Archery to take centre stage in Las Vegas

Three days of events scheduled this weekend, all broadcast live on Archery TV:World Archery Gala, Indoor Archery World Cup Final and The Vegas Shoot

World Archery today began its final preparations for what is setto be a spectacular weekend in Las Vegas with the iconic location showcasing the first-everWorld Archery Gala, the Indoor Archery World Cup Final and the record-breaking Vegas Shoot2015.

The weekend will begin with the inaugural World Archery Gala on Friday 6 February, whereAthlete of the Year awards will be presented in the four international competition divisions: theOlympic recurve bow style (men and women) and compound (men and women) – which is inincluded in the World Games.

Nominees included:

Marcus D’ALMEIDA (BRA): Youth Olympic and Archery World Cup Final silver medallist

Aida ROMAN (MEX): London 2012 Olympic Games silver medallist

Erika JONES (USA): Cali 2013 World Games Champion

Fans around the world were invited to vote for their favourite international archers of 2014from a shortlist of 20 through December and January, submit photographs and recommendpeople who give up their time for the sport for exceptional recognition.

Awards will also be presented to the international coach and athlete newcomer of 2014 duringwhat will be a momentous evening designed to recognise not just sporting excellence but thefans and volunteers who make such valuable contributions to the ever-growing sport.

The Indoor Archery World Cup Final will take place on the evening of Saturday 7 February.History was made last month during the third stage in Nîmes as Dutch World Champion, Mike"The Flying Dutchman" SCHLOESSER, shot a perfect score of 600 during qualification – a featwhich has never been achieved before – reflecting the intense competitive quality of the sport.

The Vegas Shoot – the largest indoor archery tournament in the world – will culminate onSunday 8 February after three days of intense competition in which nearly 3,000 amateur andprofessional archers are expected to take part. A tense and unique finale will see the topprofessionals compete in a sudden-death shoot-off for a generous prize pot.

Last year’s event broke records for participation and 2015 will see another 20 percent increasein competitor numbers. It is a result of archery’s continued exposure in films like The HungerGames and The Hobbit, with fans inspired by pop culture now progressing from recreational tocompetitive athletes in the sport. The junior women’s category is the fastest-growingcompetition division at The Vegas Shoot.

Watch all three evenings of sport live on Archery TV:

World Archery Gala: http://youtu.be/tX6yZxq7S6M

Indoor Archery World Cup Final: http://youtu.be/6h_MpIXkH7A

The Vegas Shoot Pro Shoot-off: http://youtu.be/5BLytxmfxak

World Archery President Prof Dr Ugur ERDENER said: "I am very excited about this weekend’sevents in Las Vegas, particularly our first World Archery Gala.

"We asked the public to vote for their favourite athletes of 2014, submit nominations forexceptional volunteers and share their best photographs. It is these fans and athletes thatcontribute so much to our sport and we wanted to ensure that their voice was heard and theywere internationally recognised for all that they do. I am sure this inaugural World ArcheryGala will be a spectacular celebration of everything that makes our sport grow, and continuegrowing.

"The huge participation numbers at this year’s Vegas Shoot, another large increase from arecord-breaking 2014, is clear evidence of this expansion. It is the open entry status of theevent and the rest of the Indoor Archery World Cup that makes it so special: recreationalarchers of all levels competing alongside, interacting with, and being inspired by their sportingheroes.

"Even those elite athletes seem to have reached a new level in 2015. The emergence of ourmen’s Olympic Champion OH Jin Hyek and his colleagues from some of Korea’s topprofessional archery teams on the indoor circuit has pushed the standard of the recurvecompetition higher again, while Mike SCHLOESSER’s perfect score in Nîmes last month wassimply flawless. I have no doubt we will be treated to some world-class performances nextweekend.

"One thing I am sure of: the popularity of the Indoor Archery World Cup aptly demonstratesthe global appetite for our sport."

For more information, please contact World Archery Communications Manager Mr Chris WELLSvia email (cwells@archery.org) or telephone (+41 79 947 55 20).

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