The head of the swordsmanship Federation, "Ziad Hassan", announced that Baghdad will host the Asian Championship under the age of 23 next October. A statement by the Olympic Committee said that "the continental federation sent a notice to the Asian federations to participate in the competitions of this championship, which will start on the nineteenth and continue until the twenty-fifth of next October." Hassan pointed out that "the federation has completed all arrangements to host the delegations and make the championship a success, which is a great occasion for interaction, and giving an opportunity for the champions to appear and get to know each other and gain experience from each other in this major continental sporting event." He expressed his "happiness in Baghdad hosting this major Asian gathering for the champions of the yellow continent, under the age of 23, adding that the presence of the Asian teams next October is evidence of the great status and sporting reputation that Iraq is distinguished b y. Stressing his confidence in the preparations made by the game federation to show the championship in a manner befitting the status of Iraq." He explained that "the Fencing Federation has formed a number of committees according to their specializations and is working from now to develop a joint program and draw up a well-thought-out strategy, and that everyone aspires to make the Asian Championship a success and to present it in a way that will win the admiration of the participating delegations." Source: National Iraqi News Agency