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A fire has broken out at the Olympic Velodrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the Fencing World Championships for cadets and juniors is currently underway. The incident has raised concerns about the ongoing competition, which includes athletes from Kazakhstan.

Firefighters Respond to Blaze

The fire department received the alarm at approximately 4:17 AM. Around 80 firefighters and 20 vehicles were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, they found the building's roof engulfed in flames, with a portion of its structure collapsing. The cause of the fire is currently unknown, and an investigation is underway.

Competition Resumes Safely

The International Fencing Federation (FIE) and the Brazilian Fencing Confederation (CBE) confirmed that the competition had been held at the venue since April 1st. Fortunately, no one was present at the stadium when the fire occurred, meaning there were no injuries. Organizers have swiftly relocated the remainder of the competition to the secure 'Arena Carioca 1' venue to ensure the safety of all participants.

Historic Win for Kazakhstan

Despite the disruption, the championship holds significant importance for Kazakhstan. Fencer Nurmukhammed Zhailybay secured a bronze medal in the junior category. This historic achievement marks him as the first Kazakhstani athlete to win a medal in this sport at a junior world championship.

This information was reported by the Infohub.kz news agency.