RICHMOND, B.C. – This weekend at the Richmond Olympic Oval, fans will have the unique opportunity to watch the world’s athletes from three different sports without having to leave the venue. It’s a bonus for the athletes, organizers and fans.

The 2014 Victor Gantsevich Fencing Grand Prix is one of only three Men’s Épée Grand Prix competitions to be held in the 2013-14 fencing season, and the only one in North America. It is worth twice the points of a non-Grand Prix World Cup, which means that many of the best fencers in the world, the athletes attempting to win the coveted title of overall world cup points-leader, will be in attendance. The event takes place on March 22nd and 23rd at the Richmond Olympic Oval and is hosted by the Canadian Fencing Federation (CFF) and British Columbia Fencing Association (BCFA). For more information or tickets, please visit www.vancouvergp.com.

“This is a great opportunity to promote the sport of Fencing in BC, and to also promote Richmond as a sport destination city” says John French, President of the BCFA. “This will be the highest level fencing competition held in the whole of North America this year, and has only come together due to the great working relationship between the BCFA, Canadian Fencing Federation, Heritage Canada, the City of Richmond, the Richmond Olympic Oval, Hosting BC and the host club, Dynamo Fencing Club.”

The Battle and Blades Super Weekend begins with the Intact Insurance Speed Skating Qualifier, from Thursday, March 20th to Sunday, March 23rd. This competition will be used to rank the 24 men and women for the 2014-15 national and development teams. The only single day event of the weekend is the 2014 North American Karate Cup on Saturday, March 22nd. Karate Canada’s National Team athletes will take on the national teams from the USA and Mexico.

-30-