End clap of the 26th international archery tournament in Nîmes: “It was a very beautiful edition”

Six months before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the elite of world archery have gathered in Nîmes. Midi Libre – DR

From January 19 to 21, the Gard city hosted the 26th edition of its international indoor archery tournament. An important step for the best archers in the world in view of the next Olympic Games organized in Paris.

The world elite and all archery enthusiasts met at the sites of Parnasse, the exhibition center and Estanque. After three days of fierce competition, this 26th edition of the international archery tournament ended on Sunday January 21. For Olivier Grillat, manager of the Arc club of Nîmes and organizer of this competition: “it was a very good edition which allowed the city of Nîmes to become the archery capital of the world for a weekend."

Making archery and French Rome shine

The Arc club of Nîmes has been part of the circuit Indoor World Series for eight yearsarchery. A collection of major tournaments open to all around the world, encouraging elite competition as well as recreational participation. Created in 1997 by Olivier Grillat, the objective of the international archery tournament organized in the heart of the Gard city is twofold: we we want to shine the spotlight on this discipline, which is still too little known to the general public, together with the city of Nîmes, our first partner."

With these 1,100 participants and 47 nations who responded for this new edition, in the shadows, it was also the volunteers who put themselves once again in the shadows ;honor. Numbering 104 and aged from 13 to 75 years old, these people have a strong connection with archery. even if 10% of them have never shot an arrow in their life, says the former French champion. They are both attached to the club and to the City and are keen to show the most beautiful image possible of Nîmes. It is in an ultra-associative spirit that we evolve, he continues.

A major international competition

Taïpei, Lausanne, Strassen, Las Vegas and… Nîmes! These are the five cities hosting the Indoor World Archery Series this year. Nîmes being the fourth stop on the international circuit, a few months before the Paris Olympic Games (July 26 to August 11), the level was particularly high. "We have never had such tough competition. We feel that the athletes came here to prepare for the 2024 Olympics, says Olivier Grillat.

This year again, "the atmosphere was excellent." Little novelty ? The choice of decorum colors from Nîmes and the main monuments of Gard. “Today, apart from the Feria, there are not many events that rival the scale of this competition. With hindsight, we can say that with Philippe Michelutti (current president of the Arc club of Nîmes, Editor's note) we succeeded in promoting the city of Nîmes but also our niche discipline" , concluded the ACN sports director, with a smile on his lips.