Cnos-Ben rewards the Beninese Federation of Track Fencing and Standards Marker

2023-09-13 22:48:01

Views: 33

The two presidents during the handover and reception of materials

What you should know: From now on, fencing competitions will be held with standard equipment. This is what should be understood after the gesture of the Beninese National Olympic and Sports Committee (Cnos Ben) towards the Beninese Fencing Federation. Indeed, Cnos Ben has provided the said federation with equipment that meets the standards of the international federation of the discipline. This is thanks to the dynamism of its President, Julien Minavoa, with the support of Olympic solidarity in its continental activities aspect in support of the Federations. These are 3 tracks and electronic scorers whose presentations took place on the external esplanade of the national assembly on Wednesday September 13, 2023. And according to the president of the national committee, Julien Minavoa, this gesture was made on request from the executive committee of the Beninese Fencing Federation. The 3 fencing slopes validated by the International Fencing Federation (1500 x 1700 mm in aluminum) have a total value of 8,683,995 CFA francs. The scorer (Fencing score screen: 350 x 500 mm) validated by the International Fencing Federation is worth 1,000,411 CFA francs. Or a donation with a total cost of 9,684,406 CFA francs.

What they say : During the award ceremony, President Jacques Okoumassoun thanked the president of the Beninese national Olympic and sports committee and its executive for this special attention to his discipline. “When the president of the Cnos Ben told us that the Committee was going to support us and that our athletes would never again shoot on tracks that come from elsewhere, we didn’t believe it. I say this very sincerely. Today it is done and I would like that together we thank Cnos Ben who gave us this donation,” declared President Okoumassoun who said he was happy to know that from now on, Beninese athletes will shoot on equipment specific to the federation and not the trails taken. He also said he was happy for the gift of the sampler. For President Julien Minavoa, fencing is not just any sport. According to him, to do fencing, the athlete must stand on a track with his weapon in hand. “If you are at initiation, you can stand on any space. But, if you want to do fencing you must stay on a regulatory track,” said Julien Minavoa who justified why Cnos Ben made this donation. Welcoming the dynamism of the president of the federation, President Minavoa said “you had to be Jacques Okoumassoun to establish in Benin the sport called Fencing. And in less than one mandate he offered the Cnos ben the possibility of presenting itself at the Olympic Games with a qualified athlete. He believes that this donation will boost the practice of the discipline in the country so that it (the country) can have athletes capable of representing it in the sub-region and others. “If the country’s resources allow it, I think that the authorities of our country will provide fencing with what is necessary so that these tracks are no longer exposed to bad weather but in a gymnasium as it should be”, hoped the President Minavoa.

Partial view of participants in the equipment handover ceremony

Between the lines : Furthermore, it should be noted that at the same time, the Beninese fencing federation received 2 other tracks meeting the standards of the international fencing federation. This brings the number of tracks to 5. The athletes therefore have the means to improve their shots for the championships which are launched the same day.

Anselme HOUENOUKPO