Para archery
Impaired athletes can compete on a completely level playing field.
Para archery is a discipline of archery for athletes with physical or visual impairments, governed by an internationally recognised classification system.
The rules governing targets, competition formats and matchplay are the same as those applied in target archery and indoor archery. In addition to the recurve and compound disciplines, para archery includes the W1 discipline for athletes with severe impairments, as well as a specific discipline for visually impaired athletes.
Para archers may use adaptive equipment, such as adapted releases, stools or wheelchairs, to ensure fair and equitable competition. Classified athletes may also compete alongside able-bodied athletes in target and indoor archery events while using approved adaptive equipment.
Archery has deep roots in the history of the Paralympic Movement and has been included in the programme of every Paralympic Games since the first edition in 1960.
World Archery organises the World Archery Para Championships every two years. The event was first held in 1998 under the governance of the International Paralympic Committee, with responsibility transferred to World Archery in 2009.
A world ranking system for para archers is also in place.
Sport classes and divisions
Para archery includes two sport classes for athletes with physical impairments:
- PI1 – athletes with the most severe impairments
- PI2 – athletes with less severe impairments
Athletes in the PI2 sport class may compete in the recurve or compound divisions. Athletes in the PI1 sport class compete exclusively in the W1 division.
Athletes in the W1 division may use either a recurve or a compound bow, subject to specific limitations on draw weight, restrictions on magnified sights and other modifications to standard technical equipment rules.
Para archery also includes two sport classes for athletes with visual impairments:
- VI1 – athletes with the most severe visual impairment
- VI2 – athletes with lesser impairment who are required to wear a blindfold during competition
Visually impaired athletes shoot at a distance of 30 metres using tactile sights that touch the back of the hand to assist with aiming. They are permitted a spotter, who may assist with arrow loading and scoring. This category is currently not included in the Paralympic Games programme.
To compete in any para archery sport class, an athlete must be officially classified in accordance with the para archery classification rules and regulations (Book 5.1 of the World Archery Rulebook).
Classification
The process of classification provides the structure for para archery competition. The system determines whether an athlete is eligible to compete in para archery, groups eligible athletes according to the severity of their impairment to create a level playing field and defines whether an athlete is permitted to use adaptive equipment.
Classification assessments at the international level are carried out by trained international classifiers.
Athletes in the PI2 sport class usually have impairments affecting either the upper or lower part of the body or one side of the body. Athletes in the PI1 sport class usually have impairments affecting both the upper and lower parts of the body, the torso and at least both lower limbs plus one upper limb.
Read more about classification.
History
Archery is an extremely accessible sport for people with impairment. It was used as a rehabilitation activity for injured veterans by Dr Ludwig Guttmann at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in the 1940s.
Guttmann, who is regarded as the founder of the Paralympic movement, held the first archery tournament at the hospital in 1948 with 16 athletes. The competition was run annually and in 1952 a Dutch team participated, setting the foundations for an international event and acting as a precursor to the Paralympic Games.
Archery was included at the first Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960 and has remained on the programme ever since.
International para archery was governed by the International Paralympic Committee until 2009 when ownership of the rules, promotion and regulation of the world championships was transferred to World Archery.
Read more about the history of archery at the Paralympics.
‘Professor X’ of archery
