Africa will decide who attends London Olympics

This event will be held in Rabat from 11-16 March 2012.   The African qualifier is the first of the last three continental qualifiers for the Olympic Games 2012 in London. One month later, from 20-25 April, the Americas will host their event in Medellin, Colombia. The last qualifier will be in Amsterdam, Netherlands from 21-26 May for the European countries.   It is the first time Morocco will host such an important event. In total 20 countries will participate and there will be close to 120 participants. World Archery Africa has decided to have an open African Championships in which three European countries have decided to attend. These are Belgium, Poland and Switzerland.   From 5-10 March 2012 a preparation camp is taking place in Rabat for 14 African countries. This camp is supported by Olympic Solidarity and will enable the participants to be ready for the event.   The favourites for the Olympic spots are for sure Egypt in men and women. South Africa is expected to secure a spot in the men’s event, and the second women’s spot is likely to go to Veronique LE VIEUX of Mauritius, who ranked 59th at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. All eyes will be on Ibrahim SABRY who won the Youth Olympic Games two years ago and who carries the hope of Egypt both for the Championships as the Olympic Quota place.   An outsider for the women’s spot will be Carla FRANGILLI who was a junior world champion for Italy but who has obtained an Ivory Coast citizenship since last year just on time to be eligible for this event for her new country.   The host nation Morocco will be looking as well to obtaining at least one place and it will be interesting to see how the level has developed since 2008. Olympian Khadija ABBOUDA will be one to watch on the female side and Bouchaib MACHI in the men's event. MACHI obtained good results at the Arab Games in December 2011.   The programme of the event will be as follows:

Day 1 Sunday 11 March Official practice Team Captain Meeting Opening ceremony     Day 2 Monday 12 March Qualification rounds AM PM Recurve Compound Day 3 Tuesday 13 March TEAMS Elimination & medal matches AM PM Recurve Compound Day 4 Wednesday 14 March INDIVIDUAL Eliminations to Semifinals – Open Event AM PM Recurve Compound Day 5 Thurday 15 March INDIVIDUAL Semifinals and Medal Matches – Open Event   As per separate schedule Day 6 Friday 16 March African Championships Tournament Eliminations and Finals (only for African archers)   As per separate schedule

Other Qualifying tournaments will be:   Ø 20-25 April: Americas Olympic Games Continental Qualifier – Medellin (COL) Ø 21-26 May: European Championships and CQT – Amsterdam (NED)   The preliminary entries for the European Championships show that there will be 31 countries in the men and 22 countries in the women fighting for the six places available in Amsterdam.   The final Qualifier for the Olympic Games will be:   Ø 18-24 June: Archery World Cup 2012 Stage 3 and Final Olympic Qualifier for Teams and Individuals – Ogden (USA)   World Archery Communication