#Event Description and Format -- Fencing#
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The Olympic fencing competition is broken down over three sword
categories -- the foil, epee and sabre.  There are six medals at
stake in the men's competition and four for the women.  None of
the competitions are mixed. 

The tournament will take place between September 16-24 at the
Sydney Exhibition Center, Halls 4 and 5. 

The individual competition is a direct elimination tournament
until four fencers are left.  The four finalists then fence off
in the final round. 

Teams fence in a direct elimination tournament until two are
left.  The two remaining teams fence for the gold medal and the
losers of the semifinal round fence for the bronze. 

Fencers duel until one scores 15 touches on the opponent or is
ahead after nine minutes. 

In the foil -- an event for the men and women with both
individual and team competitions -- a touch is scored when the
point of the sword makes contact with the trunk of the body
between the collar and hipbones. 

Points are available in the epee -- a second-time event for the
women -- when a touch is made on any part of the body. 

The sabre -- contested only by men -- awards points when touches
are made with the point and cutting edges of the sword above the
opposing dueler's waist. 

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