Archery is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its return to the Olympics in 2022. The sport featured on the programme of the Games in 1900-1908 and 1920 before taking a 52-year hiatus until 1972.
The number of available medals has since risen from two to five with the introduction of recurve team competitions – and mixed team at Tokyo 2020.
During LA28 Olympic Games compound is officially being considered for inclusion alongside the current recurve events. World Archery is proposing for an additional indoor archery competition for men, women and mixed teams that would last approximately three days, shorter than the current nine-day Olympic schedule.
Competing over 18 metres and indoors, in comparison to the 70-metre outdoor recurve format, would clearly differentiate the two events while building on the successful professional indoor archery circuit that is already well-established in the USA, the host nation of the next Games after Paris 2024.
The proposed request will now be assessed by the International Olympic Committee, alongside submissions from other sports, prior to making a final decision.
What is Compound?
Invented in USA during 1960, Compound is a modern bowstyle that uses a system of pulleys and cables, along with release aids and magnified scopes, to increase the bow’s speed and accuracy. Compound competition emphasises precision, tension and perfection.
Featuring Events/Timeline
It has been featured at the World Archery Championships since 1995 and on the Hyundai Archery World Cup since its launch in 2006. Compound is now also included on the sports programmes of the Asian Games, European Games, Pan American Games, World Games and World University Games.
Existing Compound Champions
Colombia’s Sara Lopez and the Netherlands’ Mike Schloesser are the current compound women’s and men’s world number ones.
