GRASSROOTS
O
W
I
N
G
T
H
G
R
E
GRASSROOTS
Since its recent restructure,
the British Fencing
Association has created
a sustainable pathway
for participants of all
ages and abilities to enter
the sport and stay with it
F
E
N
C
I
NG
A
lthough fencing is among ways and in 1902 the AFA held its first International Olympic Committee stuck
the oldest recorded sports general meeting with Captain Hutton to just 10 sets of fencing medals, which
and steeped in history and elected president. means that two events are omitted at
tradition, it is also one of the Lord Desborough, the first president each Games in rotation. The BFA contin-
most modern and technically innova- of the British Olympic Association and ues to campaign for the full 12 events
tive, with a wide participation age range. organiser of the 1908 London Olympic to be reinstated.
Currently, the oldest active member of Games, was another early AFA president
the British Fencing Association (BFA) is and fenced in the 1906 Interim Olym- Restructure
92 and still fences once a week. At the pics. Other well-known fencers include The last few years have seen root and
other end of the age scale, a child can Winston Churchill, who was a schoolboy branch changes in the organisation, pre-
start fencing as soon as the coach thinks champion and competed at the Royal sentation and accessibility of the sport
he or she can cope – which is often as Tournament and Bruce Dickinson – an – both domestically and internationally.
young as six years old. airline pilot and lead singer of heavy Children now have the option to learn
metal group Iron Maiden. with a realistic foam and plastic kit when
History An official sport at every Olympic they first take up the sport, while elite
The BFA, or the Amateur Fencing Asso- Games since 1896, fencing is a sport
ciation (AFA) as it was known 100 years where agility and stamina are more im-
ago, started life as a sub-committee of portant than sheer strength and allows
the Amateur Gymnastics Association. men and women to compete in all three
The first fencing championships at foil disciplines. Competitions are organised
and sabre took place in 1898 and epée at all levels in both team and individual
was added later. In 1900 the fencers and events. However, when women’s sabre
gymnasts decided to go their separate was added to the Olympic schedule the
The development strategy extends beyond 2020, using
London 2012 as a springboard rather than an end in itself
22 Read Sports Management online
sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 4 2009 © cybertrek 2009
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