These World Fencing Championships are usually referred to as Senior World Fencing Championships because the FIE also runs three other World Championships. Beginning in 1950, the FIE also sanctioned an annual competitions which it originally called the Junior World Criterium ("Criterium Mondial des Jeunes"). Entries were originally restricted to those 21 years of age or lower but in 1960 the age limit was dropped to 20. In 1964, the name of the competition was officially changed to Junior World Championships and world championship status was retroactively granted to the participants of the previous competitions.