Wheelchair fencing Euros switches location

The competition was originally scheduled for Hatfield, Great Britain, in 2020 before being reorganised to May 2021 when the new qualification pathway for Tokyo 2020 was published.

However the IWAS Executive Committee has reviewed the plans for the event and made the difficult decision to relocate it to a more well-established, compact and familiar wheelchair fencing venue in the Eger Hotel and Park.

IWAS President, Rudi Van Den Abbeele, said: “Given the uncertainty around the length and progress of the COVID-19 pandemic around the world, we want to ensure that we make the most sensible and safe choices possible for athletes and teams.

“We therefore re-visited a strong bid from Hungary to host a World Cup in 2021 with an experienced Local Organising Committee at the Eger Hotel and Park, where all accommodation and competition is contained within one building.

“Hatfield would have been a great stage at any other time. However in this case, with multiple team hotels and Championship venues, we thought it more prudent to move the competition to somewhere more self-contained. The Europeans will still be a great showcase for the sport with three months to go until the Paralympics.

“I would like to thank everyone who has worked with us on the Euros in Hatfield and the organisers in Eger for their assistance. IWAS Wheelchair Fencing is keen to host major competitions in new locations in the long-term future.”