(Beijing, April 10) At a press conference for the "Good Luck Beijing" 2008 FIE World Championships held at the Fencing Hall of the National Convention Center today, the event organizing committee gave a brief account of the preparations for the tournament to be held on April 18-20.

According to Song Liandi, Venue Director of the Fencing Hall, National Convention Center, the event will provide the only chance for the athletes to get themselves adapted to this Olympic venue and its supporting facilities before the 2008 Games proper. That was why numerous top fencers from across the world, including the world top eight men's foil teams, 14 of the top 16 women's epee teams and 15 of the top 16 men's foil fencers.

This year's FIE World Championships consist of three events, namely men's team foil, women's team epee and men's individual foil. With an entry of 125 fencers from 19 countries and regions, the event is going to be the largest international fencing tournament ever held in China in recent years.

In the meantime, the event would also help test the overall operation of the venue for the upcoming Beijing Olympic fencing competition.