International Fencing Federation

{{Short description|International fencing governing body}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}} {{recentism|date=October 2023}} {{redirect|FIE|other uses|Fie (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox Sports league | title = Fédération Internationale d'Escrime | logo = International Fencing Federation logo.svg | pixels = 300px | sport = Fencing | founded = {{Start date and years ago|df=y|1913|11|29}} in Paris, France | president = {{flagicon|Egypt}} Abdel Monem El-Husseiny (interim)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fie.org/fie/structure/executive-committee |title=About FIE: Executive Committee |website=FIE: International Fencing Federation |access-date=4 August 2023}}</ref> | fame = | motto = | headquarters = {{flagicon|Switzerland}} Lausanne, Switzerland | countries = 155<ref>{{cite web |title=About FIE |url=https://fie.org/fie/structure |website=FIE: International Fencing Federation |access-date=4 August 2023}}</ref> | website = {{URL|https://fie.org/|FIE.org}} | TV = }}

The '''International Fencing Federation''' (''Fédération Internationale d'Escrime'') commonly known by the acronym '''FIE''', is the international governing body of Olympic fencing. Today, its head office is at the Maison du Sport International in Lausanne, Switzerland. The FIE is composed of 155 national federations, each of which is recognized by its country's Olympic Committee as the sole representative of Olympic-style fencing in that country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fie.org/fie/structure|title=INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION |website=www.fie.org}}</ref>

==History== [[File:Allegory of fencer - Václav Cesak - Lausanne.jpg|left|thumb|''Allegory of fencing'' by Václav Česák, presented to the Olympic Museum by the International Fencing Federation in celebration of its centenary]] The International Fencing Federation (''Fédération Internationale d'Escrime'') is the heir of the {{lang|fr|Société d'encouragement de l'escrime}} founded in France in 1882, which took part in the global movement of structuring sport.<ref>{{harvnb|Ottogalli|Six|Terret|2014|p=13}}</ref> The first international fencing congress was held in Brussels, Belgium in 1897 at the instigation of the {{lang|fr|Fédération belge des cercles d'escrime}}, followed by another one in Paris in 1900.<ref>{{harvnb|Ottogalli|Six|Terret|2014|p=15}}</ref> On this occasion the {{lang|fr|Société}} organised one of the first international fencing events; French, Italian, Spanish, and Belgian fencers attended the competition.<ref>{{harvnb|Ottogalli|Six|Terret|2014|p=14}}</ref> Dissensions rapidly arose between épéeists and foilists, which held the majority at the {{lang|fr|Société}}. The third congress held in Brussels in 1905 voted the creation of an international fencing committee whose mission would be of fostering friendship amongst all fencers, establishing national rules, and supporting the organization of fencing competitions.<ref>{{harvnb|Ottogalli|Six|Terret|2014|p=17}}</ref> The third congress also adopted the French rules as the basis for upcoming international competitions. New tensions appeared, this time between France and Italy, about the regulatory weapon grip. They led to the boycott by France of the fencing events of the 1912 Olympic Games.<ref>{{harvnb|Ottogalli|Six|Terret|2014|p=18}}</ref>

A new international congress was called together in Ghent, Belgium, in July 1913. The main matter was the adoption of international regulations for each of the three weapons. The French rules were adopted in épée and foil; the Hungarian rules were chosen for sabre.<ref>{{harvnb|Ottogalli|Six|Terret|2014|p=19}}</ref> Frenchman René Lacroix also campaigned for the creation of an international fencing federation.{{fact|date=July 2023}}

[[File:Maison du Sport International - Lausanne.jpg|thumb|Headquarters of the FIE at the Maison du Sport International in Lausanne]] The International Fencing Federation (''Fédération Internationale d'Escrime'') was founded on 29 November 1913, in the conference rooms of the Automobile Club de France in Paris.<ref>{{harvnb|Ottogalli|Six|Terret|2014|p=20}}</ref> The nine founding nations were Belgium, Bohemia (now the Czech Republic), France, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, and Norway. Albert Feyerick, president of the Federation of fencing clubs of Belgium, was elected as the first president. The FIE held its first congress on 23 June 1914, and accepted the adhesion of seven new countries: Austria, Denmark, Monaco, Romania, Russia, Switzerland, and the United States.<ref>{{harvnb|Ottogalli|Six|Terret|2014|p=38}}</ref>

