USA Fencing

USA Fencing to hold its first National Tournament of the 2010-2011 season at Duke Energy Center

CINCINNATI (October 11, 2010) – USA Fencing, the national governing body for the sport of fencing in the United States, will hold its first tournament of the season, North American Cup A, October 15-18 at the Duke Energy Center in downtown Cincinnati. This will be the first time USA Fencing has been to the area since the early 1990’s.

More than 1700 Division I, Division II, Veteran (40 & Older) and Wheelchair fencers, making up 2200 competitors, will compete in 42 events. Individual competitions in all three fencing weapons – epee, foil and saber – occur throughout the weekend and are open and free to the public. Division I Men’s Foil, Division II Women’s Epee and Wheelchair Men’s Epee fencers start off the annual North American Cup tournament on Friday morning in Halls A, B and C at the Duke Energy Center.

This tournament serves as a qualification path for Division I and Veteran National Championships and World Team selection. Many athletes from USA Fencing’s Olympic, Paralympic, Veteran and Senior World Teams will be featured.

The sport of fencing features 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 .

“USA Fencing is excited to start our 2010-2011 Season in Cincinnati,” said Christine Strong Simmons, Associate Executive Director of USA Fencing, “This is the largest October event we have ever held with over 1700 athletes.  We attribute this large number to the fact that Cincinnati is centrally located and easily accessible.”

“We are thrilled to host USA Fencing in Cincinnati,” said Leslie Spencer, Executive Director of the Greater Cincinnati Sports Corporation, “Not only will this event bring thousands of people to the city and positively impact the local economy, it also serves as the beginning of more Olympic sporting events in the Greater Cincinnati area.”

For more information on USA Fencing’s North American Cup A visit www.usfencing.org/events/4632

About USA Fencing: USA Fencing is the recognized National Governing Body for the sport of fencing in the United States. USA Fencing changed its name from the U.S. Fencing Association in July 2010. The USFA was founded in 1891 as the Amateur Fencers League of America (AFLA) by a group of New York fencers seeking independence from the Amateur Athletic Union. The AFLA changed its name to the United States Fencing Association in 1981. USA Fencing is affiliated with the Féderation Internationale d'Escrime (FIE), the international federation for fencing founded in Paris in 1913. The USFA was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in Pennsylvania in 1964 and in Colorado in 1993 in compliance with the Amateur Sports Act and opened its national office at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. in August of 1982. For more visit www.usfencing.org, www.facebook.com/usfencing or www.twitter.com/usfencing.

About GCSC: The Greater Cincinnati Sports Corporation (GCSC) strives to enrich the community through the acquisition of amateur and professional sporting events, by maximizing economic impact and promoting the Greater Cincinnati region as a premier sports destination.  GCSC has a 22-year history of hosting more than 220 events that brings pride, visibility and positive economic impact to the region.  From World and National Championships to community-based programs, GCSC is making a difference in the quality of life for Cincinnati USA.  GCSC, as the region’s only non-profit sports tourism and event management organization, represents the Cincinnati USA hospitality community, P&G, and partners Cincinnati USA and Northern Kentucky Convention & Visitors Bureaus.  For more information and a calendar of events, please visit www.cincysports.org.