Congratulations on your selection to the 2013 World Veteran Fencing Championship!

In an effort to streamline the collection of information, we have developed this online system. Please be sure to complete each section.

If you have any questions, please contact Kate Reisinger at k.reisinger@usfencing.org.

Good luck and GO USA!!

THE UNDERSIGNED member of the United States Fencing Association (USA FENCING) delegation to the 2013 World Veterans Fencing Championship in Varna hereby acknowledges and agrees:

1. The USA FENCING, its officers, staff and volunteers, have decided to enter a United States delegation in the 2013 World Veterans Fencing Championship;

2. That in considering its decision, USA FENCING, its officers, employees, executive committee and volunteers have acted in good faith to decide the matter reasonably, with due concern for the safety of the delegation and its members, but that these persons are not experts in such matters as international affairs, security and related fields, and that they have by necessity had to act quickly and with possibly incomplete information;

3. That no qualified member of the delegation is being required to attend the 2013 World Veterans Fencing Championship, and that each delegation member has been given the option of attending or not, as he or she (or, in the case of a member not of legal age, as his parent/legal guardian) believes to be in the member’s own best interest, without reliance on any information, assurance or expectation of specific benefit from USA FENCING, its officers, employees, executive committee and volunteers;

4. That the insurance policies maintained by USA FENCING for the benefit of its members, for its own liability protection and for the liability protection of its employees, officers and volunteers, may contain exclusions from coverage for “acts of terrorism” or for “acts of war”, and that such policies also contain coverage limits that could result in incomplete benefits even for covered events; and that consequently, USA FENCING cannot guarantee either the existence or extent of insurance protection for delegation members;

5. That USA FENCING has made it a condition of the inclusion in the 2013 World Veterans Fencing Championship delegation that each member thereof: (a) acknowledge the foregoing facts and considerations; (b) waive any claims that the member and his or her estate, heirs, successors, family members or representatives may have or may obtain against USA FENCING and its employees, officers and volunteers, arising out of the decision to send a USA FENCING delegation to the 2013 World Veterans Fencing Championship; and (c) release USA FENCING, its employees, officers and volunteers from any liability for any occurrence in connection with travel to and from the 2013 World Veterans Fencing Championship, from participation in the 2013 World Veterans Fencing Championship or from the member’s presence in the locale of the 2013 World Veterans Fencing Championship for the duration thereof and for periods associated with but taking place before and after the 2013 World Veterans Fencing Championship.

ACKNOWLEDGING THE FOREGOING, and in the exercise of his or her independent judgment, undersigned member has elected to join the USA FENCING delegation to the 2013 World Veterans Fencing Championship, and as an inducement to USA FENCING for including such member in the delegation, agrees as follows:

1. Assumption of Risk and Responsibility: The undersigned member agrees to assume and hereby assumes all legal and financial responsibility for any and all risks, dangers, injuries, damages and losses, whether to person or property, and whether physical, psychological, social or economic, that the member may, in any manner and from whatever cause, sustain in connection with membership in the USA FENCING 2013 World Veterans Fencing Championship delegation, and;

2. Waiver of Liability: The undersigned member waives any claims that the member and his or her estate, heirs, successors, family members or representatives may have or may obtain against USA FENCING, its employees, officers or volunteers, arising out of the decision to send a USA FENCING delegation to the 2013 World Veterans Fencing Championship or from information provided to the undersigned in connection with or for the purpose of assisting in the decision of the undersigned concerning membership in said delegation or the execution of this document; and

3. Release and Indemnification: The undersigned member, for himself or herself, and for the member’s estate, heirs, successors, family members and representatives, hereby fully and forever releases, discharges, holds harmless and agrees to indemnify USA FENCING and its employees, directors, officers, members, officials, coaches, committees, volunteers, affiliates, representatives, agents, and their respective successors and assigns, from and against any and all liabilities, losses, claims, demands, litigation, damages and judgments, present or future, known or unknown, valid or invalid, direct or consequential (whether physical, psychological, social, economic or otherwise), together with reasonable costs and attorney fees, which result directly or indirectly from injuries, illness, disability (whether permanent, temporary, total or partial), death or other harm to the member, the member’s property or the member’s estate, heirs, successors, family members or representatives, or otherwise, that may result in any manner and from whatever cause, in connection with member’s inclusion in the USA FENCING 2013 World Veterans Fencing Championship delegation of the member’s participation in that event.

I further understand and acknowledge that this is a legal document. I have had the opportunity to review its provisions and I understand its purpose, meaning and intent.

Introduction: Membership on an USA Fencing National Team, competing around the world in international and at national events is an honor. It is a distinction few achieve and an accomplishment universally recognized as a distinctive achievement in the sport. It is in that context that we ask you to make the pledge set forth below to the USA Fencing Association and to the United States Olympic Committee in promoting sustained competitive excellence in the sport.