===Presidency of Alisher Usmanov=== [[File:Vladimir Putin at award ceremonies (2018-11-27) 15.jpg|thumb|290px|FIE president Alisher Usmanov with Vladimir Putin.]] Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov was elected president of the FIE in 2008 with 66 votes to 61 for incumbent president René Roch.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usafencing.org/news_article/show/204966-usmanov-elected-fie-president|title=Usmanov Elected FIE President|first=Craig|last=Harkins|date=6 December 2008|website=USA Fencing}}</ref> He was re-elected in 2012 and 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-08/billionaire-usmanov-re-elected-head-of-world-fencing-federation.html|title=Billionaire Usmanov Re-Elected Head of World Fencing Federation|author=Yuliya Fedorinova|work=Bloomberg|date=8 December 2012|access-date=5 March 2017|archive-date=2 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202184752/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-08/billionaire-usmanov-re-elected-head-of-world-fencing-federation.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=29 November 2016|title=Alisher Usmanov re-elected by FIE|url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/movers-and-shakers/alisher_usmanov_re_elected_by_fie/|access-date=27 November 2021|website=SportsPro|language=en-GB|author= George Dudley}}</ref> In 2021, Usmanov was re-elected by acclamation to a fourth term, for which he was congratulated by Vladimir Putin.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alisher Usmanov Re-Elected by Acclamation as FIE President at 2021 Elective Congress in Lausanne|url=http://fie.org/articles/1139|access-date=27 November 2021|website= FIE}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://tass.com/sport/1367311 | title=Putin congratulates Usmanov on reelection as president of International Fencing Federation |work=Tass}}</ref>

On 28 February 2022, in reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Union blacklisted Usmanov, imposing an EU-wide travel ban on him and freezing all of his assets. The EU stated: "He has been referred to as one of Vladimir Putin's favourite oligarchs."<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|title='Unfair': One of Putin's favourite Russian billionaires is absolutely filthy|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/sports-life/unfair-one-of-putins-favourite-russian-billionaires-issues-big-whinge/news-story/2d12cf5ce100ee327e95a26d55f73d45|website=news.com.au|access-date=16 March 2022}}</ref> Following the imposition of the sanctions on him, Usmanov announced on 1 March 2022, in an accusatory letter, that he was stepping down as FIE President.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1119924/usmanov-stands-aside-fie-president|title=Oligarch Usmanov stands aside as FIE President in wake of EU sanctions|date=March 1, 2022|website=Inside the Games|author=Patrick Burke}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://fie.org/articles/1157 |title= Statement by Alisher Usmanov |publisher=FIE |date= |access-date=2022-03-16}}</ref> On 30 November 2024, he was re-elected to the office for another term.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Russia's Alisher Usmanov elected president of International Fencing Federation |url=https://tass.com/sports/1880139 |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=TASS}}</ref>

===Impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine=== {{further|International sporting sanctions during the Russian invasion of Ukraine}}In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022, the FIE agreed with the European Fencing Confederation (EFC) to ban Russian and Belarusian fencers, and reallocated competitions that were due to be held in Russia and Belarus.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1121653/pozdnyakov-faces-efc-no-confidence-vote|title=EFC Executive Committee passes no-confidence vote in President Pozdnyakov|date=April 9, 2022|website=Inside the Games|author=Geoff Berkeley}}</ref>

On 10 March 2023, the FIE became the first Olympic governing body to officially reinstate Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials, in time for the start of the qualification for the 2024 Summer Olympics.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1134597/fie-russia-decision-return|title=FIE approves return of Russian and Belarusian fencers in time for start of Paris 2024 qualifying|author=Patrick Burke|website=Inside the Games|date=10 March 2023}}</ref> Protesting this decision, Denmark,<ref>{{cite web |title=Denmark cancels event over Russian, Belarusian participation |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/denmark-cancels-event-over-russian-belarusian-participation-2023-03-30/|publisher=Reuters |date=30 March 2023}}</ref> France,<ref>{{cite web |title=Fencing World Cup in France cancelled after governing body readmits Russians |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/fencing/fencing-world-cup-cancelled-1.6797853 |date=31 March 2023|work=CBC.ca}}</ref> Germany,<ref>{{cite web |title=Germany cancels World Cup event after Russia, Belarus readmitted |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/17/sport/fencing-world-cup-canceled-russia-belarus-spt-intl/index.html |date=17 March 2023}}</ref> and Poland<ref>{{cite web |title=Fencing in turmoil after irked Poles cancel World Cup event|work=Gulf Times |url=https://www.gulf-times.com/article/658857/sports/fencing-in-turmoil-after-irked-poles-cancel-world-cup-event |date=5 April 2023}}</ref> cancelled upcoming World Cup fencing events to prevent Russians and Belarusians from participating.

