Archery for Peace

By establishing 6 April as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, the United Nations and International Olympic Committee have paid tribute to the role of sport in education, health, socio-economic development and in erasing cultural barriers.

Archery had a logical place in this first celebration's programme and participated with two projects.

The Congolese Archery Federation organised an archery tournament in Kinshasa. Since 2013, together with World Archery, Peace and Sport Foundation and two non-governmental organisations, the young national federation has been promoting the practice of archery among the disadvantaged young people, using the sport as an educational and integration tool in Kinshasa..

The participants of the training camp in Windhoek, Namibia, held prior to the African qualifying tournament for the Youth Olympic Games and African Youth Championship, with the support of the Olympic Solidarity, also wanted to be part of this special day. They shot all together at target faces specially designed for the event.

Peniel, one participant from Central Africa, a country currently experimenting a civil war, said “it is amazing how the bow that has been used in the history as an important weapon can now gather various people together in such a friendly environment.”