Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 12-20, 2024 – As part of the FIE’s global commitment to sustainability and environmental initiatives and its Fencing for the Planet programme, various actions and events took place at the 2024 Junior and Cadet Fencing World Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
On-site at the Championships, the Saudi Federation supported efforts undertaken to conserve resources as part of the Fencing for the Planet undertaking and in conformance with the King Saud University Sustainability programme. As part of this, a symbolic tree was planted on the University grounds with FIE Executive Committee Vice President Erika Aze (LAT) and member Rusni Abu Hassan, along with Saudi Federation Secretary-General Abdullah Alsunaid and King Saud University Director of Sustainability and Environmental Development Department and Engineer Abdullah Mohammed Al-Qahtani.
“We are proud to have a sustainability programme at King Saud University ... to help save the planet and the people”, said Al-Qahtani. “The International Fencing Federation is pleased to be here and in support of the King Saud sustainability programme and we appreciate the Saudi Federation’s commitment to it, for here and for the world”, said Aze.
In addition to information presented about Fencing for the Planet on FIE social media channels around the world, fencers at the Riyadh Championships spoke up about their feelings regarding the programme:
“Sustainability is important as it helps to reduce global warming and its effects”, said athlete Jae Jia En Lim (SIN). “For example, with deforestation, trees are being cut down and then used and things like that are bad. There’s a lot of CO2 emissions in the air and the carbon emission levels are very, very bad, which is also bad for the athletes when we breathe-in air. I feel that sustainability will help everyone on the Earth, allow us to breathe better air, and to live healthily.”
“We have to do something different for our planet for the sake of the environment, especially with plastic and carbon”, said athlete Ziyad Almutairi (KSA). “As young fencers, Fencing for the Planet is important because we need to save the future, and the future is for our families.”
“I think it is really important, because although we can live however we want right now, it’s our future that we have to look after”, said athlete Julie Xiao (CAN). “We’re on this planet together and should be mindful of the things we’re using that are our planet’s resources, and we have to conserve and use them for the future.”
Fencing for the Planet is an ongoing programme meant to inspire and encourage fencers, coaches, supporters, clubs and federations to become involved in environmental projects and practices. This is part of the FIE’s effort – along with many other sports – to create a global sustainability network and to make a difference in improving the world.
“It’s very important to support this green project with the sport of fencing and all over the world”, said Greek Coach Ioannis Notaras. “Protecting the future is through the ‘green way’, and with fencing we are trying our best to support that.”
“Sustainabilty is a very important term today”, said Paolo Azzi, Italian Federation President and FIE Executive Committee member. “In Italy this year, during the Junior World Cup competition in Udine, it was for the first time we’ve held a competition with a certification of sustainability issued by the authorities. It’s very important that we trust and repeat the experience for the next edition of the event and others, and I think it’s a step in the right way.”
“It’s important that we honour Fencing for the Planet”, said FIE Executive Committee member Donald Anthony (USA). “We know that weather impacts every place in the world, including Saudi where have desert as well as other areas where we have lots of water. When we combine them both, it’s a challenge so let’s take care of our planet, and Fencing for the Planet is something we should all support.”
Fencing for the Planet is officially celebrated annually on Saturday of the second weekend in April.