Para-Archery Committee Annual Meeting Held in Lausanne

Para-Archery Committee Annual Meeting Held in Lausanne Lausanne – 17 March 2012     The Para-Archery Committee held its annual meeting last weekend in Lausanne. The World Archery Para-Archery Committee Chairperson Rita VAN DRIEL welcomed new appointed member Sheri RHODES (USA) who replaced Hans Peter WERLEN from Switzerland.

The committee worked through a comprehensive agenda. The highlights of the discussions were related to the Paralympic Games in London and Rio 2016, classification and the further development of VI-archery (Visually Impairment).

In attendance of Pippa BRITTON (elected WA Para-archery representative) the possibility of creating an Open Recurve Class was discussed. The pro's and contra's of combining the W2 and standing class (as in the Open Compound) were dicsussed. The outcome of the discussion will be shared with archers and coaches in the near future to get feedback.

Also Tim JACKSON, Paralympic Archery Coordinator, was present to give the committee an update of the planning and current situation related to the test event and the Paralympic Games.

The committee discussed the future of VI-archery. This discipline of Para-archery needs further development to become a sustainable program. We are glad that Sheri RHODES will take leadership in the development. After the Paralympic Games the committee will come with an action plan how to move forward with this discipline.

Now that the Federation of African Archery appointed a committee to develop Para-archery, we invite African Member Associations to inform us about their developments.

Although the Para-archery Committee is glad to already have organisers for the 2013 World Championships (Bangkok, Thailand) and the 2014 European Championships (Nottwill, Switzerland) there are also concerns. Our Member Associations and athletes expect to have more opportunities to participate in World Ranking Tournaments, but without organisers there will not be competitions. When you are interested to host a Para-archery World Ranking Tournament, please let us know!

Rita VAN DRIEL
World Archery Para-Archery Committee