Olympic Revenge in Lausanne!

  The athletes have been qualified based on their top three results out of the four World Cup stages in Santo Domingo (DOM), Porec (CRO), Antalya (TUR) and Boe (FRA). The semi-final matches will be shot in the morning and final matches in the afternoon at the World Cup Final in Lausanne on 27 September 2008. These matches will be broadcast live on television worldwide.   Recurve Men The Ukrainian Viktor RUBAN photo qualified for the Final 2008 with his victory in Stage 4 in Boe, France. He is the new Olympic champion from Beijing in August and his upcoming World Cup semi-final will be a rematch of the Olympic gold medal match against PARK Kyung-Mo (KOR). PARK won the individual world championships in 1993 at only 18 years old and also was the winner of the World Cup Final title in 2006. He and his teammate IM Dong-Hyun, are both two-time team Olympic champions (Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008). IM is also the current individual world champion; and in the semi-final he will face the young and talented Frenchman Romain GIROUILLE, winner of the Porec World Cup stage in 2008.   Recurve Women The 2004 individual Olympic champion, two-time team Olympic champion (Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008), individual Olympic silver medallist (Beijing 2008) and several-time world champion, PARK Sung-Hyun (KOR) photo will again face Natalia VALEEVA (ITA). The Italian was individual and team bronze medallist at the Olympic Games in Barcelona 1992 and six-time individual world champion (twice outdoor and four times indoor), including the recent 2007 World Championships in Leipzig (GER), where she defeated PARK in the gold medal match. The other semi-final features YUN Ok-Hee (KOR)—winner of both Olympic team gold and individual bronze medals in Beijing 2008 and world record holder for the 12-arrow match—shooting against Justyna MOSPINEK (POL).   Compound Men Finishing 4th at the World Cup Stage 4 in Boe, France, Patrizio HOFER (SUI) photo ensured his place in the World Cup Final “at home.” He barely missed qualifying for the last two Finals in 2006 and 2007 by only a few points. In the semi-final, he will shoot against Patrick COGHLAN (AUS) who had to win in Boe to qualify for Lausanne! The second semi-final features Sergio PAGNI (ITA)—winner of two World Cup Stages this season—against the current world champion Dietmar TRILLUS (CAN).   Compound Women Jamie VAN NATTA (USA) photo is the sole archer that will compete in the World Cup Final for the third time in a row. She holds many world records and will start as the favourite in Lausanne. She will shoot against the Leipzig bronze medallist and World Cup Stage 2 – Porec winner, Amandine BOUILLOT (FRA). Ivana BUDEN (CRO) earned herself a spot in the World Cup Final thanks to her great consistency this season and will shoot against Nichola SIMPSON (GBR). The 52 year-old British archer is truly shooting at the highest level and broke five master world records in 2008!    Exhibition Matches Finally, there will be exhibition matches with Olympic Champions ZHANG Juan Juan (CHN) and Viktor RUBAN (UKR), bronze medallist in Paralympic Games Philippe HORNER (SUI) photo, Swiss archers Nathalie DIELEN and Chris MARSH.   Competition Venue The venue for this event is the Montbenon Casino’s gardens in the centre of the Olympic Capital. Built in 1908, the Montbenon Casino enjoys a unique setting in Lausanne—within walking distance of the city centre and surrounded by beautiful gardens, with an unrestricted view of Lake Geneva and the mountains. The building was renovated in 1981 and has become a place for social and cultural entertainment. Contrary to what its name implies, the Casino has never housed game rooms.   FITA Communication