4 November 2011 - End of operation at the Middle East Archery Centre

End of operation at the Middle East Archery Centre Lausanne – 4 November 2011   It is with melancholy that World Archery had to make the decision to close the very famous "MEAC" (Middle East Archery Centre). This institution brought a lot of satisfaction; the most prestigious one is indisputably the gold medal of Ibrahim SABRY (EGY) at the Youth Olympic Games 2010. But the impact of the MEAC on the development and the rise of the level of the archery in several countries—and not only in the Middle East—is another very important progress which we would not have been able to achieve without it.   Regrettably since the beginning of the year 2011 the MEAC had few users. The reasons are the political situation in Egypt; a country where the bow is classified as a weapon, what generated additional problems to travel with archery equipment) to/from Egypt. Furthermore, we did not have a permanent archery ground anymore, since a recent important reorganisation of the local sports facilities there. In front of all these difficulties, an official stop of the MEAC activities in Cairo was inescapable. A centre remains however in service under the leadership of Wadi Degla Sportif Club and of the Egyptian Archery Federation.   World Archery deeply thanks Wadi Degla Sporting Club and the Egyptian Archery Federation (hosts of the MEAC) for the excellent partnership that we lived for six years, and this especially thanks to Mr Aladin GABR. We also thank the staff of the MEAC, Miss Nancy ABD EL MONEM EL GIBILY the secretary, Mr Ayman HELAL the coordinator in the formalities and the transport local and especially the coach MUN Baek Woon for their good services.   On a short term, the activities planned at the MEAC will be transferred to the World Archery Accredited Partner Centre located in Bangkok. On the long range World Archery will run most of the projects in the future international centre of archery of Lausanne (probably in 2014).   It is expected that special courses for African countries will still be hosted in the Wadi Degla centre.   World Archery Development Department