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It's quite a rule to rely on figures when drawing up a balance sheet. And the one of a sports event is certainly not an exception. Here then are the "figures" for 17th edition of the World Field Archery Championship, staged from 9th to 16th July in the wonderful background of Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Two hundred athletes from nineteen Nations; an organisation crew of over a hundred and twenty persons, six hours' TV broadcast by the Rai, that was in Cortina with a top staff of journalists (Renato Bianda, Arianna Secondini, Dario Giannelli) as well as technicians (directors Giancarlo Tommasetti and Barbara Guidotti); furthermore, the other images broadcast on Eurosport, thousands and thousands of visits to our internet site continually updated with result lists and images. Yet, it is also true that figures cannot always give a thorough image of the event they represent. Therefore let's give a closer look at this World Championship held in Cortina. The Organisers (the G.I.S., Sports Facilities Management of Cortina, and the Compagnia Arcieri del Piave- Dolomiti Rocce), have concentrated all the various and complex services connected with an international event in one place, - i.e. Cortina's swimming pool. Accreditation and press office, the jury-meeting room and the data processing, the logistics and the publication of the result lists on paper, on a special screen, and on the Internet. All the participants have unanimously appreciated this choice.
Even the courses both for the qualification rounds and for the Finals were prepared in the area around the swimming pool.
The team finals being the only exception. Confident with the success obtained three years ago during the Italian Championship, the organisers have played their hundredth trump-card: the competition was held as a night show in the fabulous backdrop of Cortina's historical centre. An all peculiar atmosphere, seasoned by the magic charm that only the "Queen of the Dolomites" is able to evoke.
The whole championship was absolutely perfect; as Mr James Easton himself, president of the FITA, who attended the last days of the championships, has confirmed from the top of his experience. "Such high quality championships had never been seen before; many years might elapse, before something alike can be seen again."
The World event of Cortina has been successfully crowned by the results of the Italian athletes. A gold medal in the Team Finals, for the Women, thanks to the excellent performance of Cristina Ioriatti, Rosanna Spada, and Lorena Moretti (the Italian athletes repeated the success of two years ago when they won the title at Obergurgl, in Austria, then against France), the gold medal won by Michele Frangilli, able to overcome ever winning Bjerendal; the silver medal gained by Spada, stopped by Jana Davis, and the bronze of Joriatti. A rich booty that has thrown Italy into the second place of the overall medal list, just behind a very strong Sweden. A much appreciated outcome for the attendance of the top archers of this fascinating discipline as well as for the high technical value of the event. The courses, designed with the greatest care for details by Renato De Min have been a very hard test since the preliminary rounds and only the best athletes of the lot have succeeded in getting to the last shots for the awarding of the World title.
Could the Italian team do better? Perhaps a better performance was expected by the Men's Team, at least in view of the results of the qualification rounds. In the semi-finals the Italian athletes were overcome by the Netherlands and have competed till the end with France for the bronze medal. Unfortunately they lacked that little bit of luck which is always needed: after as many as three shoot-offs, the French gained the third place. Yet, this was but an episode. What will long remain are the successful results - fully deserved - and a fabulous World Championship which is going to become the term of comparison everybody will have to measure against.
All that has been possible thanks to the valuable and indispensable cooperation of bodies, associations, and single persons. The Municipality of Cortina d'Ampezzo and the Veneto Region, the Tourist bureaux Apt1 Dolomiti and Cortina Turismo, the Compagnia Arceri del Piave and the volunteers of the Protezione Civile (civil defence), the staff of the G.I.S., the SEAM for transfer services, as well as the owners of the lands lying in the competition courses.
Last, but not least the contribution by the main sponsors and partner sponsors of the event: i.e. Kia Motors Italia, Regim Archi, Ascom, Bailo SpA, Merotto Vini, Tre C conc. Olivetti and Ufficio Stile Snc of Belluno. The Organising Committee wishes to express its hearty thanks to everybody.
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