In April 2023, it was revealed that the European Fencing Confederation had sent a critical letter to the FIE, outlining their opposition to the FIE's plans to strip the countries that had indicated they would not grant visas to Russians and Belarusians from hosting rights, and impose sanctions on them.<ref>[https://twitter.com/jensweinreich/status/1644987677626847232?s=46&t=jtNjdZ6HsfB6xfJ3b_ZTMA "This is the remarkable Easter message from the European Fencing Federation and its president Giorgio Scarso to the world federation @FIE_fencing under Russian thumb..."], Twitter.</ref> In addition, the EFC approved in congress in June 2023 that no Russian or Belarusian coach or athlete may compete in an EFC competition, and that Russia and Belarus are suspended as members.<ref>{{cite web |title=EFC COMEX MEETING AND CONGRESS 2023|work=EuroFencing |url=https://www.eurofencing.info/news/efc-comex-meeting-and-congress-2023-n488546.htm |date=24 June 2023}}</ref> Over 200 fencers also signed an open letter in which they objected to the FIE's decision to allow the return of Russian and Belarusian fencers as neutrals.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1137905/russian-fencers-in-plovdiv|title=Russian fencer loses chance to compete at European Championships after liking posts supporting war in Ukraine|author=Philip Barker|website=Inside the Games|date=14 June 2023}}</ref> In May 2023, the FIE decided to strip individual events at the 2023 European Games in Kraków-Małopolska of their Olympic qualifier status because the Polish organizers banned Russians from participating at the Games, and therefore they organized instead a separate European Championships in Plovdiv for individual events only where Russians were allowed to compete.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1137169/fencing-individual-events-european-games|title=FIE strips individual European Games events of Olympic qualifying status|author=Patrick Burke|website=Inside the Games|date=20 May 2023}}</ref> The Nordic Fencing Union heavily criticized these decisions by the FIE.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1137640/fie-urged-reverse-european-games-cal|title=Exclusive: Nordic nations urge FIE to reverse Olympic qualifying decision for European Games|author=Geoff Berkeley|website=Inside the Games|date=5 June 2023}}</ref>

In December 2025, FIE has decided to allow Russian junior athletes to participate in international competitions in the respective categories under their national flag and with the national anthem.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-12-29 |title=FIE утвердила допуск российских юниоров на турниры с флагом и гимном |url=https://www.vedomosti.ru/sport/others/news/2025/12/29/1167207-dopusk-rossiiskih-yuniorov |access-date=2026-04-04 |website=«Ведомости. Спорт» |language=ru}}</ref>

