2014 will see some changes in Para Archery

Over 100 archers have been classified already under the new rules, with 18 athletes found no longer eligible. Another six archers are now entitled to use an assistive stool.

To be eligible to compete as a para archer under the new rules, in effect from 1 April 2014, an athlete needs a minimum of 25 classification points in the lower limbs or 25 points in the upper limbs. The points can no longer be combined to reach the required 25. All current para archers must be reclassified using the new points level.

To assist members associations on the new classification of their new and existing para archers and help the reclassification process, World Archery has arranged a series of classification hubs in various regions:

Lilleshall (GBR) – 3-5 FebruaryBangkok (THA) – 17-18 MarchPhoenix (USA) – 1-2 April Kovacica Village (SRB) – 17-18 May Nove Mesto (CZE) - 23-24 June Nottwil (SUI) – 27-28 July Jerusalem (ISR) – December 

There will be no classification hubs in 2015. World Archery member associations should send their para archers for new classification prior to any competition.

There will be a meeting of the Para Archery Committee in Lausanne on 21-22 March, followed by the Ad Hoc Committee on Classification from 23-24 March.

Both committees will have full agendas including the World Archery Para Championships in Germany in 2015, promotion of the new sport classes for all major tournaments from 1 April 2014, archery for the visually impaired and the on-going education of classifiers and classifier candidates.

Para archery will be an integral part of the new World Archery Plan, which will be discussed during the Lausanne meetings in March.

Contact Raheleh AHADPOUR at World Archery (rahadpour@archery.org) for further information and to register for classification hubs.