Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

oiuyt · 04-01-2005, 11:52 AM

IOC report and discussion area available at:
http://www.olympic.org/question-intro.aspx?LN=EN

The Director’s Chair by Michael Massik: Save Fencing in the Olympics
4/1/2005
Michael Massik /US Fencing Executive Director

Today, the international fencing community received some very bad news. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) released the findings of its Program Commission, which made recommendations about possible changes to the program of the Olympic Games.

Among the suggestions were the complete elimination of sports, and the elimination of specific events or disciplines of existing Olympic sports. Two sports, golf and rugby, were suggested to be added. These suggestions, if accepted, would be made at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

One of the sports targeted for the loss of a discipline was fencing. The IOC did not propose eliminating the sport completely. It suggested eliminating one of the two format, either individual or team fencing.

The exact text of the commission report follows:

“The low public and media comprehension of the differences between the two fencing disciplines currently in the Olympic Programme were noted by the Commission, which has resulted in relatively low broadcast and press coverage. In comparison to this lack of global popularity, the Commission noted the high athlete quota and the number of events in the sport of fencling. The Commission therefore recommends the exclusion of one of the fencing disciplines from the Programme of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad.”

As you might expect, the fencing community worldwide has reacted with anger and dismay to this suggestion. The fencing community has banded together and is using all of its resources and abilities to prevent this from happening.

You will read in this issue of American Fencing that the FIE, the international fencing federation, reelected a president, Rene Roche of France. US Fencing has a working relationship with Mr. Roche and has offered its assistance and support in the effort to save both fencing styles. This project will be the most important task that faces Roche in his current term in office.

The decision to eliminate a discipline or event will not be made by the entire IOC. In fact, a small group of people, the 15-member Executive Board, will make the decision on the fencing styles.

The members of the IOC Executive Board are: President Jacques Rogge (Belgium), Vice President Thomas Bach (Germany), Vice President James. L. Easton (United States), Vice President Richard Kevan Gosper (Australia), Vice President Vitaly Smirnov (Russian Federation), Sergey Bubka (Ukraine), Franco Carraro (Italy), Ottavio Cinquanta (Italy), Zhenliang He (People's Republic of China), Toni Khoury (Lebanon), Gunilla Lindberg (Sweden), Lambis W. Nikolaou (Greece), Denis Oswald (Switzerland), Tomas “Tommy” Amos Ganda Sithole (Zimbabwe), Mario Vázquez Raña (Mexico).

A strategy has been developed by the FIE in its fight to retain both fencing styles:

1) Personally lobby each IOC Executive Committee member.
2) Personal communication and meeting with IOC President Rogge.
3) Refute the findings of the university-commission report used by the Olympic Programme Committee.
4) Develop strategy with IOC Vice President Vitaly Smirnov of Russia during the World Fencing Championships.

At the FIE Congress in Linz during the Fencing World Championships, Mr. Smirnov pledged his complete support in retaining both fencing styles.

The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) asked for our evaluation of what the loss of one style would mean to fencing. Our response was this: “It would decimate a large portion of fencing activity in the world, as well as damage the fencing activity in the United States. The elimination of one style would reduce fencing to its lowest number of medal events at the Olympic Games in a decade and reduce the sport’s influence everywhere. If individual is selected for elimination, it would hurt the U.S. Olympic team performance as U.S. individuals have won a tremendous number of medals for our nation. In team, U.S. Fencing performance has improved and has become a consistent medal contender. Without an Olympic competition in either style, US Fencing would not be able to provide programs in that style at all levels. The world’s oldest swords sport, and one of the few sports that has been in every modern Olympic Games, is being threatened. This recommendation would destroy fencing, in spite of its popularity in almost every nation.”

As a first step, US Fencing received support from USOC President Marty Mankamyer to retain both styles of fencing in the Olympic Games. A story on the USOC support for fencing appears in this issue of the newspaper. That announcement has been sent to media across the nation and the world, as well as to key international sports leaders.

On our webpage, USFencing.org, we are now asking all fencing people to urge the IOC to retain both fencing styles. The IOC has provided an area on its web page for public comment. We are asking everyone in the US Fencing family to get on the computer, go to the IOC opinion area, and tell the IOC to keep both fencing styles. The URL for the IOC page is:
http://www.suggestions.olympic.org/q...tro.aspx?LN=EN

You may also send a letter by mail to: IOC Executive Board, Château de Vidy, 1007 Lausanne, Switzerland and by FAX to: 011-41-21-621-6216.

US Fencing will be making its voice heard on this issue. If you do one thing for fencing this year, please contact the IOC and ask them to keep both fencing styles in the Olympic Games.