===Disqualification of Ukrainian world champion, and subsequent reversal=== [[File:Olha Kharlan - 2016-10-05 - 4.jpg|left|thumb|180px|Ukrainian four-time world sabre champion Olga Kharlan]] In July 2023, Ukrainian four-time individual world sabre champion Olga Kharlan was disqualified by the FIE at the World Fencing Championships.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/fencing/66322668|title=World Fencing Championships: Ukraine's Olga Kharlan disqualified for refusing Russian Anna Smirnov's handshake|publisher=BBC Sport|date=27 July 2023}}</ref> Kharlan defeated Russian Anna Smirnova 15–7. At the time, and since 1 July 2020 (and reconfirmed by FIE public notice in September 2020 and in January 2021), by public written notice the FIE had replaced its previous handshake requirement with a "salute" by the opposing fencers, and written in its public notice that handshakes were "suspended until further notice."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usafencing.org/news_article/show/1093278-handshaking-rule-suspended-at-usa-fencing-events|title=Handshaking Rule Suspended at USA Fencing Events|first=Nicole|last=Jomantas|date=6 March 2020|website=USA Fencing}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fencing.org.nz/news/162-covid-19-update-oceania-u20s-and-handshaking-rule|title= Oceania U20s and Handshaking Rule |publisher=Fencing New Zealand|first=Amanda|last=Hopkins|date=12 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishfencing.com/handshaking-rule-temporarily-suspended/|title=Handshaking Rule Temporarily Suspended|date=5 March 2020|website=British Fencing}}</ref><ref>[https://static.fie.org/uploads/24/124713-FIE_outline_risk-mitig_Covid-19%20ang.pdf "FIE OUTLINE of RISK-MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS for NATIONAL FENCING FEDERATIONS and COMPETITION ORGANIZERS in the CONTEXT of COVID-19; PREPARED by FIE TASK FORCE and REVIEWED by FIE MEDICAL COMMISSION and FIE LEGAL COMMISSION,"] FIE, 1 July 2020 and September 2020.</ref><ref>[https://static.fie.org/uploads/24/124248-1.c%20upd%20FIE%20outline%20risk-mitig%20Covid-19%20ang.pdf "FIE OUTLINE of RISK-MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS for NATIONAL FENCING FEDERATIONS and COMPETITION ORGANISERS in the CONTEXT of COVID-19 (FORMIR – COVID-19) PREPARED by FIE TASK FORCE and REVIEWED by FIE MEDICAL COMMISSION and FIE LEGAL COMMISSION,"] FIE, January 2021.]</ref> Smirnova extended her hand to Kharlan, who in turn extended her saber in an offer to the Russian to tap blades.<ref name="auto1a">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/fencing/66322668|title=World Fencing Championships: Ukraine's Olga Kharlan disqualified for refusing Russian Anna Smirnov's handshake|work=BBC|date=27 July 2023}}</ref><ref name="auto3a">{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/fencing-ukraine-russia-handshake-world-championship-b2383066.html|title=Ukrainian fencer disqualified from world championships for refusing handshake with Russian opponent; Olga Kharlan offered to touch blades after beating Anna Smirnova, who then staged a sit-down protest at the handshake refusal|date=27 July 2023|website=The Independent|author=Aadi Nair}}</ref> Kharlan said her choice of salute was meant as a sign of respect for her opponent, while still acknowledging the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dedaj |first=Paulina |date=27 July 2023 |title=Olympic gold medalist disqualified from World Championships after refusing handshake with Russian opponent; Olga Kharlan is a four-time individual world champion |url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/olympic-gold-medalist-disqualified-world-championships-refusing-handshake-russian-opponent |website=Fox News}}</ref> After a long delay during which Smirnova protested and sat on the strip for 45 minutes, Kharlan was ultimately black-carded and eliminated from the championship by FIE officials.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Borger |first=Julian |date=2023-07-27 |title=Ukraine calls for disqualified fencer to be reinstated after anti-Russia protest |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/27/ukraine-calls-for-disqualified-fencer-to-be-reinstated-after-anti-russia-protest |access-date=2023-07-28 |issn=0261-3077 |quote=Smirnova approached the Ukrainian to shake hands, but Kharlan, an Olympic champion, held up her sabre instead and walked away.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/27/sport/ukraine-fencer-disqualified-refused-handshake-russian-intl-spt/index.html|title=Ukraine's top fencer disqualified from world championship after refused handshake with Russian|date=27 July 2023|website=CNN|author=Svitlana Vlasova and Tim Lister}}</ref> The Russian had been allowed to compete as a neutral athlete.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://twitter.com/Ukrsportbase/status/1684536347279720450|title=Брат росіянки Смірнової, якій не потиснула руку Ольга Харлан, служить в російській армії. А сама Смірнова робить з ним такі ось світлини. Це теж "спорт поза політикою"?|publisher=Base of Ukrainian sports|date=27 July 2023}}</ref> The Ukrainian delegation filed an appeal.<ref>Glynn A. Hill (27 July 2023). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/07/27/ukraine-russia-fencing-handshake/ "Ukrainian fencer DQ’d after refusing handshake with Russian opponent"], ''The Washington Post''.</ref> The German Fencing Federation criticized the decision by the FIE and maintained that the very strict interpretation of the rules sent a fatal signal far beyond the world of fencing.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fechten.org/n/pressemitteilung-zur-disqualifikation-von-olga-kharlan|title=Der Deutsche Fechter-Bund erklärt zu der Disqualifikation von Olga Kharlan bei den Weltmeisterschaften in Mailand|publisher=Deutscher Fechter-Bund|date=28 July 2023}}</ref>

