Paralympic Archery: Then and now

Paralympic Archery was originally developed as a means of rehabilitation and recreation for people with a physical disability.

It was part of the programme for the 1948 Stoke Mandeville Games.

More than 50 years later, the world’s leading Paralympic archers are required to demonstrate outstanding levels of accuracy, strength and concentration to succeed in a fiercely competitive environment.

How to play – and win

The Paralympic Games Archery competition consists of Standing and Wheelchair events for both individuals and teams.

Paralympic archers shoot arrows at a target from a distance of 70m. They aim to score points by hitting the target as close to the centre as possible.

Archery at the Games

Archery has been included in the Games programme since it was introduced to the world as a Paralympic sport in Rome 1960.

Just as in the Olympic Games, the Korean team has established itself as the one to beat.

Facts about Paralympic Archery

• Spain’s Antonio Rebollo shot Paralympic Archery into the big time by famously firing a flaming arrow to light the Olympic Flame at the Opening Ceremony for the Barcelona 1992 Games.
• The competition procedures and rules for Paralympic Archery are nearly identical to those used in able-bodied competition.
• Competition arrows are made of carbon graphite with an inner tube of aluminium.

Get involved

The Grand National Archery Society is geared up to help people with a disability get started in the sport (see 'related websites').