The Para Fencing European Championships are being held in the UK for the first time since Sheffield in 2011, hosted at the Sport Wales National Centre in the shadow of Sophia Gardens. The event marks the first qualification event for the Paralympics in Los Angeles.
World Abilitysport president praises Cardiff venue
Paralympic champion Rudi Van den Abbeele, president of World Abilitysport, said Cardiff is the perfect host for the competition and getting the LA2028 qualification progress underway. World Abilitysport awarded the hosting of the continental showpiece to British Fencing, in partnership with UK Sport, supported by funding from The National Lottery and the Welsh Government.
The event comes after the successful hosting of a World Cup event in the city two years ago with Disability Sport Wales, the lead organisation for sport and physical activity for disabled people in Wales, leading the team of over almost 100 volunteers.
Van den Abbeele's praise for Cardiff
Van den Abbeele, who won pentathlon gold plus discus and shot put bronzes at Seoul 1988, said: "Coming to Cardiff is always special. It was a surprise to discover this magnificent arena, which is marvellous.
"When I see the competition, the number of people present, the organisation of this, it's really top. I'm staying right by Principality Stadium and have got some good friends from the rugby team from over the years.
"Then you've got the castle, while there are some great pubs and food in town. It's very interesting to start the LA2028 Paralympic cycle with these European Championships – measuring and evaluating the level of Europe."
British medal-winning start
Action got underway on Tuesday as Britain bagged mixed team epee bronze in the opening event of the competition. Piers Gilliver, Dimitri Coutya, Gemma Collis and Justine Moore combined to get the hosts off to a medal-winning start as Ukraine grabbed gold ahead of Poland.
In the afternoon, Coutya, Collis, Moore and Oliver Lam-Watson joined forces to emulate those exploits as Italy claimed gold ahead of Hungary. Van den Abbeele, 73, added: "I'm always surprised about the level of the British team – they have some excellent athletes.
"I see the amount fencing has grown in Paris since the Olympics and Paralympics in 2024, and that's happening in England as well like it was after 2012."
The Para Fencing European Championships, supported by funding from UK Sport through The National Lottery, and Welsh Government, is being held in Cardiff on the 6th-11th October 2026, seeing athletes from across Europe compete in the first qualification event for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
