The Congress followed the last World Cup of 2024, also held in Pisa, from 7-10 November.

Pal Szekeres stood unopposed and was re-elected as the Chairperson of the Executive Committee. Hungarian Szekeres, who was the first person to become an Olympian and Paralympian in fencing, will lead the group until the next elections in 2028.

Former Treasurer, Brazil’s Arno Perillier Schneider, was elected as the Vice-Chairperson.

The wider Executive Committee were elected to regional positions and member-at-large roles.

These were Gabrielle Sabharwal of the USA who will be responsible for the development of the Americas region, Karl Wong of Hong Kong for Asia and Alain Febvre of France for Europe. Greece’s Christina Massiala was re-elected as the Gender Equity representative and Germany’s Mark Perelmann was elected as the final member-at-large.

As well as elections to the new Executive Committee, Member countries received updates on classification activities, a review of a very successful Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and an overview of the 2025 calendar as well as reports from the sport’s Commissions.

Szekeres said: “I am very happy that the community has put its faith in me again and re-elected me to lead the sport for the next four years, a period which will take in the build-up and delivery of the next Paralympic Games at LA 2028 as well as many World Cups, regional and World Championships.

“We have made much progress and I would like to thank the outgoing Executive Committee for their great efforts. I extend my congratulations to the new group and look forward to seeing what ideas they will bring to move us forward still further over the coming period as we evolve into World Para Fencing.”

Votes were held on motions received from Members and the previous Executive Committee, such as rule changes, updates and clarifications to technical, organisational and material rule books and recommendations from the committee and Athletes’ Council on the motions.

Delegates voted for a motion tabled by the National Paralympic of Ukraine to limit the number of weapons an athlete can compete in at Regional and World Championships and the Paralympic Games, in individual events, to two but to allow fencers to compete in epee, foil and sabre in team events if they wish.

The Congress closed on a high with the presentation of the new name and brand for the sport. From January 2025 it will be known as World Para Fencing and the new look will be launched across the organisation’s platforms, events, communications and competitions from the new year.