(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)

Logo: TVO Kids News.

Daniel walks in the studio moving around a light saber and making light saber sounds.

Daniel is in his twenties, with short curly brown hair and wears glasses, jeans, and a gray and blue TVO Kids hooded sweatshirt.

(MAKING LIGHTSABER SOUNDS)

Daniel says WELCOME BACK
TO
TVOK NEWS.

On a screen behind him appears a still from a scene from Star Wars with a caption hat reads "Olympic Jedi Masters."

Daniel says DON'T MIND ME, YOU KNOW,
I'M JUST PRACTICING
ON BECOMING
A JEDI MASTER.
WHY, YOU ASK?
BECAUSE ONE DAY,
I COULD BE THE NEXT JEDI MASTER
AT THE OLYMPICS!
I'M BEING SERIOUS.
LET'S BREAK IT DOWN.
EARLIER THIS YEAR,
THE FENCING FEDERATION OF FRANCE
OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED
LIGHTSABER DUELING
AS A COMPETITIVE SPORT.
YOU HEARD ME RIGHT,
LIGHTSABERS.

An illustration on the screen now shows 3 different types of swords.

Daniel says NOW, FENCING IS A COMBAT SPORT
WHICH USUALLY INVOLVES
EITHER A FOIL,
ÉPÉE, OR SABRE,
WHICH YOU CAN SEE HERE.
NOW, POINTS ARE TYPICALLY EARNED
WHEN THE WEAPON MAKES CONTACT
WITH THE PLAYERS' OPPONENT.
BUT DON'T WORRY, ALL FENCERS
WEAR PROTECTIVE GEAR,
SO PLAYERS ARE
RARELY INJURED.
NOW, THE FENCING FEDERATION
BELIEVES THAT KIDS ARE PLAYING
MORE VIDEO GAMES
THAN SPORTS,
PLAYING MORE WITH
THEIR THUMBS.
SO TO BRIDGE THE GAP,
THE FEDERATION WANTED TO CREATE
A BOND BETWEEN CLASSICAL FENCING
AND TODAY'S MODERN TECHNOLOGY.
THEY DECIDED TO LOOK
TO GEORGE LUCAS'
FAMOUS FRANCHISE,
STAR WARS.
NOW, FRENCH ORGANIZERS
HAD TO PRODUCE THE SPORT
FROM THE GROUND UP.
THEY CREATED RULES TO MAKE
THE GAME COMPETITIVE,
FAIR, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
SAFE.

A clip on the screen shows a light saber fight at a competition.

Daniel says THEY ALSO WANTED THE SPORT
TO HAVE THE SAME
LOOK AND FEEL AS THE MOVIES,
BECAUSE AFTER ALL,
THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE
ARE GOING TO EXPECT.
SINCE THERE ARE ONLY A HANDFUL
OF LIGHTSABER FENCERS,
DON'T EXPECT TO SEE IT
AT THE 2024 OLYMPICS,
BUT THERE IS TALK OF THE SPORT
BECOMING PART OF
THE OLYMPICS IN
THE FUTURE.
SO WHY NOT GIVE IT A TRY?
WAIT,
THAT'S NOT THE SAYING.

He clears his throat and says in a deep voice DO OR DO NOT,
THERE IS NO TRY.
AND MAY THE FORCE
BE WITH YOU.
STAY TUNED FOR
OUR FEATURE STORY,
COMING UP NEXT.

(MAKING LIGHTSABER SOUNDS)

(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)

Logo: TVO Kids News.