MOSCOW, December 23. /TASS/. The International Fencing Union (FIE) has allowed Russian youth fencers to compete in international tournaments under the national flag and to the tune of the country’s anthem, President of the Russian Fencing Federation (RFF) Ilgar Mamedov told TASS on Tuesday.
"I am very glad that in the run-up to the New Year we received a document from the International Fencing Federation, which confirmed that our young athletes can represent their country with all national markers - the flag and the anthem," Mamedov said.
Earlier in the year, the Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that international federations allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in youth competitions with national symbols in both individual and team disciplines.
Asked by TASS where and when the young Russian athletes would get a chance to celebrate their wins to the tune of the national anthem, Mamedov said: "As far as I know, our women's foil team is heading to the United Arab Emirates on the night of December 31."
The UAE is hosting a major FIE Junior and Cadet World Cup event in Fujairah on January 2-4. Russian adult fencers are allowed to participate in FIE-sponsored events strictly under a neutral status.