The FIE came under fire for its decision. Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina called the FIE's disqualification “disrespectful” towards Ukrainians.<ref name="auto2a">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/27/ukraine-calls-for-disqualified-fencer-to-be-reinstated-after-anti-russia-protest|title=Ukraine calls for disqualified fencer to be reinstated after anti-Russia protest|first=Julian|last=Borger|date=27 July 2023|work=The Guardian}}</ref> Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky, called the FIE decision "absolutely shameful," and posted a photo on his Twitter feed which appeared to show the Russian fencer smiling and flashing the victory sign with a Russian soldier, writing: "The photo features ... the Russian fencer.... As you can see, she openly admires the Russian army.... The [FIE] disqualified the Ukrainian representative for not shaking hands with the Russian."<ref name="auto5a">{{Cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/world-fencing-championships-ukraines-olga-140520984.html|title=World Fencing Championships: Ukraine's Olga Kharlan disqualified for refusing Russian Anna Smirnov's handshake|date=27 July 2023|website=Yahoo Sports|access-date=28 July 2023|archive-date=28 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728020940/https://sports.yahoo.com/world-fencing-championships-ukraines-olga-140520984.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="auto6a">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-fencer-refuses-shake-hands-russian/32522942.html|title=Ukrainian Fencer Disqualified After Refusal To Shake Hands With Russian Opponent|work=Radio Free Europe; Radio Liberty|date=27 July 2023}}</ref> Kharlan said "This federation will never change."<ref name="auto6a" /> Team USA head coach Yury Gelman said that the FIE was the most corrupt federation in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eng.obozrevatel.com/section-sport/news-calls-from-moscow-and-the-man-in-black-a-new-twist-has-emerged-in-the-kharlan-scandal-at-the-fencing-world-cup-30-07-2023.html|title=''Calls from Moscow'' and the ''man in black''. A new twist has emerged in the Kharlan scandal at the Fencing World Cup|website=Obozrevatel}}</ref>

The IOC strongly disagreed with the FIE's actions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/7/30/2183980/-Ukraine-s-World-Champion-Olha-Kharlan-Allowed-to-Fence-Again|title=Results: Ukraine's World Champion Olha Kharlan Allowed to Fence Again|website=Daily Kos|date=July 30, 2023}}</ref> On 28 July at the behest of the Comité international olympique, the FIE reversed itself and cancelled its disqualification of Kharlan, making it possible for her to enter the team women's sabre event on 29 July, while at the same time arguing that "The FIE stands fully behind the penalty, which, after a thorough review, is in complete accordance and compliance with its official rules and associated penalties."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/ioc-invites-ukrainian-fencer-2024-olympics-being-disqualified-worlds-handshake-controversy|title=IOC invites Ukrainian fencer to 2024 Olympics after being disqualified from worlds over handshake controversy|first=Paulina|last=Dedaj|date=28 July 2023|website=Fox News}}</ref> Kharlan was also told by the IOC in an empathic letter on which the FIE president was copied that due to the circumstances she was being granted automatic qualification into the 2024 Paris Olympics, and that she should "[r]est assured that the IOC will continue to stand in full solidarity with the Ukrainian athletes and the Olympic community of Ukraine during these extremely difficult times."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/world/ukrainian-fencer-qualify-paris-olympics-anti-russian-protest-2513918|title=Ukrainian fencer given special invite to Olympics after disqualification for Russia protest|first=Sally|last=Guyoncourt|date=29 July 2023|website=inews.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Pour la Russie, le CIO a choisi le camp de l'Ukraine |url=https://imazpress.com/france-monde/pour-la-russie-le-cio-a-choisi-le-camp-de-l-ukraine|work=Imaz Press |date=28 July 2023}}</ref> Subsequently, though the FIE had defended its position in its interim president's letter to Kharlan, Bruno Gares, the FIE's representative of the executive committee in the Rules Commission said that -- after the required salutes at the end of a bout -- handshakes would become optional, with a distance greeting permitted instead.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1139359/fie-eases-handshake-rules|title=FIE agrees to make handshake optional after Kharlan controversy|date=29 July 2023|website=Inside the Games|author=Patrick Burke}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=International Fencing Federation decides to cancel mandatory handshake |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/07/29/7413359/ |author=Roman Petrenko |access-date=2023-07-29 |website=Ukrainska Pravda |language=en}}</ref>

