't think anyone is going to start fencing just because of lexan masks are reelless systems. This are just gimmicks...unsafe gimmicks in the case of the masks.

[MikeHarm]

I'm not an A foilist, but I am a foilist who likes the new timings.

[mrbiggs]

I think all foilists agree that the new timing rules have done nothing to help the sport.

I like the new timings. I think that a) the new timings are now being blamed for EVERY MISS a fencer makes and b) the complainers are louder than the ones who like it. I think that many foilists do hate the new timings. But many also don't.

[Gav]

There has been a further update on Usmanof's intentions on the UK forum. Read the letter.

[LUDICROUS]

If he does become head FIE honcho (the russian), we'll all have shady russian types called Vladimir or Ivan arguing with our local fencing club bosses about how HE (usmanov) wants the money spent... And "masks off salute shake hands" will become "masks off salute shake hands, chugg back a shot and dance the balailaika"

[Dalton]

That does not sound bad to me...