Twelve national-level coaches have worked their way through dozens of schools and sports communities all over Rio de Janeiro teaching kids the basics of fencing with equipment provided by the FIE.

“The aim of the FIE Fencing School programme is to promote our sport on a continent that’s not traditionally associated with fencing,” said Arno Perillier Schneider, the head of fencing at the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee.

The programme started in March and ran until the Olympic fencing test event on April 22-27. On its mission to further popularise one of the original five Olympic disciplines, the FIE Fencing School programme visited a variety of neighbourhoods, from some of the more affluent barrios to Brazil’s biggest favela, Rocinha.

“Getting into the schools is where we can really make a difference and help create a tangible legacy for the Games,” added Mirani Fernandes, fencing services manager at Rio 2016.

Several 40-minute fencing clinics were held at every school for children aged 5 to 15. T-shirts