European Fencing Confederation Explained

European Fencing Confederation
Abbreviation:	EFC
Type:	Sports organisation
Membership:	all national European fencing federations other than that of Russia, plus that of Israel
Headquarters:	Luxembourg
Region Served:	Europe
Main Organ:	Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE)
Website:	eurofencing.info
Language:	English, French

The European Fencing Confederation (EFC; French: Confédération européenne d'escrime, CEE) is an international body created in 1991, charged with the promotion and development of fencing in Europe. It organises the European Fencing Championships annually at several levels: cadets (U17), junior (U20), under 23, seniors and veterans (more than 40 years old).

The Confederation comprises all national European fencing federations other than that of Russia, plus that of Israel, and is under the authority of Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE).

History and goals

It was founded on 26 October 1991 in Vienna, Austria, and is based in Luxembourg at the headquarters of the Luxembourg Fencing Federation.

Its goals are:

• promotion and development of fencing in Europe;
• facilitate technical collaboration between the different federations;
• co-ordination and improvement of the teaching of fencing in Europe;
• representation of fencing to European authorities;
• the organisation of the European Fencing Championships.

Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov was president of the European Fencing Confederation from 2005 to 2009.^[1]

Impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022, the International Fencing Federation (FIE) agreed with the EFC to ban Russian and Belarusian fencers, and reallocated competitions that were due to be held in Russia and Belarus.^[2]

In June 2022, Stanislav Pozdnyakov, the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) President, was removed from his position as European Fencing Confederation President at an Extraordinary Congress following a unanimous vote of no confidence in Pozdnyakov in March 2022, due to his xenophobic conduct in the wake of the invasion.^[3]

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.^[4] Protesting this decision, Denmark,^[5] France,^[6] Germany,^[7] and Poland^[8] 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, of hosting rights and impose sanctions on them.^[9]

In June 2023, the federation banned all Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials, and suspended the Russian Fencing Federation.^[10]

Organs

The organs of the EFC comprise:

• the General Assembly—the supreme organ of the Confederation, composed of delegates appointed by the member federations;
• the Executive Committee (COMEX)—composed of 10 members elected by the General Assembly, each from a different federation;
• the President;
• two Auditors.

Commissions

The COMEX elects the members of nine commissions that deal with specialized areas:

• Competition Commission;
• Veterans Commission;
• Promotion/Marketing Commission;
• Referees Commission;
• Training/Fencing Masters Commission;
• SEMI Commission;
• Athletes Commission;
• Finance Commission;
• Handicapped Commission.

See also

• Fédération Internationale d'Escrime
• European Fencing Championships

External links

• European Fencing Confederation (EFC), official site

Notes and References

1. Web site: Hall of Fame: Usmanov, Alisher Burkhanovich . FIE . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140201232726/http://www.fie.org/en/centennial/hall-of-fame/usmanov-alisher-burkhanovich-rus-105-2796?idPage=5 . 1 February 2014 .
2. Web site: EFC Executive Committee passes no-confidence vote in President Pozdnyakov. April 9, 2022. Inside the Games.
3. Web site: ROC leader Pozdnyakov deposed as President of European Fencing Confederation. May 31, 2022. Inside the Games.
4. News: FIE approves return of Russian and Belarusian fencers in time for start of Paris 2024 qualifying. Patrick Burke. Inside the Games. 10 March 2023.
5. Web site: Denmark cancels event over Russian, Belarusian participation . 30 March 2023.
6. Web site: Fencing World Cup in France cancelled after governing body readmits Russians . 31 March 2023.
7. Web site: Germany cancels World Cup event after Russia, Belarus readmitted . 17 March 2023.
8. Web site: Fencing in turmoil after irked Poles cancel World Cup event . 5 April 2023.
9. https://twitter.com/jensweinreich/status/1644987677626847232?s=46&t=jtNjdZ6HsfB6xfJ3b_ZTMA "This is the remarkable Easter message from the European Fencing Federation ..."
10. Web site: European Fencing Confederation bans all Russian and Belarusian fencers. June 24, 2023. Inside the Games.