Pascal Colmaire retires as World Archery development and education director
Pascal Colmaire has officially retired as a member of World Archery’s full-time staff at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. He was, until 30 September 2020, the longest-serving member of staff without interruption having worked at the international federation for 20 years.
(Secretary general Tom Dielen started earlier but worked for the World Anti-Doping Agency for three years in the early 2000s.)
Pascal was a successful archer, coach and technical director in France and Canada before joining the World Archery office after the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
Since becoming a full-time employee, he has fulfilled many roles, including acting as the technical delegate for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and the 2005 World Archery Championships in Madrid.
His main role over the past two decades has been to further the worldwide development of the international federation. Fifty-eight countries have joined the archery family as members with Pascal’s support and assistance.
His passion was education. He has fathered two coaching manuals, many technical documents, created World Archery’s awards programme and educated 100s – if not 1000s – of coaches worldwide.
“Pascal’s knowledge, skills and expertise will be difficult to replace. He joined the organisation when it was still a small Olympic federation with a small staff and has contributed tremendously to the sport’s progress over the last 20 years,” said Dielen.
“We are all exceptionally pleased that he can enjoy his retirement in good physical health and that he will remain active in the sport – in particular in kyudo, which he sees as a way for archers to learn about themselves and find peace in the currently challenging world.”
“On behalf of the president and executive board, the office and the entire World Archery family, thank you and see you soon.”
Pascal will continue to provide educational services to World Archery on a freelance basis.
Future enquiries related to new members, member governance and membership services should be directed to deputy secretary general Siret Luik; enquiries related to coaching courses at the World Archery Excellence Centre or Olympic Solidarity programmes should be directed to development projects coordinator Melany Pifarre Postigo.
All other enquiries related to development and education should be directed to secretary general Tom Dielen until further notice.
