9 May 2006 - Best Wishes from FITA Honorary President

Best Wishes from FITA Honorary President

It was a great pleasure for Jim Easton to write a few words to introduce the new Outdoor Target Archery World Cup Series.

Lausanne - 09 May, 2006. The significance of these strategic tournaments is enormous. For the first time, FITA will present competitions that give archery visibility in non-Olympic years to the public and Olympic Family worldwide. Exposure is vital for the continued inclusion of archery in the Olympic Games. An Olympic sport must have worldwide TV and press exposure more often than just every four years, and the series of Archery World Cup events is a great way to showcase our sport. The opportunity to have the finals of the World Cup in recognized and/or historic venues around the world is a great idea and will further enhance the visibility and reputation of our sport.   I am very pleased that FITA’s efforts over the past 25 years have built a solid foundation that has kept archery on the Olympic Games program. Upon this foundation, FITA is now building an aggressive strategic plan which addresses the few weaknesses listed in the IOC-prepared International Federation survey. The new FITA President, Dr. Ugur Erdener, and Secretary General, Tom Dielen, are to be congratulated on the strategy being developed and implemented to overcome these few issues. The new World Cup strategic initiative will increase television and press coverage. The second initiative – the very successful effort to obtain significant sponsors – will fund the World Cup for the benefit of FITA, archers and sponsors. The third strategic initiative will ensure the continued development of archery throughout the world. Development activity is occurring in Africa and the Middle East, with the FITA-approved archery training center in Cairo, Egypt and the addition of the FITA Development Officer in Africa. FITA can be proud of these vital initiatives to strengthen our position as an Olympic sport.   Archery has a great future with the success of these initiatives and will become a more recognized sport as it deserves to be. Archery has the ingredients to be successful with its great historic position in the development of our civilization and the worldwide practice of a challenging, traditional sport with exciting head-to-head competition.   Congratulations and best wishes on the 2006 Meteksan Archery World Cup competition in Porec, Antalya, San Salvador, Shanghai and the finals in Merida, Mexico at the Mayan Pyramids of Chichen Itza.   I wish FITA great success in all phases of its progressive development plan. The excellent FITA leadership has lifted FITA to another level, ensuring its success and future in the world of sport and the Olympics.   Best wishes,     Jim Easton Honorary FITA President