The World Archery Executive Board accepted new matchplay bylaws.
World Archery’s Executive Board passed five bylaws, including the continued ban of alcohol in competition, at its meeting prior to World Archery Congress on 12 October 2017 in Mexico City.
The board tasked World Archery’s Constitution and Rules and Medical and Sports Science Committees with finalising the required rules, which would then be approved by postal vote.
“The fight against doping is paramount to protecting the integrity of our sport and I’m happy that the World Archery Executive Board has approved the continued ban on alcohol,” said World Archery President Prof Dr Ugur Erdener.
Other accepted bylaws included increasing the time allowed for individual alternate shooting in para archery competition from 20 to 30 seconds.
During matchplay in all disciplines, an athlete or team will no longer be forced to shoot their final arrow if unable to win the match – although it would be down to that athlete or team to make the decision.
Organisers will also only be obliged to provide practice facilities for athletes remaining in a competition.
For 2018, a new format for individual shoot-offs will be tested.
If both recurve athletes shoot a 10 or compound athletes shoot an X10 with their shoot-off arrow, a second tiebreaker arrow will be shot - with the winner of the second tiebreaker decided on which arrow lands closest to the middle of the target.
The board also approved in principle the qualification system for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, due to be published after finalisation with the International Olympic Committee sport’s department.
Work on reports on governance, television and social media delivered in 2017 were appreciated, and the board took note of PWC’s recent brief on the growth of eSports – issuing a mandate to investigate how World Archery can take advantage of this growing sector.
As well as remarking on the Board's pleasure at the organisation of the upcoming World Archery Championships, Prof Dr Erdener handed an initial cheque for USD 50,000 from World Archery and its partners to representatives from the city during a local media conference to help with the rebuilding effort following September’s earthquakes.
“These World Archery Championships will both be a demonstration of world-class sporting excellence and leave a positive legacy,” said Prof Dr Erdener.
World Archery’s donation will amount to USD 1 for every spectator that attends the finals of the 2017 World Archery Championships on 21/22 October, with partners contributing, and the overall figure is expected to rise.
A final figure and a list of contributors will be issued by the end of competition.
The 2017 Congress runs 13/14 October and 2017 World Archery Championships runs 15-22 October in Mexico City, Mexico.