December 13, 2010
For Immediate Release
Fencers Flood Atlanta Again for North American Cup Fencing
The original extreme sport comes back to Atlanta! USA Fencing will hold its second senior-level Cup of the season at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga., December 18-20, 2010.
More than 700 of the nation's best fencers will compete. Several foreign competitors are expected from such nations as Canada, Great Britain, Israel and more.
The competition draws fencers from around the country, plus families and coaches. The tournament may bring as many as 4,000 visitors to the downtown Atlanta area for the four-day weekend.
This is the second time USA Fencing has been to Atlanta in 2010. The 2010 Summer National Fencing Championships were also held at the Georgia World Congress Center, in July.
“Our athlete numbers surge when we have an event in Atlanta. It is easy to get to via air and driving. In addition, the city has hosted USA Fencing so many times, they have extensive staff experience at the convention center and this makes running tournaments very easy. The city of Atlanta, the Georgia Division and Gary DiMaggio are great partners,” says Christine Simmons, USA Fencing’s executive director.
This is the third of six North American Cup competitions held around the country this season. Elite-level athletes will compete at this event for spots on the U.S. team to the World Fencing Championships in Catania, Italy, in November 2011.
A Senior Team North American Cup will also be contested, giving the country’s athletes vital practice with competitive team fencing. Events will be held in all three weapons: epee, foil and saber; formats and techniques vary for each weapon. More information will be available on site for spectators who are not familiar with fencing.
The public is invited to attend all events free of charge. Fencing will begin at around 8:30 am each day and run at least into the early evening. This is a great opportunity to see some of the World’s best athletes in action, including World, Pan American and Olympic medalists.
Atlanta Natives Rank High
Some of the top-ranked athletes in the competition will be Atlanta natives. Many are members of Nellya Fencing, a Dunwoody club which boasts several Olympic alumni, including Sada Jacobson (bronze, ’04; silver and bronze, ’08).
Notable 2010 Atlanta competitors include:
Skyla Powers (15, Decatur, Ga./Nellya). Powers won a silver at a Junior “A” World Cup in Spain on Nov. 6. She is ranked second in the US Under-20 standings. She also won the Under-20 North American Cup held in Milwaukee in November.Margaret McDonald (16, Atlanta, Ga./Nellya). McDonald just won a silver at the Under-20 North American Cup in Milwaukee.
About North American Cups: NACs held by USA Fencing each year at changing locations around the country. NACs are selection competitions for World Championship teams in the Cadet (Under-17), Junior (Under-20), Senior (Division I), Veteran, and Wheelchair divisions. USA Fencing also holds developmental NACs for Youth in three different age groups, and developmental Division II and Division III events which are open to all ages.
About USA Fencing: The United States Fencing Association is the recognized NGB for the sport of fencing in the United States. The USFA is affiliated with the Féderation Internationale d'Escrime (FIE), the international federation for fencing. USA Fencing is based at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. For more visit www.usfencing.org, www.facebook.com/usfencing or
www.twitter.com/usfencing.
For more information on USA Fencing’s North American Cup December visit usfencing.org/events/5168.
For More Information Please Contact:
Cindy Bent Findlay *pr@usfencing.org
