Passion, ingenuity on display as archery celebrates 60-plus years at the Paralympic Games

The largest and most-diverse field of para athletes in archery’s 60-plus-year history on the programme of the Paralympic Games will take to the field for qualification, and the start of competition in Tokyo, on Friday 27 August 2021.

Some 139 archers from 42 countries are set to start the event, following the withdrawal of one athlete from Japan.

Both numbers are records for the sport at the Games.

Archery is at the very roots of the Paralympic movement, having been present at its inception in Stoke Mandeville. The sport featured on the programme of the first Paralympic Games, in Rome in 1960, and has remained ever since.

World Archery secretary general Tom Dielen issued the following statement ahead of the start of competition.

“Archery’s long Paralympic history gains its newest chapter next week on the competition field in Yumenoshima Park, where the largest and most diverse line-up the sport has ever seen at the Games will compete for the nine medals available in Tokyo.”

“The growth at the elite level is a direct consequence of increasing support for para athletes within national federations – and World Archery’s investment in the structure of para sport since assuming responsibility just over a decade ago.”

“Archery is an incredibly accessible sport. There is a huge range of athletes, with all types of impairment, on the shooting line in Tokyo.”

“And not only will their talent, human spirit and athletic ability be on display during this Paralympic competition – but also their ingenuity, in the inventive devices created to allow many to take part. That sends a message in itself: there is always a solution.”

“For all the individuality on the shooting line, the target is a great equaliser. The target sees no difference in age, gender, nationality or impairment. And it’s only at the target, in competition, that our champions will emerge.”

“We’re proud to see these fantastic para athletes, these inspiring people, in the spotlight over the next nine days in Japan.”