COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Once every two years the Archery Congress brings together the Executive Board and representatives from member associations and permanent committees to discuss and amend the World Archery Rulebook and Constitution. World Archery President Prof. Dr. Ugur Erdener opened the 51st Archery Congress this past Friday in Denmark.
Voting delegates and proxies were in attendance from 92 countries. Prof. Dr. Erdener began by informing delegates of the principles behind Olympic Agenda 2020, and the success of World Archery events since the last Congress in Belek 2013. He also highlighted the World Archery Excellence Centre as a key on-going project and noted that the facility would soon become integral to the federation's development strategy.
International Olympic Committee President Dr. Thomas Bach agreed that the Excellence Centre in Lausanne embraces the spirit of Agenda 2020 in credibility, sustainability and youth as "archery has been at the forefront of change throughout history."
Congress continued with a series of votes. First, new member associations were accepted, including Albania, Bolivia, Liberia, Mali and Zimbabwe. Then, six motions, which can be read in full with the agenda here, were on the table. Two were passed to strengthen World Archery's commitment to Olympic Agenda 202 and the Olympic Charter in the fight against doping, corruption and discrimination.
Also, it was passed that members of the Coaches Committee should have been active as an international team manager in the four years preceding their election - and that the para athlete representative would leave the Athletes Committee and join the Para Archery Committee.
On day two of Congress, elections were held for committee positions. U.S. representatives were elected to three of these important leadership groups. Martin Swanson was elected to the Board of Justice and Ethics, Mark Miller to the Constitution and Rules Committee, and National Head Coach KiSik Lee was elected to the Coaches Committee.
Awards were given towards the conclusion of the Congress. The U.S. was awarded the highly coveted trophy for 2014 overall World Cup Points winner. The United States of America also came in first for the Member Association and won the Female Athlete's award for greatest female participation in international events.
Bruce Cull, President of the NFAA, was the sole US recipient of the silver plaquette this year. This extremely prestigious award was named to Cull on behalf of his instrumental part in the creation of the Indoor Archery World Cup. Cull also organized the World Archery 2012 Indoor Championships, the 2015 World Archery Youth Championships and continues to host the successful Vegas Shoot.
USA Archery congratulates Bruce Cull, the three new committee members, and the athletes who represent Team USA so well in international competition.
Some information attributed to World Archery Communication. Photo by World Archery.
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