Why fencing won't be fixed.
Added 2024-08-27 13:50:22 +0000 UTCThe FIE has no competition.
Since the IOC gives the FIE sole responsibility of organising Olympic qualification, they effectively have a monopoly on international fencing. If a fencer wants to go to the Olympics, they have to compete in FIE events. If a fencer is unhappy with fencing they have no alternative organisation to turn to.
Nobody is watching.
Fencing is rarely presented as a spectator sport. Many bouts take place effectively behind closed doors. Media coverage is nearly non existent. It is not in the interest of the corrupt to bring more attention to fencing.
The FIE doesn’t even need spectators/attention
In sport and entertainment capturing audience attention is usually the primary objective. The FIE does not make any significant amount of money from sponsorship, ticket sales, tv rights etc…
Historically the FIE has been funded nearly entirely by the IOC and Usmanov. Market forces won’t knock the FIE into shape. The only thing that can hold the FIE to account is the IOC, which isn’t particularly clean either.
History is written by the winners.
The fencers with the biggest voices are the ones that have been the most successful. If you have already been successful then you have very little incentive to push for change. The complaints from lower ranked fencers will easily dismissed as “sour grapes”.
People only act out of self interest.
No elaboration needed.
