Weekends at the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon in Rio de Janeiro’s Southern Zone are usually a laid-back affair, with couples taking to the water on pedalos, or families picnicking on the shore. But this weekend, there’ll be something rather different to interest the public: sword-fighting.

More properly known as fencing, this Olympic sport will be on display by the Corte de Cantagalo side of the lagoon between 1000 to 1300 on Saturday and Sunday. Entrance to “Fencing by the Lagoon” will be free, with the hope that it will increase awareness of the sport ahead of the men’s and women’s Grand Prix fencing event due to take place between 22-24 May at the army’s physical education centre in Urca.

This weekend’s event will showcase the three weapons that make up the sport: the foil, the épée and the sabre. Fencing will be both an Olympic and a Paralympic event at Rio 2016 (in which the athletes compete in wheelchairs); Interested spectators will be invited to try out themselves, under the guidance of some of the best fencers in the world.

With the support of both the International Fencing Federation and the Brazilian Fencing Confederation, Amanda Simeão and Athos Schwantens, the number one ranked sword-fighters in Brazil will be on hand to demonstrate the sport. Children are particularly welcome to join the fun. There is no need for special clothing, although trainers are recommended.

The following weekend, the eighth stage of the International Federation’s Grand Prix series will also be free for spectators. With a total of nine stages spread across every continent, including competitions with all three types of weapon, the GP series is the second-biggest fencing event in the world, second only to the World Championship. Rio de Janeiro will host both the men’s and women’s individual sword-fighting competition: with the men’s final due to take place on Saturday (23) and the women’s final on Sunday (24). Around 400 athletes, from over 50 countries, are expected to attend, among them the current Olympic fencing champion, the Venezuelan Ruben Limardo.

Volunteer observers and officials from the Rio 2016 Committee will also attend the Grand Prix, to help improve their understanding of the dynamics of the tournament.

At present, fencing is a sport little practiced or understood by Brazilians. But on his last visit to Rio de Janeiro, in March this year, the president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, gold medallist in the foil in Montreal 1976 – recalled his efforts to train children in the sport at a social project in Tijuca in the city’s Northern Zone. 

Thomas Bach, president of the IOC, takes on the 8-year old fencer Matheus (Foto: Alexandre Loureiro/Arquivo Rio 2016)