===2026 European Fencing Championship controversy=== In January 2026, Estonia was stripped of hosting rights of the 2026 European Fencing Championship, which had been granted in 2024, due to the country's refusal to allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AMETLIK: algselt Tallinnas toimuma pidanud vehklemise EMi korraldamisõigus anti Prantsusmaale |url=https://www.ohtuleht.ee/sport/1149362/ametlik-algselt-tallinnas-toimuma-pidanud-vehklemise-emi-korraldamisoigus-anti-prantsusmaale |access-date=2026-01-24 |website=Õhtuleht |language=et}}</ref>

==Events== Competitions organized by the FIE include the senior World Championships and World Cup, the Junior World Championships and Junior World Cup, the Cadets World Championships, and the Veterans World Championships. The Zonal Championships recognised by the FIE are the Senior Zonal Championships and the Junior Zonal Championships, but other competitions may be organized by the Zonal Confederations.<ref>[https://static.fie.org/uploads/26/131729-Organisation%20rules%20ang.pdf "Organization Rules,"] FIE.</ref>

The FIE assists the International Olympic Committee in the organization of fencing events at the Summer Olympics. The number of events has been a matter of contention between the FIE and the CIO since the introduction of the women's sabre at the 1999 World Championships: since then, the World Championships feature twelve events: an individual and a team weapon for each of the three weapons, for men and for women. However, the CIO refuses to increase the number of Olympic medals allocated to fencing. After much dithering, the FIE decided to organize all six individual events, but only four team events, decided on a rotational basis. The two team events excluded from the Olympic programme, one for men and one for women, are included instead in the World Championships.<ref>{{harvnb|Ottogalli|Six|Terret|2014|pp=168–172}}</ref>

==People==

===Presidents of the FIE=== A list of FIE presidents from 1913 to the present:<ref>{{harvnb|Ottogalli|Six|Terret|2014|p=222}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.olympedia.org/organizations/60 | title = Fédération internationale d'escrime | website = Olympedia | access-date = 8 July 2021 }}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=14em}} * 1913–21: Albert Feyerick * 1921–24: André Maginot * 1925–28: George van Rossem * 1929–32: Eugène Empeyta * 1933–48: Paul Anspach * 1949–52: Jacques Coutrot * 1953–56: Giuseppe Mazzini * 1957–60: Pierre Ferri * 1961–64: Miguel de Capriles * 1965–80: Pierre Ferri * 1981–84: Giancarlo Brusati * 1984–92: Rolland Boitelle * 1993–2008: René Roch * 2008–22: Alisher Usmanov * 2022–24: Emmanuel Katsiadakis (interim president) * 2024–25: Alisher Usmanov * 2025-date: Abdel Monem El-Husseini (interim president) {{Div col end}}

===Athletes=== {{further|:Category:Fencers by nationality}}

==Continental federations== {{See also|:Category:National members of the International Fencing Federation}}

