Conflict escalates in fencing
Return to Russia drives hosts to cancel
3/31/2023, 9:58 p.m
The international fencing federation would like to see Russians and Belarusians again at its events. But the organizers in Denmark, France and Germany are not taking part and are canceling their competitions. Chaos is looming – and the Ukrainian government is also positioning itself clearly.
The Danish and French fencing federations are refraining from hosting international competitions in protest against the re-admission of athletes from Russia and Belarus. “One cannot support the return of Russian and Belarusian fencers to the rinks under the current circumstances,” Danish federation president Jan Sylvest Jensen told the AFP news agency.
The Trekanten International, a precursor to the World Cup, was actually supposed to take place on October 7th and 8th in the Danish capital Copenhagen. The French federation returned the Epee World Cup in Saint-Maur-des-Fosses (May 19-21). The German Fencing Federation (DFeB) had already decided in mid-March not to host the Women’s Foil World Cup in Tauberbischofsheim in May.
The world association FIE had already decided before the IOC decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes again from April and thus for the Olympic qualification. On Tuesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that the professional associations allow athletes from the two countries to participate in international competitions again under certain conditions.
For Ukraine, it’s about much more than sport
The Danish association also assumes that there will be problems in international competitions. “We also anticipate that there will be chaos at international competitions as fencers will likely refuse to compete against Russian and Belarusian fencers,” Sylvest Jensen wrote in his statement.
Ukraine also took a stand against the IOC’s decision to allow Russia to return to world sport. By order of the state, Ukrainian athletes are not allowed to take part in competitions with Russian and Belarusian participation, which the IOC makes possible with its “recommendations”.
Minister Oleh Nemchinov announced a corresponding cabinet decision, thereby creating new facts. This next level of escalation was not an easy decision, as Nemchinov, a member of Ukraine’s National Olympic Committee, clarified. After all, it means that some athletes will certainly not be at the start in Paris. He wouldn’t wish that on anyone, said Nemchinov. And yet: This is not about the continuation of sports careers. It’s about a sign against Russia’s inhuman aggressive war in Ukraine.