Meeting 31 August '09 Ulsan Korea
MEETING OF COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF
RE-ESTABLISHING AN ARCHERY ASSOCIATION
Lotte Hotel, Ulsan, Korea, 31 August 2009.
Mrs Lynne Evans MBE, Chairman of Archery GB welcomed everyone to the
meeting.
Countries represented:
Australia
Bangladesh
Canada
Cyprus
Great Britain
Malta
India
New Zealand
Singapore
South Africa.
Represented by proxy Fiji, Malaysia, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea,
Samoa, Tonga and the countries that make up the United Kingdom group.
Attending for the first part of the meeting were FITA Secretary General
Tom Dielen and the competition manager of the archery section of the
Commonwealth Games in Delhi Ms Zhang
Xiuzhi.
Tom Dielen
thanked India for its work to date including the early initiatives in
1990s and then again in 2006 as a lead-in to restoring archery to the
Commonwealth Games.
He noted that FITA had signed an agreement to co-operate with the
Commonwealth Games Federation, the first International Federation to do
so and this had been endorsed by FITA Congress.
Archery is in the group of sports that an Organising Committee may
include as an option and the aim is to move it into the mandatory
category. It was critical
to India, to any Commonwealth Archery Association and to FITA that the
tournament in Delhi in 2010 be a success.
If this was so, it was still possible that archery could be
included in the Glasgow Games in 2014.
FITA, through the competition manager, and the Technical Delegate Dion
Buhagiar, from Malta, with support from Juan-Carlos Holgardo, will
provide the technical and operational expertise.
The DOS and Judges will be appointed by FITA from Commonwealth
countries where possible.
Ms Zhang Xiuzhi
noted the facilities were a little behind schedule but expected them to
be completed in time for the test event which will take place 7-14 March
2009. She hoped as many countries as possible will participate so the
systems, people organisation and facilities can be truly tested.
Still under consideration is the possibility that the organisers
may meet the accommodation and food costs for entrants in the Test
Event. In response to a question Zhang
Xiuzhi said she was not certain if there would be appropriate
facilities for para-archers but would check.
India
strongly supported the call for entries because it is important for the
Archery Association of India for the Archery competition of the Games to
be successful and also for FITA which is backing this important
multi-sport Games.
Good numbers and top quality archers will be necessary for a top class
competition. He appealed to the larger nations to assist the smaller
countries where possible.
Lynne Evans
thanked FITA and particularly Tom Dielen for all the assistance in
supporting this gathering and the concept of a Commonwealth Archery
Association which would be under the FITA umbrella.
One of a number of reasons for having a Commonwealth Archery Association
is to be part of the Para-Archery and Youth development opportunities
which will help strengthen archery world-wide.
She noted that Solidarity funding may be accessed by Member
Associations to assist preparation for the Games.
General
To make the Test Event successful there would not be a limit on the
number of archers each country could send (3 per division for the Games
itself) and if entries were not full, any FITA Member Association would
be able to send archers even if not a member of the Commonwealth.
The tournament would be a FITA 70m round (qualification) followed by an
Olympic round (match play). The Qualification and Elimination rounds
would be held at the Archery centre at the Yamuna Sports Complex and the
finals at the iconic India Gate.
There was further discussion, particularly from India, about the
importance of as many FITA Commonwealth members as possible
participating in the Games with their top archers.
That for many of the smaller Commonwealth archery nations the Games
would be an ideal opportunity to compete internationally where the
Olympic Games and World Cups, for example, were beyond their means.
A Commonwealth Association would indicate that archery was serious about
being a regular feature of the Games
Australia noted that Queensland was putting forward a bid for the 2018
Commonwealth Games and Archery Australia was working to have archery
included as part of the bid programme. A template for bids would be
helpful.
New Zealand noted that there was a feasibility study underway for a
possible bid for the 2018 Games and negotiations were in progress to
have archery within the bid if it proceeds.
Where to next?
South Africa asked if we were in general agreement to proceed towards
the establishment of a Commonwealth Association; if so, South Africa
wished to participate in promoting it.
Great Britain and New Zealand also indicated a willingness to continue
working towards this objective.
It was suggested that an interim group be established which would report
within a month or so.
There would be a small financial contribution from the United Kingdom to
start the network.
All the countries present agreed they wished to proceed with the
planning for a Commonwealth Archery Association as did Lynne Evans on
behalf of the British Group and Carole Hicks on behalf of the Oceania
countries and Malaysia noted in the “proxy” group above.
The notes of the meeting would be circulated as soon as possible with a
draft plan for progressing the work. The next meeting could be held in
conjunction with the Test event and a formal initiating Congress during
the Commonwealth Games in October 2010.
Carole A Hicks