Alan · 04-01-2005, 11:58 AM

Well at least it is good news for Foilepee because it is not fencing
and even too boring to be considered as a sport

esskreemr · 04-01-2005, 11:58 AM

But to be expected.

Interesting that with the growing complaints about the enormous difficulties that are shouldered by the host countries to build Olympic facilities they would add the need to build a golf course...gotta love the politics of sport...

Gav · 04-01-2005, 12:09 PM

Nice one! It' s the April 1st after all.

Boo Boo · 04-01-2005, 12:09 PM

And there was me wondering which two team events would not be held this coming Olympics (i.e. WF and WS were absent in the last Olympics...)...

Am I the only one who finds it unacceptable that it is not clear which sports/events are not going to be in the next Olympics (just over 3 years time) yet? Surely how can countries/federations direct funding effectively if they don't know what is going on? How can athletes set their own longerterm goals?

Boo

esskreemr · 04-01-2005, 12:15 PM

Hey! Who reads those links anyways...

fixxmyweapon · 04-01-2005, 12:15 PM

ahahahaa. this is one of my favourite days of the year.

Peach · 04-01-2005, 12:21 PM

I can't tell you how many times I have clicked on that first link just to make SURE . . .

keith · 04-01-2005, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peach

I can't tell you how many times I have clicked on that first link just to make SURE . . .

well you would expect them to have noticed that there are three not two fencing disciplines.

esskreemr · 04-01-2005, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keith

well you would expect them to have noticed that there are three not two fencing disciplines.

It mentioned styles. They "styles" implied were team and individual. That did raise a red flag mentally, but it wasn't enough for me to pursue it.

sabreur · 04-01-2005, 12:40 PM

Evil, evil, evil Brad....

Schiavona · 04-01-2005, 12:49 PM

Where's that negative rep when you need it?

Monkeyboy · 04-01-2005, 02:03 PM

Oops got me too. But then again I'm easy; ask my wife...or ANY of my girlfriends....

mrbiggs · 04-01-2005, 03:50 PM

This is a joke? Forget what I said about your maturity! I hate you!

Mauler · 04-01-2005, 10:12 PM

Good one. It did hit too close to home, though.....

Interestingly enough, New York's "mini-Olympics" dealt with the very same issue with fencing years ago which resulted in fencing events being removed from the Empire State Games COMPLETELY.

The ESG format for fencing in the yesteryears was divided into Scholastic, Open and Masters division, based on age (loosely compatible to USFA's Junior, Senior and Veteran). The events were further divided into three disciplines and gender. Scholastic division, however, only honored Foil. Six geographically divided regions, and each with three regional representatives in each event. Every qualified athlete is transported, housed, and fed by the state during the Games to promote an "Olympic Village-like experience." Their "team uniforms," medals as well as competition costs are covered by the Games as well.

The Games are funded largely by the private donations as well as by NYS agencies, including Office of Parks and Recreation and New York Lottery. Those assigned with the task of keeping an eye on the related costs started making a decision to reduce/cut the participation of fencing. They started out by reducing the number of entrants, and eventually removing fencing altogether.

"Lack of popularity of the sport," as evidenced by such a "low participation" in the regional try-outs was credited as being the primary reasoning that was used to cut fencing. Some regions couldn't even fill the existing qualifier slots in certain events (i.e. from a region that had zero population in Sabre). It was also discovered that even the participants themselves don't stick around until the end of the event! (i.e. eliminated fencers)

It took a lot of footwork (pun) and dedication of key individuals across the North Atlantic Section to bring fencing back to the Empire State Games. But they had to bring about some drastic changes to convince the powers-that-be to even consider bringing fencing back.

The final solution that was accepted by the bean counters was that the format of fencing events will be combined 3-weapon team only. Individual events were dropped completely in order to limit the number of medals (costly, after all), and at the same time allow equal participation of both sexes in all disciplines. The notion of "elitist sport" shifting from "snobby individualistic attitude" to more team-like atmosphere was appealing to politically inclined as well. Every participant is actively engaged in the event throughout the duration of entire event, from beginning to the end. Their "match" times and opponents are announced weeks prior to the Games.

After a couple (?) of years of hiatus, fencing was brought back into the Games. For the first time in ESG history, women and Scholastic fencers were able to compete in Epee and Sabre. The "experiment" in format of fencing turned out to be a great success. But at the same time, at a loss as well. Fencing will no longer be competed as an individual event in the Empire State Games. With that change, fencing has lost a certain flavor.

Considering my familiarity (I'm this year's ESG Chief Referee) with "what could/did happen to fencing" in the hands of non-fencers, when I read Brad's April Fool's article my first thoughts were along the lines of, "Aaaawwwwwwwwwww, ssssshhhhhh*****tttteeee!!!!!"