Para-Archery Committee meets in Lausanne

Para-Archery Committee meets in Lausanne Lausanne – 31 January 2011 Séverine FREYMOND (FITA), Carole HICKS, Pauline BETTERIDGE,    Marco CARPIGNANO, Rita VAN DRIEL, and Hans-Peter WERLEN    The second meeting of the Para-Archery Committee took place at the FITA/World Archery Office in Lausanne on 14-15 January 2011. As part of the on-going establishment of Para-Archery within FITA, the committee appointed liaison members for the Continental Associations which do not have members on the Para-Archery Committee:   World Archery Americas: Rita VAN DRIEL Southern Africa: Pauline BETTERIDGE Northern Africa: Marco CARPIGNANO Asian Archery Federation: Carole HICKS   Various rules changes were considered including the height of scopes for people with disabilities. The height of the top face when shooting the triangular triple face set up is very difficult for those in wheelchairs and indeed for many of the able bodied archers, so the Target Archery Committee will be asked to consider a lower placement which would enable arrows to be judged and withdrawn more easily by everyone.   The ability to get information about Para-Archery from the website is being made easier with special pages within the main www.worldarchery.org website. A new top menu called "Para-Archery" has been created with submenus on "General" information, "Events" and "Athletes".   A major success of Para-Archery is the introduction of World Ranking Events (WRE). In 2011 there will be WREs in Brazil (9-15 May), Thailand (11-20 May), Czech Republic (12-18 August), Mexico (19-27 November), as well as the World Archery Para Championships in Turin, Italy (10-17 July) and the second Olympic qualifying event at Stoke Mandeville, Great Britain (5-9 September). While not a WRE a further major tournament for para archers as part of the regular tournament is the Arizona Cup (USA) from 6-10 April.   A major aspect of Para-Archery is that of classification. Each para archer has to undergo particular tests to decide to which class they belong. FITA is now developing a system for educating classifiers and appointing international classifiers in a similar way to that of Judges. An ad hoc committee has been appointed and work is progressing in this important area. Just before the World Archery Para Championships there will be a seminar to train classifiers and a conference to enable classifiers to contribute to the progress of their role.   It is important that Judges and classifiers discuss rule interpretations and the application of Para-Archery rules before the start of every para tournament. Close co-operation between the FITA Judges’ Committee and the Para-Archery Committee is important as more and more para archers compete in general tournaments and more WREs for Para-Archery require International Judges.   Carole HICKS Para-Archery Committee