MOSCOW, December 8 (R-Sport) – The budget of the International Fencing Federation increased fivefold over the last four years, Russian tycoon Alisher Usmanov told R-Sport on Saturday.
Usmanov was re-elected to the post of federation president for another four-year term as the only candidate at the FIE's Moscow congress this week.
The federation budget comprised €20.3 million since 2008, when the 59-year-old mining and lumber magnate was first elected at the Paris congress.
“In 2008, it was €8 million euro for four years,” Usmanov said. “Today, the federation has €5 million per year, plus additional expenses made from extra budgetary sources, like the Fencing Development Fund and sponsorship money.”
Usmanov sees his priority for the next four years as popularizing fencing and making it more entertaining.
“We need to change some rules, return its visual appeal and make it telegenic,” Usmanov said, adding €2 million will be annually paid to Eurosport for broadcasting the sport.
Usmanov is also a majority shareholder in Arsenal football club.
