The 29th Olympic Games will take place starting on the 8th
August 2008 in Beijing, in the People’s Republic of China. Thanks to the
effective collaboration of BOCOG and the Chinese Fencing Federation with the
International Fencing Federation (FIE), the organization of these competitions
promises to be the best in the history of fencing. 212 fencers representing five
continents will compete for the ten Olympic titles and thirty Olympic medals.
So that the public and Chinese media can
learn more about our sport, its Olympic champions, and world champions as well
as the best fencers in all three weapons, Jie Ao, the FIE Competition Manager
and Director of the FIE High Performance Centre in Asia, has produced the
"Collection of the World’s Best Fencers." It presents thirty-six exceptionally
talented fencers, all champion foilists, épéeists or sabreurs, representing
sixteen countries. The majority of these great sportspeople will be in Beijing
to gain a first Olympic title or to win another. The Olympic public and the
Chinese in particular will have the opportunity to admire and be inspired by
their technical and physical qualities as well as to applaud their distinguished
behavior and chivalry.
The publication of Jie Ao presents their best results, their
fencing paths and their most beautiful fights, but it also touches on their
personal life, the family context in which they have evolved and their sporting
futures. This work, which is significant and has not been done before in our
sport, has received the approval of the International Fencing Federation and the
support of the Chinese Fencing Federation.
In my role as President of the International Fencing
Federation, I wish to congratulate Jie Ao for this particularly useful and
well-researched book. It will stand out in the history of fencing. I hope that
it permits everyone - Olympic spectators, passionate supporters of fencing and
those eager to discover our sport - to know the true faces of our champions and
help make the star of fencing shine brightly in the constellation of Olympic
sport.
Good luck to all the athletes!
Congratulations Jie Ao!
René ROCH
President of the FIE
