The meeting dedicated to presenting the process that led the Under 20 Fencing World Cup to obtain ISO 20121 certification , the international standard for sustainable event management, took place at the Hotel Astoria in Udine.The Udine event brought together institutions and project partners to review the work that led to the recognition issued by CSQA , the body that verified the process developed by the Local Organizing Committee.
Speakers at the meeting included Paolo Menis , Councillor of the Italian Fencing Federation and President of the Organising Committee, Mario Anzil , Vice President of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and Councillor for Culture and Sport, Olympic champion Mara Navarria , Vice President of CONI Friuli Venezia Giulia and patron of the event, Marco Omodei Salé of CSQA , and Chiara Dazzan, Councillor for Sport of the Municipality of Udine.
"We are proud to have hosted such an important event in Friuli Venezia Giulia for twenty years," emphasized Paolo Menis . " Over the years, we have always strived to raise the bar, and this very spirit has driven us to embark on the journey that has led us today to formalize ISO 20121 certification."
For Mario Anzil, this is "good news" not only for fencing but for the entire region. "The Region supports events that embrace new challenges and successfully combine sport, youth participation, environmental awareness, and local promotion. We hope this experience can become a model for other organizations to follow."
Mara Navarria focused on the event's value as an international benchmark. "The Udine event is among the most esteemed on the world circuit, and over the past twenty years, many talented athletes destined for great careers have graced its stages. The certification obtained today makes this event a concrete example to be observed and replicated."
Marco Omodei Salé of CSQA explained the significance of the certification. "Our job is to ensure that the declared commitments are actually translated into action. The result achieved certifies this path. But today doesn't represent a point of arrival, because this is an ongoing process that puts people at the center and aims to make events increasingly inclusive."
The City of Udine also reiterated its support for the initiative. "We are proud to host the Under-20 World Cup ," said Chiara Dazzan . " Sustainability isn't just about environmental aspects, it also involves how an event generates value for the community. Having an event at the PalaIndoor Ovidio Bernes that embodies these principles is a source of great satisfaction for the city."
The final report was presented during the meeting. which documents the path developed by the Organizing Committee.
ISO 20121 certification represents the result of years of work, based on the adoption of procedures aimed at continuous improvement, impact measurement, and stakeholder engagement.
The figures presented, referring to the January 2026 edition, confirm the international dimension of the event : 369 athletes from 39 countries, over five hundred accredited participants, and a significant economic impact on the region. Over 80 percent of the organizational expenditure went to suppliers in Friuli Venezia Giulia.
Particular attention was paid to the social aspects of the project , which involved volunteers and students engaged in training courses and hosted the first national meeting of the Pink Ribbon project, dedicated to women who have undergone breast surgery and who use fencing as a tool for recovery and well-being.
On the environmental front, the report highlights the reduction of single-use plastic, the reuse of materials used in the setups, the promotion of shared mobility, and separate waste collection, which reached 92 percent of the waste produced during the event.
The meeting concluded with a look to the future. The goal is to consolidate the system introduced with ISO 20121 and make the experience gained in Udine available to the fencing movement and beyond, so that it can become a benchmark for other sporting events as well.