Oceania Fencing Confederation update

2022 into 2023 has been a very busy time for the Oceania Fencing Confederation (OFC), beginning with conducting the 2022 OFC Veteran Championships, in conjunction with the Australian Veteran and Open Championships, in Adelaide from November 25 to 29. Athletes from New Zealand, Tahiti and Australia competed over a brilliant five days of action.

Fencing New Zealand (FeNZ) then conducted an Olympic Solidarity Technical Foil Course in Christchurch from December 12 to 20, assisted by the OFC Coaching Commission. MaƮtre Zoltan Bernat of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) Coaching Academy led a very well received course with 33 participants from Guam, Tahiti, New Zealand and Australia. The OFC convened an assessment panel in association with this course and 13 Level 2 Coaches were accredited. They are now ready to make a real difference to coaching in Oceania.

In January, the OFC worked towards completion of its online Level 1 Coaching Course with face-to-face assessments in Brisbane with two coaches from Fiji and one from PNG. These coaches will make a very valuable contribution to fencing development in their respective countries.