As of 2023, the FIE recognized 155 affiliated national federations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fie.org/fie/structure/federations-map |title=Confederations and National Federations |publisher=Fédération Internationale d'Escrime |access-date=2023-08-06}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;" |- style="background:#cdc9c9;" ! style="width:19%;" | Africa (CAE) <th style="width:16%;"> America (CPE) ! style="width:16%;" | Asia (FCA) <th style="width:16%;">Europe (CEE) ! style="width:16%;" | Oceania (OFC) |- | style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;" | {{flagicon|Algeria}} Algeria {{flagicon|Angola}} Angola {{flagicon|Benin}} Benin {{flagicon|Botswana}} Botswana {{flagicon|Burkina Faso}} Burkina Faso {{flagicon|Cameroon}} Cameroon {{flagicon|Cape Verde}} Cape Verde {{flagicon|Republic of the Congo}} Republic of the Congo {{flagicon|Côte d'Ivoire}} Côte d'Ivoire {{flagicon|Democratic Republic of the Congo}} Democratic Republic of the Congo {{flagicon|Egypt}} Egypt  {{flagicon|Gabon}} Gabon {{flagicon|Ghana}} Ghana {{flagicon|Guinea}} Guinea {{flagicon|Kenya}} Kenya {{flagicon|Libya}} Libya {{flagicon|Madagascar}} Madagascar {{flagicon|Mali}} Mali {{flagicon|Mauritania}} Mauritania {{flagicon|Mauritius}} Mauritius {{flagicon|Morocco}} Morocco {{flagicon|Namibia}} Namibia {{flagicon|Niger}} Niger {{flagicon|Nigeria}} Nigeria {{flagicon|Rwanda}} Rwanda {{flagicon|Senegal}} Senegal {{flagicon|Sierra Leone}} Sierra Leone  {{flagicon|South Africa}} South Africa {{flagicon|Togo}} Togo {{flagicon|Tunisia}} Tunisia {{flagicon|Uganda}} Uganda | style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;" | {{flagicon|Antigua and Barbuda}} Antigua and Barbuda {{flagicon|Argentina}} Argentina {{flagicon|Aruba}} Aruba {{flagicon|Bahamas}} Bahamas {{flagicon|Barbados}} Barbados {{flagicon|Belize}} Belize {{flagicon|Bermuda}} Bermuda {{flagicon|Bolivia}} Bolivia {{flagicon|Brazil}} Brazil {{flagicon|Canada}} Canada {{flagicon|Chile}} Chile {{flagicon|Colombia}} Colombia {{flagicon|Costa Rica}} Costa Rica {{flagicon|Cuba}} Cuba {{flagicon|Dominica}} Dominica {{flagicon|Dominican Republic}} Dominican Republic {{flagicon|Ecuador}} Ecuador {{flagicon|El Salvador}} El Salvador {{flagicon|Guatemala}} Guatemala {{flagicon|Guyana}} Guyana {{flagicon|Haiti}} Haiti {{flagicon|Honduras}} Honduras {{flagicon|Jamaica}} Jamaica {{flagicon|Mexico}} Mexico {{flagicon|Nicaragua}} Nicaragua {{flagicon|Panama}} Panama {{flagicon|Paraguay}} Paraguay {{flagicon|Peru}} Peru {{flagicon|Puerto Rico}} Puerto Rico {{flagicon|United States}} United States {{flagicon|United States Virgin Islands}} United States Virgin Islands {{flagicon|Uruguay}} Uruguay {{flagicon|Venezuela}} Venezuela | style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;" | {{flagicon|Afghanistan|2013}} Afghanistan {{flagicon|Bahrain}} Bahrain {{flagicon|Bangladesh}} Bangladesh {{flagicon|Brunei}} Brunei {{flagicon|Cambodia}} Cambodia {{flagicon|People's Republic of China}} People's Republic of China {{flagicon|Chinese Taipei}} Chinese Taipei {{flagicon|Hong Kong}} Hong Kong {{flagicon|India}} India {{flagicon|Indonesia}} Indonesia {{flagicon|Iran}} Iran {{flagicon|Iraq}} Iraq {{flagicon|Japan}} Japan {{flagicon|Jordan}} Jordan {{flagicon|Kazakhstan}} Kazakhstan {{flagicon|Kuwait}} Kuwait {{flagicon|Kyrgyzstan}} Kyrgyzstan {{flagicon|Lebanon}} Lebanon {{flagicon|Macao}} Macao {{flagicon|Malaysia}} Malaysia {{flagicon|Mongolia}} Mongolia {{flagicon|Myanmar}} Myanmar {{flagicon|Nepal}} Nepal {{flagicon|North Korea}} North Korea {{flagicon|Oman}} Oman {{flagicon|Pakistan}} Pakistan {{flagicon|Palestine}} Palestine {{flagicon|Philippines}} Philippines {{flagicon|Qatar}} Qatar {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} Saudi Arabia {{flagicon|Singapore}} Singapore {{flagicon|South Korea}} South Korea {{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} Sri Lanka {{flagicon|Syria|1932}} Syria {{flagicon|Tajikistan}} Tajikistan {{flagicon|Thailand}} Thailand {{flagicon|Turkmenistan}} Turkmenistan {{flagicon|United Arab Emirates}} United Arab Emirates {{flagicon|Uzbekistan}} Uzbekistan {{flagicon|Vietnam}} Vietnam {{flagicon|Yemen}} Yemen | style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;" | {{flagicon|Albania}} Albania {{flagicon|Armenia}} Armenia {{flagicon|Austria}} Austria {{flagicon|Azerbaijan}} Azerbaijan {{flagicon|Belarus}} Belarus {{flagicon|Belgium}} Belgium {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} Bulgaria {{flagicon|Croatia}} Croatia {{flagicon|Cyprus}} Cyprus {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} Czech Republic {{flagicon|Denmark}} Denmark {{flagicon|Estonia}} Estonia {{flagicon|Finland}} Finland {{flagicon|France}} France {{flagicon|Georgia}} Georgia {{flagicon|Germany}} Germany {{flagicon|Great Britain}} Great Britain {{flagicon|Greece}} Greece {{flagicon|Hungary}} Hungary {{flagicon|Iceland}} Iceland {{flagicon|Ireland}} Ireland {{flagicon|Israel}} Israel {{flagicon|Italy}} Italy {{flagicon|Latvia}} Latvia {{flagicon|Lithuania}} Lithuania {{flagicon|Luxembourg}} Luxembourg {{flagicon|Malta}} Malta {{flagicon|Republic of Moldova}} Republic of Moldova {{flagicon|Monaco}} Monaco {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Netherlands {{flagicon|North Macedonia}} North Macedonia {{flagicon|Norway}} Norway {{flagicon|Poland}} Poland {{flagicon|Portugal}} Portugal {{flagicon|Romania}} Romania {{flagicon|Russia}} Russia {{flagicon|San Marino}} San Marino {{flagicon|Serbia}} Serbia {{flagicon|Slovakia}} Slovakia {{flagicon|Slovenia}} Slovenia {{flagicon|Spain}} Spain {{flagicon|Sweden}} Sweden {{flagicon|Switzerland}} Switzerland {{flagicon|Turkey}} Turkey {{flagicon|Ukraine}} Ukraine | style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;" | {{flagicon|American Samoa}} American Samoa {{flagicon|Australia}} Australia {{flagicon|Guam}} Guam {{flagicon|New Zealand}} New Zealand {{flagicon|Papua New Guinea}} Papua New Guinea {{flagicon|Samoa}} Samoa |} ''Note:'' {{As of|2012|7|7}}, the Netherlands Antilles was still listed as an FIE Member nation, and 146 member nations were listed on the FIE's membership page. However, after the country was dissolved, it lost its National Olympic Committee status in 2011. At the 2012 Olympics, athletes from the former Netherlands Antilles were eligible to participate as independent athletes under the Olympic flag (no fencers competed).

