Olympic sport since 1900
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Anyone familiar with the legend of Robin Hood knows archery competitions date back at least to mediaeval times. Indeed, today's archers still honour the fabled outlaw. The term "Robin Hood" now refers to splitting the shaft of an arrow already in the target by hitting the end of the arrow dead centre with another arrow.
Equipment technology has evolved since Robin and his merry men had the run of Sherwood Forest, but the skills needed for the historic sport of archery remain essentially unchanged. Today, a recurve bow made with aerospace aluminium alloys and carbon fibre, has become standard, and arrows made of aluminium and carbon can travel more than 240 km/h (150 mph); but the most important requirements are straightforward: extreme physical and mental control, physical conditioning for strength and stamina, steady hands, sharp eyes and nerves of steel.
Recently, the sport of archery became more modern thanks to the introduction of match play (two archers, 12 arrows, only the winner moves on) and the World Cup concept that has offered an exciting, fast-paced sporting event and a true “best of archery” show for fans and television since 2006.
Archery was a feature of the Olympic Games from 1900 to 1920, but then disappeared for more than 50 years. In 1904, archery was one of the first Olympic sports to include women. In 1961, Mrs. Inger Frith became the first woman to serve as President of an International Sports Federation, and through her efforts and the efforts of FITA, the IOC returned archery to the Olympics at Munich in 1972. It has remained on the programme ever since.
Anyone familiar with the legend of Robin Hood knows archery competitions date back at least to mediaeval times. Indeed, today's archers still honour the fabled outlaw. The term "Robin Hood" now refers to splitting the shaft of an arrow already in the target by hitting the end of the arrow dead centre with another arrow.
Equipment technology has evolved since Robin and his merry men had the run of Sherwood Forest, but the skills needed for the historic sport of archery remain essentially unchanged. Today, a recurve bow made with aerospace aluminium alloys and carbon fibre, has become standard, and arrows made of aluminium and carbon can travel more than 240 km/h (150 mph); but the most important requirements are straightforward: extreme physical and mental control, physical conditioning for strength and stamina, steady hands, sharp eyes and nerves of steel.
Recently, the sport of archery became more modern thanks to the introduction of match play (two archers, 12 arrows, only the winner moves on) and the World Cup concept that has offered an exciting, fast-paced sporting event and a true “best of archery” show for fans and television since 2006.
Archery was a feature of the Olympic Games from 1900 to 1920, but then disappeared for more than 50 years. In 1904, archery was one of the first Olympic sports to include women. In 1961, Mrs. Inger Frith became the first woman to serve as President of an International Sports Federation, and through her efforts and the efforts of FITA, the IOC returned archery to the Olympics at Munich in 1972. It has remained on the programme ever since.
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