The XX ANOC General Assembly meeting took place in Washington DC during October 27 - 30. The FIE was represented by President Alisher Usmanov and Secretary General Frederic Pietruszka. Beyond the official representation, there was a strong fencing contingent naturally including IOC President Dr Thomas Bach.
Some of the fencers who were in Washington DC took the opportunity to participate in a visit organized by Sunil Sabharwal - former FIE Executive Board member and Chairman of the Local Host Committee for the ANOC General Assembly - to visit the Virginia Academy of Fencers and see one of the largest and most innovative fencing clubs in the US. The illustrious fencing group - besides Sabharwal and Pietruszka - included Claudia Bokel (IOC Executive Board member and Olympic medalist), Krisztian Kulcsar (FIE Sports Director), FIE Honorary Members E Katsiadakis and B van der Flier, Per Palmstrom (former FIE Executive Committee member and VP of Swedish Olympic Committee), former Olympian and VAF coach Russell Wilson, and on behalf of the club's management Phil Sbarbaro and Jack Zhao. Club founder Alex Ryjik was in Europe at that day.
The FIE delegation learned about the philosophy of the club, its unique business model, they toured the facilities and had an opportunity to exchange some words with the club's coaches and fencers. The club boasts around 1000 registered members.