Archery
Archery has been part of the BC Games since its inception. Originally part of the BC Summer Games, the sport moved to an indoor format at the BC Winter Games in 2006 to coincide with the national move to the Canada Winter Games.
The archery competition at the BC Winter Games features athletes ages 15-17 who compete in Barebow, Compound, and Recurve categories. Day 1 and Day 2 consist of an Indoor 18m (60 arrow) round on a 40cm target (vertical three spot or single face). The Day 1 and Day 2 total aggregate score is used to determine the top four contenders in each category for the Day 3 Match Play event.
Targets are marked with 10 evenly spaced concentric rings, which have score values from 1 through 10 assigned to them. In addition, there is an inner 10 ring (or X ring) which becomes the 10 ring for the compound class in an indoor round. Line breakers, an arrow just touching a scoring boundary line, will be awarded the higher score.
Archery dates back to prehistoric times as a tool for hunting and combat but it is now a popular recreational and competitive sport. Part of the Olympic Games from 1900-1920, the sport was dropped from the program as there were no internationally recognized rules.
With the creation of the International Archery Federation (now called World Archery) in the 1930s, the sport gained credibility. However, archery was not reintroduced to the Olympic program until 1972 when the individual competition was contested at the Summer Games. The team event was added 16 years later in 1988.
The British Columbia Archery Association is the organization responsible for developing the sport in the province and they have utilized the BC Winter Games as an opportunity to develop junior archers towards national and international competitions.
Facts:
Indoor and outdoor competitions
Arrow speed 240 km/h
Quiver – bag to hold arrows
Shoot according to dominant eye
National sport of Bhutan
