Summer Olympics 2000 Archery Fan Guide

Basketball

Track & Field

Gymnastics

Soccer

Boxing

Results

Venues

Photos

Message Board


	Schedule \| Fan Guide \| History \| U.S. Roster

Tuesday, September 19
Archery Fan Guide

Olympic competition dates: Sept. 17-22
Venue: Sydney International Archery Park, Sydney Olympic Park

The outlook
United States men have won six gold medals after the sport returned at the 1972 Olympics, including winning individual and team gold at Atlanta four years ago.

South Korea's women have won seven gold medals since 1972, including individual and team gold at the past three Olympics.

The finer points
Scoring: In an effort to make the sport more exciting, the format was changed to head-to-head elimination for the top 64 competitors beginning with the 1992 Olympics. Archers used to shoot several rounds with the championship decided on the highest total score; now 128 archers begin play with a ranking round (72 arrows each at 70 meters), then half go on to the elimination round. Under the new format, each round beginning with the final 64 is packed with pressure.

Each ring of the 10-ring target is worth between one and 10 points, with 10 being the best score. If an arrow lands on the dividing line, it is worth the higher score. Deflections score where they land and an arrow that bounces off the target or passes through is also counted.

Equipment: Olympic archers use the recurve bow, which features limbs that curve away from archer to increase power. The effect is that arrows are propelled in excess of 150 miles per hour. Bows generally are constructed of wood, fiberglass and graphite or carbon composites. Most strings are made of Fast Flight, a hydrocarbon product, or kevlar, the material used to make bulletproof vests. Arrows are made of aluminum or carbon graphite.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.