The European Fencing Confederation concluded two online webinars dedicated to communication, promotion and the use of new technologies in fencing.
Held on 25 and 26 September, the sessions brought together representatives of national federations, organising committees, clubs and other members of the European fencing community interested in developing new ways to communicate and promote the sport.
Reflecting on the initiative, Pascal Tesch, President of the European Fencing Confederation, highlighted its importance for the continued development of fencing across Europe:
"We chose these topics for our first webinars because they align with the FIE's strategic plan and with the IOC's key performance indicator on Communication and Engagement. Our goal is to support the FIE's efforts in these areas by giving you practical tools you can use right away.
Just as important, we want to hear from you. Your feedback will help us spread the word and shape what comes next.
I invite all EFC member federations to work with our dynamic team, led by Erika and Alessandro."
Building Stronger Communication in Fencing
The first webinar, Building Stronger Communication in Fencing, was presented by Erika Kirpu, EFC Press Officer.
The session focused on the role communication can play in increasing the visibility and value of fencing beyond competition results alone.
Among the topics discussed were storytelling, relationships between federations, organisers and media, the use of owned, earned and shared communication channels, and the importance of maintaining visibility between major championships and Olympic Games. Particular attention was also given to competition communication.
The discussion also highlighted that every competition offers an opportunity to tell a story — about athletes, emotions, challenges, host cities and the people working behind the scenes.
Exploring the Power of AI
The second webinar, The Power of AI, was presented by Alessandro Noto and explored the increasingly important role artificial intelligence can play in communication and everyday professional activities.
The session introduced practical opportunities offered by AI tools and examined how they can support content creation, organisation, research and communication workflows.
For federations, organising committees and clubs, these technologies can offer new possibilities to work more efficiently while creating and distributing content across different platforms.
At the same time, the webinar underlined the importance of understanding how such tools should be used responsibly and effectively, with human knowledge and judgement remaining central to the process.
A Commitment to Continue
Closing the initiative, Vincenzo De Bartolomeo, EFC Marketing Responsible, underlined both the commitment behind the webinars and the intention to continue developing similar opportunities for the European fencing community:
“I would like to thank Erika and Alessandro for the work they have done. It is important to underline that we have kept the commitment made during the workshop organised before the European Fencing Championships, when I announced that these webinars would take place by the end of September.
We now need to continue along this path, providing federations and organising committees with useful tools to promote fencing and expand its reach. Together with the Promotion and Marketing Commission, we will propose further webinars during the season that has just begun, and we remain open to hearing the needs, ideas and proposals coming from across the European fencing community.”
For those who were unable to attend the sessions live, the presentation materials are available below:
Communication Presentation PDF: Building Stronger Communication
AI Presentation PDF: [LINK]
Webinar recording: [LINK TO RECORDING]
The European Fencing Confederation welcomes feedback, suggestions and ideas for future webinars as it continues to develop new initiatives for the fencing community.
