Each National Olympic Committee (NOC) can enter a maximum of 6 competitors, 3 per each gender and 1 per each weapon. 60 places will be decided at the 2014 Cadet World Championships held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria from 3–12 April 2014.[1] The top 4 European, top 2 American, top 2 Asian/Oceania and top African fencers from each event will qualify. Furthermore, the top 2 Oceania fencers and the top fencer from Africa, Americas, Asia and Europe across all events not yet qualified will also qualify. As hosts, China was given the maximum quota should they not qualify, but declined to use those extra spots and a further 12, 6 in each gender was initially given by the Tripartite Commission, but only nine spots were used.[2]
To be eligible to participate at the Youth Olympics athletes must have been born between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 1999.[2]
