Qualification for the London 2012 Paralympic Games

The IPC ranking lists will no longer be used to award places for the Paralympic Games.     There will be the usual method of a specified number of places to be won at the Para World Championships, to be held in Turin, Italy, in July 2011.   Towards the end of 2011 there will be another international tournament at which a further number of places will be won. This tournament will be held in Europe, probably in September, but the details are not yet finalised. This tournament may also become the Test Event for the Paralympic Games.   Usually there would be several places to be won at Continental Para Championships but because the number of places for London have not yet been confirmed it has not been possible to confirm the number places available to be won at the Continental Championships.   The European Para Championships will be held in Vichy, France, in August 2010. The Asian Para Championships will take place during the Asian Para Games to be held in Guangzhou, China, in December 2010. The Continental Qualifying Tournament for the Americas (COPARCO) is the Para Pan American Games, 19-27 November 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico. At present it is not known if there will be Continental Qualifying Tournaments in Africa or Oceania.   Once the London numbers have been confirmed, the places available at the Para World Championships and the Para Qualifying Tournament (both in 2011) can be decided and then it will be clear how many, if any, places from the Continental Championships can be awarded.   Although exact details are not yet available for these tournaments, the Para-archery Committee thought it important for Member Associations to know the system of qualifying for London Paralympics has changed and that additional tournaments have to be planned and budgeted for.   As soon as further details are available they will be published on the FITA web site.   Carole HICKS FITA Para-archery Committee