Let the Games Begin

Dear friends,

For all of us – the fencers, the fans, and everyone connected to our sport – the end of the pre-Olympic season is upon us.

Ahead lies its culmination – the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Nine exciting days of top-class fencing action. More than 200 fencers from all over the world will do battle on the pistes of the Carioca Arena 3 for the most prestigious title in world sport – Olympic champion.

Over the course of the season we have witnessed some incredible action in Fencing Grand Prix Series, the World and Zonal Championships, and now we prepare for some even more uncompromising duels in Rio de Janeiro.

It is with great impatience that we await the start of the Olympic Games, which will act as a springboard to lift our sport to even greater heights in the years to come.

I wish ever success to all of the participants.

May the best fencers win!

Alisher Usmanov

FIE President