Many of the biggest names in the sport will compete at the Syma Sport and Events Centre, including Italy's six time Olympic champion Valentina Vezzali, who will chase a staggering 14th world title in the women's foil - with the individual competition the first title to be contended.

The 39-year-old returns to competition less than three months after giving birth to her second son and in a warning to her competitors, in 2005 she won gold four months after the birth of her first son.

She will have her work cut even to be the best Italian, however, as her two teammates are London 2012 champion Elisa Di Francisca and world number one Arianna Errigo.

Valentina Vezzali celebrates after her most recent Olympic gold in the team foil event at London 2012 - the sixth of her remarkable career




Elsewhere, men's Olympic sabre champion Aron Szilagyi will lead the home challenge and will look to improve on the three World Cup titles he has won in 2013.

Other big names to compete include Egypt's Olympic silver medallist Alaaeldin Abouelkassem, as well as Venezuela's first Olympic fencing champion Ruben Limardo.

The elections to the FIE Athletes Commission will also be conducted during the week, while the Championships will also have special significance due to the fact that the FIE is celebrating its centenary anniversary in 2013,

A Hall of Fame as well as an exhibition about the history of the sport and the governing body will be held alongside the action, with valuable fencing artefacts being made available to the public.

The Championships will be broadcast worldwide after several television deals were agreed, while it will also be shown online on the YouTube fencing channel which can be accessed here.