Star Wars fans in France have a reason to celebrate because it looks like lightsaber dueling is now recognized as an official sport in France.
For those who aren't familiar with fencing as a sport, the French Fencing Federation is one of the biggest organizations regarding the sport in Europe. There are three typically recognized forms of fencing. This includes foil, saber, and epee. Now, according to AP news, there's a fourth form recognized by the Federation: lightsaber dueling.
Featuring rounds that last for three minutes, this new fencing form is based on the iconic Sith and Jedi fighting style from the Star Wars franchise. The lightsaber dueling style uses LED-lit polycarbonate replicas of the iconic weapon. These can range from simple light up lightsabers to advanced models of the weapon that can actually emit the same kind of sound Star Wars fans hear during lightsaber duels.
The only difference between lightsaber dueling and classical fencing is that the new form requires its duelists to pull their sword behind themselves before trying to strike an opponent.
Federation Secretary General Serge Aubaily spoke in an interview with AP News, and in the discussion, the Federation officer tried to explain why lightsaber dueling was made one of the acceptable forms of fencing.
"With young people today... they don't do any sport and only exercise with their thumbs," Federation Aubailly told the publication, "It's becoming difficult to (persuade them to) do a sport that has no connection with getting out of the sofa and playing with one's thumbs. That is why we are trying to create a bond between our discipline and modern technologies, so participating in a sport feels natural."
Guess Star Wars fans have a legitimate reason to take up the lightsaber now.
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