Tour de Force … lightsaber duels now a French ‘sport’

Clash: In 1977’s Star Wars JEDI the world over have been fighting for their religion to get legal recognition for decades.

That may still be light years away, but in France officials have approved the Jedi knight’s weapon of choice, the lightsaber. The country’s national fencing federation has awarded Jedi duelling the status of ‘sport’.

This means LED-lit replicas of the Star Wars weapon, which duellers deploy in three-minute bouts, are ranked on a par with the foil, epee and sabre.

The French Fencing Federation will now equip its clubs with lightsabers and train specialist instructors. Serge Aubailly, of the federation, said the move would encourage young people to get out and exercise.

He added: ‘Cape and sword movies have always had a big impact on our federation and its growth. Lightsaber films have the same impact… young people want to give it a try.’