==References== {{reflist}}

===Sources=== * {{cite book |last1=Ottogalli |first1=Cécile |last2=Six |first2=Gérard |last3=Terret |first3=Thierry |year=2014 |title=L'Histoire de l'escrime. 1913–2013, un siècle de Fédération internationale d'escrime |location=Biarritz |publisher=Atlantica |isbn=978-2-7588-0485-7|id=FIE100}}

== External links == {{commons category-inline}} * {{Official website|https://fie.org}} * [http://www.fie.ch/InBrief/Fencing.aspx Olympics, FIE records] * [https://fie.org/fie/fencing-history History of fencing] * [http://www.fie.ch/Competitions/Calendar.aspx FIE calendar] * [http://www.fie.ch/Competitions/Calendar.aspx?results=true Results of FIE competitions] * [http://www.fie.ch/Fencing/Rules.aspx FIE rules] * [http://www.fie.ch/Communication/Magazines.aspx FIE Magazines] * [http://www.fie.ch/Communication/Press.aspx FIE press releases]

{{International Sports Federations}} {{National federations of the International Fencing Federation}} {{Fencing}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Federation Internationale D'escrime}} Category:Fédération Internationale d'Escrime Fen Fen Category:Sports organizations established in 1913 fencing Category:Fencing governing bodies