La Spezia, the absolute fencing championships begin from 7 to 12 June

La Spezia, the absolute fencing championships begin from 7 to 12 June.

The event, which represents the most important event in the competitive fencing calendar in Italy, was presented this morning at Palazzo Civico della Spezia by the Mayor Pierluigi Peracchini, by the sports councilor Marco Frascatore, by the President of the Italian Fencing Federation Paolo Azzi, by the President of the Liguria Regional Fencing Committee, by the President of the La Spezia Fencing Club Andrea Caruso, by the honorary President of the La Spezia Fencing Club Giampiero Martelli and by the National U17 athlete, Benedetta Madrignani, a genuine La Spezia native who grew up in the city club.

La Spezia confirms itself as a city, which, thanks to the investments made in recent years by the Administration, is capable of hosting events of national and international importance.

A union that began with the signing of the Partner City in 2019 between the City of La Spezia and the FIS, a mutual commitment to organize fencing competitions which has already brought several national events to the PalaMariotti and a great impact on the territory, often in periods of lower tourist presence.

The mayor of La Spezia Pierluigi Peracchini declares: “La Spezia confirms itself as the capital of sport and we are ready to welcome the great protagonists of fencing and to host national level challenges which will be held in our territory for the first time. Between 7 and 12 June, thousands of athletes and spectators will arrive in our city who will stay in our accommodation facilities and experience our territory by frequenting shops and restaurants. This, in addition to being a great event, is also a way to boost our economy and tourism promotion."

“For the Peracchini administration, sport is one of the priorities – declares the Councilor for Sport Marco Frascatore – I am convinced that, for our community, supporting and promoting sport, with the great values ​​it teaches, means encouraging a radical cultural change , also important from a social and economic point of view. In fact, we are pleased, proud and particularly honored to have been able to organize and host the Italian Overall Fencing Championships, an Olympic sport, here in La Spezia. The Italian Fencing Federation is the most successful in terms of number of Olympic medals and in international competitions. In fact, every year he is able to collect prestigious victories on all three weapons, foil, epee and saber. I particularly thank the president of the federation Paolo Azzi and the managers of the La Spezia fencing club who, with their active collaboration, allowed us to organize an event of this importance right in our wonderful city and for the first time in the history of La Spezia sport. I also thank them for their strong attention towards the inclusion of Paralympic athletes and for their predilection in accompanying the growth of the little ones. I therefore invite all citizens to participate in the championship with free entry at the PalaMariotti. I am sure that it will be a fantastic event full of great performances which, thanks also to the presence of Rai Sport with its live broadcasts, will allow us to have an extraordinary media sounding board."

Special edition

A special edition, the one scheduled from 7 to 12 June, because it will open one of the most important periods for fencing in Italy, which this year will be the host country of a "double" World Championship, in Milano (from 22nd to 30th July) for the Olympic sector and in Terni (2nd to 8th October) for the Paralympic sector.

Just in view of the Olympic World Cup Milano, which will be a crucial stage for qualification for the Paris 2024 Games, the 2023 La Spezia Championships take on an even more important meaning: not only the emblem of the "scudetti" up for grabs, but also the national-level event just a month and a half from the maximum world championship event. La Spezia will be awarded 12 Italian titles (six individual and as many team titles) in the men's and women's epee, foil and saber specialties.

The individual competitions will see 416 athletes involved, while the days dedicated to the comparison between the Serie A1 teams of the three teams will involve around 280.

A sporting event of the highest level but also an unparalleled promotional opportunity for the city. Media coverage of the event this year it will enjoy widespread media coverage. Rai has acquired the exclusive television rights to broadcast the final stages on all six days of the competition. There are a total of 15 hours of live broadcast scheduled by state TV on the RAI Sport channel (digital terrestrial and satellite) and on RAI Play (for the web).

However, the previous phases of the competition will also be on the media circuit through live YouTube streaming on the official channel of the Italian Fencing Federation.

The races of champions

To understand the competitive level of this event, now in its 103rd edition, for the first time in La Spezia, it is right to remember that the Italian Federation is the most successful in the world and boasts the largest number of Olympic medals at an international level.

All the great protagonists of Italian fencing will be present on the platform. Olympic silver medalist Luigi Samele will have to defend the saber title he won in 2023, while Olympian Daniele Garozzo will try to regain his title in men's foil, which he won in 2021 but was unable to defend in Courmayeur, just like foil player Alice Volpi. And then the women's epee, where a super-champion like Rossella Fiamingo will lead the assault on the title won last year by Federica Isola, while in the men's another Italian champion, Federico Vismara, won, and finally the women's saber where the "scudetto" will be up for grabs ” won by Irene Vecchi.