Archery

Rules/Classification

World Archery (International Federation)

IPC Para Archery (International Paralympic Committee)

Swiss Archery (National Federation / in German)

Contact

Wheelchair Sport Switzerland

Martin Wenger

Phone: +41 41 939 54 36 / E-Mail

Archery was already used during pre-historic times which many of the caves with all their drawings are prove of. Centuries later the legend of the English folk hero Robin Hood became its symbol figure. His gift as an archer brought him during one tournament not only victory, but also the hand of his beloved, and daughter to the King. His followers now only fight for its honors, pleasure and medals.

History books reveal that approximately to Hoods time the United Archery of St. Gallen practiced in the Stadtgraben. At the end of the 14th yearhundert arc and crossbow were the most popular weapons in the archery clubs of the Swiss confederation. The first archery festival was in Solothurn in 1378.

Archery became a part of the Olympic disciplines for the first time in the year 1900. After the year 1929 it was removed, and only in 1972 was it re-integrated again.

About 50 years ago in England a view wheelchair riders got together for archery. First it was mainly viewed as therapy. The first international tournament took place in 1948 for the occasion of the Stoke Mandeville games. In Switzerland the first archers began in 1955 to participate in tournaments.