IOC Announce Full Medal Quota for Fencing at Tokyo 2020

After many years of campaigning, the International Olympic Committee today announced that the fencing programme for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will include a full quota of medals.  This decision means that for the first time ever fencing will have complete parity for men and women at an Olympic Games – a major goal set by the IOC Olympic Agenda 2020.

Tokyo’s Olympic Fencing schedule will now include twelve medal winning disciplines with team and individual events for epee, foil and sabre for both men and women.

President of the FIE, Alisher Usmanov said, “The biggest dream of many generations is now achieved. From the very beginning, I had set this goal as my main priority as FIE President.  The IOC decision is the most important recognition of our long-term efforts to improve fencing, the make it more visible and popular.  From now on, all of our fencers will have equal opportunities to compete at the Olympic Games. Fencers, national federations, and the entire world of fencing are tremendously grateful to the IOC Executive Board, the IOC President Mr Thomas Bach, and the Olympic Program Commission and its President, Mr Franco Carraro, for their decision.”

Delighted about the decision, British Fencing’s President, Hilary Philbin said, “The IOC’s decision to award fencing our remaining two Olympic medal events for Tokyo 2020 gives us, for the first time in an Olympic Games, our full quota of twelve events.  This is great news for the sport of fencing and its continuing development as a major presence in the Olympic Games.  It is also good news from the point of view of British Fencing, with the enhanced opportunities it offers to our fencers striving towards Tokyo 2020.”  

Adding, “These final two medals have been a long time coming, following sustained efforts from the FIE over a number of Olympic cycles.  Our congratulations are offered to all those who have worked towards this successful outcome.”

Read the official IOC report here and watch the promotional video about the decision here.