الاتحاد السعودي للمبارزة — Saudi Fencing Federation

What is the Saudi Fencing Federation?

The Saudi Fencing Federation (الاتحاد السعودي للمبارزة) is the national federation for fencing in Saudi Arabia.^[2] The FIE lists it, as the “Saudi arabian Fencing Federation”, among the members of the Fencing Confederation of Asia.^[1] On its About page the federation states: “وتـنبع رؤية الإتحاد من رؤية المملكة 2030” — the federation’s vision stems from the kingdom’s Vision 2030 — and gives as its motto “المبارزة رياضة الاجداد، والسيف شعار وطن”, fencing is the sport of the ancestors and the sword is the emblem of the nation.^[3]

What does the Saudi Fencing Federation govern or do?

The federation’s About page sets out its aims: to make the sport better known, to promote women’s fencing, and to train athletes by modern methods to international standards.^[3] It names the main approaches it relies on (“نهج ومحاور رئيسية”) as “العمل بروح الفريق، الإتقان، العدالة والنزاهة، الشفافية والمساءلة” — teamwork, mastery, fairness and integrity, transparency and accountability.^[3] It covers the three weapons, which it names as foil, épée and sabre.^[3] Its home page invites newcomers to register with its academy: “ابدأ رحلتك في رياضة المبارزة عبر التسجيل في الأكاديمية”.^[2] It publishes annual reports, among them a report for 2021.^[2]

When was the Saudi Fencing Federation founded and where is it based?

The federation’s About page traces fencing in the kingdom to Jeddah, which it calls the first area to practise the sport, about 65 years ago, and states that fencing “لم تمارس في المملكة بشكلها الحديث إلا عام 1394هـ في جامعة الملك فهد للبترول والمعادن” — that it was not practised in its modern form until the year 1394 of the Hijri calendar, at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.^[3]

The FIE lists the federation’s address as “11515 RIYADH, P.O BOX 58938”, with [email protected] as its contact.^[1]

How is the Saudi Fencing Federation recognised?

International federation. On its page for the Fencing Confederation of Asia, the FIE lists the “Saudi arabian Fencing Federation” as the member federation for Saudi Arabia, with Wasem Alhassan as president and Abdullah Alsunaid as secretary general.^[1] The FIE describes its structure as “five continental confederations and their 156 national member federations”.^[4] The federation’s news reports its participation in meetings of FIE committees in Sofia.^[2]

Continental body. The FIE places the federation in the Fencing Confederation of Asia,^[1] and the federation reports the kingdom’s participation in the 39th general assembly of the Asian confederation (“الجمعية العمومية الـ39 للاتحاد الآسيوي للمبارزة”).^[2]

What does the Saudi Fencing Federation organise?

The federation’s site carries a national tournament series — bronze, silver and golden circuit events (“الجولة البرونزية”, “الجولة الفضية”, “الجولة الذهبية”) — and the “بطولة السعودية الكبرى”, a Saudi grand championship.^[2] Its site also lists international events in Riyadh: the “بطولة الجولة الآسيوية ٢٠١٩ بالرياض”, an Asian circuit event in 2019, and the “بطولة العالم للناشئين والشباب 2024 الرياض”, the 2024 world cadet and junior championships, linked to the riyadh2024.org site.^[2]

Who are its members?

The federation’s About page frames its work around the people in the sport: developing players, widening the base of those who practise fencing, and building a supportive administrative system and community partnerships.^[3] Its home page invites newcomers to register with its academy.^[2] The federation is itself a member body: the FIE lists it among the national federations of the Fencing Confederation of Asia.^[1]