Athlete Pledge: I pledge to uphold the spirit of the Athlete Code of Conduct (ACC), which offers a general guide to my conduct as a member of the National Team, or as a member of any named team to any USA Fencing designated event, training camp or competition.

I hereby acknowledge that I have been informed that USA Fencing has adopted Grievance Procedures, which are contained in the USA Fencing Athlete Handbook, that provide me with the right to a hearing if my opportunity to compete is denied for any reason or if I am charged with any violation of the ACC.

By signing the ACC, I (1) accept nomination and, if accepted, selection to the National Team and/or to any named team to any USA Fencing designated event, training camp or competition,

(2) agree to abide by this ACC and the Grievance Procedures noted above, which will be used by USA Fencing to resolve any alleged violations of the ACC,

(3) agree to submit any dispute that arises in relation to my nomination or selection to the National Team, or to any named team, to any USA Fencing designated event, training camp or competition, to USA Fencing pursuant to the Grievance Procedures apply as soon as I sign the USA Fencing Athlete Agreement.

I have familiarized myself with the ACC and understand that acceptance of its provisions as written is a condition of my selection to the National Team, or to any named team to any USA Fencing designated event, training camp or competition.

This ACC must be signed in an unaltered form in all applicable places in order for an individual to become a member of the National Team or the team to any designated event, training camp or competition.

The duration of any activity (event, training camp or competition) is defined as the period beginning when a participant comes under the supervision of a Team Leader, Team captain, National Coach or other person vested with the authority of USA Fencing until the participant is no longer under such immediate supervision.

AS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL TEAM OR A MEMBER OF A USA FENCING TEAM TO A DESIGNATED TEAM EVENT, TRAINING CAMP OR COMPETITION, I HEREBY PROMISE AND AGREE THAT I:

• Will act in a sportsmanlike manner consistent with the spirit of fair play and responsible conduct;

• Will maintain a level of fitness and competitive readiness that will permit my performances to be at the maximum of my abilities;

• Will submit to a physical examination by USA Fencing medical personnel if my ability to compete is compromised due to physical injury and I understand that such injury may be cause for my not being selected to the National Team, or the Team designated event, being removed from the National Team, or the Team to any designated event, or not being allowed to participate if I remain on the Team;

• Will not commit a doping violation as defined by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), the International Fencing Federation (FIE) or the United States Olympic Committee (USOC);

• Will refrain from conduct detracting from my ability or that of my teammates to attain peak performance;

• I will seek to attend team functions, meetings, practices, competitions and media events, in a timely manner and refrain from actions and activities that would be a disruption, either to myself or my teammates;

• Will respect the property of others whether personal or public;

• Will respect members of my Team, other teams, spectators and officials and will notify persons invested with supervision of the team at events, training camps or competitions of any circumstances that would prevent any member from being able to compete or participate at an optimal level;

• Will engage in no form of discriminatory behavior or verbal, physical or sexual harassment or abuse (see USA Fencing policy on sexual misconduct and harassment), I understand that it is a USA Fencing rule that any sexual contact or advance or any other inappropriate sexually oriented behavior directed toward an athlete by another athlete or person in a position of authority is prohibited;

• Will follow USA Fencing rules established by the Team Leader, Team Captain, or any other person vested with the authority of USA Fencing, including by way of example, rules regarding required attendance at camps and events and curfew at events while a member of a USA Fencing team;

• Will abide by the FIE rules regarding eligibility for World Cup and World Championship competition, with USOC rules regarding eligibility for Olympic competition, and rules concerning allowable trademark identification on clothing and equipment worn or used at all of these events;

• Am aware that USA Fencing sponsors, suppliers, and licensees provide critical support for the Team and that, when requested, I will wear USA Fencing sponsored apparel and use USA Fencing sponsored equipment at official USA Fencing and FIE events;

• Will not use or authorize the use of my name, person, picture, voice, or any of my sports performances for the purpose of trade during designated events without the prior written consent of USA Fencing;

• Will attempt to participate in media and sponsor-related activities if compatible with my training and competitive schedule at designated events when requested by the National Coach or the Team Leader, or his or her designee;

• Will act in a way that will bring respect and honor to myself, my teammates, my family, USA Fencing and the United States of America;

• Will respect the laws, customs and traditions of the countries in which I may be traveling and competing while representing USA Fencing; and

• Will remember that at all times I am an ambassador for my sport, my country and the Olympic Movement.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Kate Reisinger at k.reisinger@usfencing.org.

BE SURE TO SUBMIT YOUR FORM BELOW!