SI.com - Fencing factbox for Athens 2004 - Tuesday July 6, 2004 10:20PM

ATHENS, July 7 (Reuters) -- Factbox on fencing at the August 13-29 Athens Olympics:

HISTORY

Historians trace fighting with swords back 4,000 years to Egypt, China, India and Greece. The first fencing schools were set up in Europe in the Middle Ages and a rulebook for the sport was first published in Spain in 1474.

The foil, a lighter weapon, made its debut in the 17th century and protective face masks were introduced in 1780.

Fencing is one of only four sports to have featured at every modern Olympic Games and was the first sport to allow professionals to take part.

The International Fencing Federation (FIE) was founded in 1913 and the first world championships were held in 1920.

EVENTS

Three types of fencing weapon are used -- foil, epee and sabre.

There will be six individual and four team events, with women's sabre being introduced for the first time.

2000 CHAMPIONS

Men

Individual epee: Pavel Kolobkov (Russia)

Individual foil: Kim Young-ho (South Korea)

Individual sabre: Mihai Covaliu (Romania)

Team epee: Italy (Angelo Mazoni, Maurizio Randazzo, Paolo

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Milanoli, Alfredo Rota)

Team foil: France (Lionel Plumenail, Jean-Noel Ferrari,

Brice Guyart, Patrice L'Hotellier)

Team sabre: Russia (Serguei Charikov, Alexei Frossine,

Stanislav Pozdnyakov)

Women

Individual epee: Timea Nagy (Hungary)

Individual foil: Valentina Vezzali (Italy)

Team epee: Russia (Mariya Mazina, Karina Aznavuryan, Tatiana

Logounova, Oxana Ermakova)

Team foil: Italy (Diana Bianchedi, Giovanna Trillini,

Valentina Vezzali)

OLYMPIC PROGRAMME

August 14 - Men's individual sabre

August 15 - Women's individual epee

August 16 - Men's individual foil

August 17 - Women's individual sabre

Men's individual epee

August 18 - Women's individual foil

August 19 - Men's team sabre

August 20 - Women's team epee

August 21 - Men's team foil

August 22 - Men's team epee

VENUES

Helliniko Olympic Complex in the southern suburbs of Athens.

The venue has a fencing hall with 3,500 seats for preliminary matches and another with 5,000 seats for finals.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

www.fie.ch


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