FPA Group, holder of the Carmimari and ONTC made in Italy technical brands, and Singapore Fencing Federation announce a five-year partnership, for the promotion of the Olympic Discipline in the country for the creation of the first “Wimbledon of Fencing” in the world.
Milan, Singapore, 21 October 2022 – In the important setting of Singapore Grand Prix Satellite, at the OCBC Arena, the Italian brands of fencing equipment, ONTC and Carmimari, part of the FPA Group, and Singapore Fencing Federation have signed a five-year partnership, unique of its kind, with the joint goal of developing fencing inside and outside the country’s borders. Representing the parties were Francesco Rossi, CEO of FPA Group and David C.Y. Chen, General Secretary of Fencing Singapore.
The Ambassador of Italy Mario Vattani and the President of the Parliament of Singapore Chuan-Jin Tan witnessed the important event.
“We are very happy that Italy, thanks to the initiative of a prestigious company such as Carmimari, is a partner of Singapore to contribute to the practice of fencing for many young people in the City-State” declared the Ambassador of Italy to Singapore, Mario Vattani. “We see on this occasion, the Ambassador continued, the possibility of developing similar programs with other countries in the region, along the lines of our development partnership with ASEAN, which also includes collaboration on health issues, which include mental health. After the restrictions of the pandemic, fencing today represents an excellent educational tool for the formation of character and personality, and the development of our free expression and the experimentation of our physical and mental abilities.”
The partnership stemmed from the synergistic objectives of the two realities. In the long term, the creation of a real “Wimbledon of Fencing”, which supports the promotion of the Olympic sport – traditionally an Italian powerhouse of results – throughout Asia.
In the short term, Singapore’s interest in building a program that propels the country to the international top of fencing; for FPA the objective of strategic expansion on foreign markets for the Carmimari brand.
In practice, the made in Italy and top of the range products of Carmimari and ONTC will be supplied to the national program of the Singapore Federation, or to all the teams in the federation’s nursery starting from the Under 17, up to the Senior and Absolute representative of the National team. Resources for two hundred thousand dollars will also be allocated on the development of the promotional events planned by the two parties.
“It is an important and ambitious laboratory for the future of Fencing.” says Francesco Rossi, CEO of the FPA Group, “Working with a determined Federation, which aims to be a center of excellence for sports worldwide, is a great source of pride for us. We need to bring new ideas to Fencing, to make it seize the opportunity it has in front of it: to become the next sport with high global media visibility. An opportunity that we intend to extend to the entire market, starting from a fundamental hub like that of Singapore “.
An approach that brings immediate benefit to the whole movement. “In fact, Fencing has an incredibly developed professional sector,” – continues Rossi – “unfortunately, however, it fails to express neither the values of competitive gestures nor those of image to a large audience, seeking new experiences. We think it is our role as ‘Builders’ in the world of Fencing to act more directly in concentration with the Federations to change this trend “.
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Fencing Singapore
Fencing Singapore, the fencing federation of the city-state, was founded in 1965, originally under the name of “Amateur Fencing Association of Singapore”.
With over 5000 active fencers in the community, active and participating in most international competitions, Fencing Singapore promotes the sport of Fencing throughout the territory by organizing tournaments and specific events for young people. The federation’s mission is to raise the profile of fencing in Singapore and bring Olympic successes to the country.
FPA Group – Argumented Commerce SRL
Argumented Commerce SRL was founded in 2012 with the ONTC brand to revolutionize access to fencing by sportsmen, radically reducing the price of materials. Subsequently in 2018 it acquired Carmimari, the inventor brand of the electric foil, which is the point signaling system used until today in modern fencing, as well as supplier and sponsor of some of the most famous names in the Olympic history of the sport, which is the most successful Italian sport in the world until today. The Group took on the name of “FPA Group” in 2021, with the addition of the third brand – FPA – focused on promoting and managing the image of world fencing in new audience segments.
