This is the Fourth Doodle for the London 2012 Summer
Olympics.
Olympic Doodle No. 4 presents "Fencing" (July
30th, 2012). Fencing has been contested at every Summer Olympic Games since the
birth of the modern Olympic movement 1896. This year started 105 men and 107
women in 10 events. More about Fencing at the Olympic Games in London
Fencing competitions at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London
are happening from 28 July to 5 August at ExCeL Exhibition Centre. Ten events
(6 individual, 4 team) are scheduled to be contested. The International Fencing
Federation (FIE) pushed for the inclusion of two more team events, but the IOC
voted to keep the current format of ten events.
Although sword fighting dates back thousands of years, Fencing
as we now understand it really came of age as a sport in the 19th century. A
tense, compelling battle of wits and technique, the sport is one of the few to
have featured at every modern Olympic Games.
Fencing has been contested at every Summer Olympic Games
since the birth of the modern Olympic movement at the 1896 Summer Olympics in
Athens. Women’s foil made its Olympic debut in Paris, during the 1924 Olympic
Games. There are three forms of Olympicfencing:
• Foil – a light thrusting weapon; the valid target is
restricted to the torso; double touches are not allowed.
• Épée – a heavy thrusting weapon; the valid target area
covers the entire body; double touches are allowed.
• Sabre – a light cutting and thrusting weapon; the valid
target area includes almost everything above the waist (excluding the back of
the head and the hands); double touches are not allowed.
Fencing takes place on a piste, 14 metres long and between
1.5m and 2m wide. All 10 medal events on the Fencing programme are run in a
knockout format.
Fencing is a fast, tense sport. Fencers must use all their
wits and quick thinking to out manoeuvre their opponent, judging the right time
and the most effective way to attack.
