Paris, France - July 27, 2024

The combat sport of fencing has been drawing in more participants of all ages in France, one of the birthplaces of the elegant sport, with the ongoing Paris Olympics helping to entice more people to pick up the sword and join a local club.

After coming to prominence around the 19th century, Fencing is considered one of the most iconic Olympic events and has been a fixture at every modern edition of the Games since 1896.

Competitions at the 2024 Paris Olympics are also being staged in the city's Grand Palais, offering a stunning backdrop to spectators inside this distinctive glass-roofed venue.

At the Scuf Escrime fencing club in the capital Paris, enthusiasts shared their own experiences and explained why fencing is so beloved in the country.

Manager Olivier Beauvais said that many fencing clubs like his receive subsidies through various means. He said the venue for his business is provided for free by the City of Paris, and each member only needs to pay 500 euros (around 540 U.S. dollars) a year for weekly professional training and unlimited use of the facilities.

At present there are nearly 1,000 clubs spread across France, and Beauvais noted it's not too difficult to find one in the capital.

For many hobbyists, the accessibility of fencing facilities coupled with the chance to frequently compete against top fencers is the main attraction, and explains the sport's high level of performance and widespread popularity.

The sport is relatively affordable to those who wish to pursue it on a regular basis, with the cost of renting a full fencing outfit for an entire year being between 100 to 150 euros, according to an employee at a fencing equipment store in Paris. However, when it comes to serious competitions, many fencers prefer to select the best fitting attire, which can be priced at around 1,000 euros for a complete set.

With the Paris Olympics seeing competitors coming from over 50 countries and regions worldwide, the sport's global appeal is undeniable, evolving from its sword fighting background into a graceful art form.

Shotlist:
Paris, France - July 27, 2024:
1. Various of fencers training;
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Soazic Leroy, fencing lover:
"In France, individual lessons (are) very often included in a basic package, so you can have a coach for yourself to train every week and you don't have to pay a lot more for that.";
3. Various of Olivier Beauvais, manager of Scuf Escrime, showing fencing gear to reporter;
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Olivier Beauvais, manager, Scuf Escrime:
"We have another one [fencing club] which is like 500 meters from here. We have fencing clubs everywhere in Paris.";
5. Various of interview in progress;
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Philippe Baudouin, fencing enthusiast (partially overlaid with shot 7):
"Now styles have merged. One of the reasons for that is that a lot of French coaches spread around the world and taught the technique to a lot of different countries.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
7. Fencers;
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8. Various of fencing gear for sale;
9. Various of employee of fencing equipment store introducing products to reporter;
10. Various of fencing gear for sale.

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