Hungary and Budapest, where the event was staged at the Syma Event and Congress Centre, had done a "wonderful job for the promotion of fencing," Pietruszka said.

"We have witnessed fencing on the highest level combined with passionate spectators and an exemplary event organisation.

"For the first time the fencing world championships have been covered worldwide with live broadcast, for example, in the USA and in China.

"The event was the first step on the road to Rio 2016 and we will build on this in the coming three years."

As Pietruszka explained to insidethegames in an exclusive interview earlier this year, the FIE is contemplating a number of innovations as the governing body embarks on its second century of existence.

These could in time include coloured clothing and shorter individual matches, although Pietruszka was at pains to emphasise that any changes needed to be "evolutionary, not revolutionary".

Yuki Ota was among the athletes elected to the FIE athletes’ commission


That last gold medal in the men's foil carried Italy to second place in the medals table behind Russia, both countries winning three gold medals in all.

During the championship, six athletes were elected to the FIE athletes' commission after a record turnout of voters.

Successful candidates included three Olympic medallists - Yuki Ota of Japan, who is also a Tokyo 2020 bid ambassador; Valentina Vezzali of Italy and Mariel Zagunis of the United States.

The next major international fencing event is at the 2013 World Combat Games to be staged in two months' time in Saint Petersburg.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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