OLYMPICS-RIO/ARCHERY-TEST Olympic archery tested in Rio's carnival stadium

Record ID: 140991

  • Title: OLYMPICS-RIO/ARCHERY-TEST Olympic archery tested in Rio's carnival stadium
  • Date: 15th September 2015
  • Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (SEPTEMBER 15, 2015) (REUTERS) OLYMPIC ARCHERY TEST EVENT IN PROGRESS IN SAMBADROME STADIUM CLOSE-UP OF ATHLETE PREPARING ARROW CLOSE-UP OF ATHLETE SHOOTING ATHLETES SHOOTING WITH THE STADIUM'S ICONIC ARCHES SEEN BEHIND THE TARGETS CLOSE-UP OF ARROWS BEING SHOT TARGETS LINED UP ARROWS IN THE TARGET BEING JUDGED ARROWS BEING PULLED OUT OF TARGET SECRETARY GENERAL OF WORLD ARCHERY, TOM DIELEN, SPEAKING TO REPORTER CLOSE-UP OF DIELEN CLOSE-UP OF WORLD ARCHERY LOGO ON DIELEN'S SHIRT (SOUNDBITE) (English) SECRETARY GENERAL OF WORLD ARCHERY, TOM DIELEN, SAYING: "I think it is working out fine, the scores I have seen so far of the archers are showing that the venue will be ready for high scores, if not world records and Olympic records. Also the back drop of Rio, you can see where you are, there is no discussion you see you are in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil." CHRIST THE REDEEMER STATUE / ARROWS BEING SHOT DUTCH ARCHER, SJEF VAN DEN BERG, SPEAKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DUTCH ARCHER, SJEF VAN DEN BERG, SAYING: "It is kind of what I was expecting because I saw pictures from the 3D renders, and it looks kind of similar. It is good, I don't have anything to complain about and it looks nice." STICKER OF KOREAN FLAG ON EQUIPMENT (SOUNDBITE) (Korean - approximate translation) KOREAN ARCHER, OH JIN-HYEK, SAYING: "I liked it here but I had some difficulties. I think they raised the platform because the floor was not completely flat, and when I stand to try to shoot the floor wobbles a bit, which affects my concentration and possibly my result." BOARD WITH DETAILS OF WIND CONDITIONS A WIND INDICATOR FLAG CLOSE-UP OF FEMALE ARCHER AIMING ARCHER SHOOTING ARCHERS TAKING ARROWS OUT OF TARGET TEAM GB ARCHERS STANDING IN THE STADIUM SIGN READING (IN ENGLISH): "SHOOTING LINE" TEST EVENT IN PROGRESS IN FRONT OF SAMBADROME ARCHES
  • Embargoed: 30th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA3OEPMEJ2CGFCQ611EVSII4IFG
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Rio de Janeiro's iconic Sambadrome, home to the city's annual carnival parades, opened its hallowed runway to a different kind of show on Tuesday (September 15) with the first day of the Olympic Archery test-event ahead of next year's Summer Games.
    The home of one of the world's largest spectacles is perhaps fitting for a sport remembered for the Barcelona 1992 Opening Ceremony, when Spanish Paralympic archer Antonio Rebollo lit the cauldron by shooting a flaming arrow.
    But there were no floats or flames on display on Tuesday as 120 international athletes, including 11 Olympics medallists, buckled down to test out the stadium's conditions, where they will be shooting for Gold in just under a year's time.
    In total, 28 aspects of the facilities are to be trailed during the test event, focusing on the competition area, as well as doping controls, and accessibility for Paralympic athletes.
    According to World Archery Secretary General Tom Dielen, the facilities are favourable for producing record results next year.
    "I think it is working out fine, the scores I have seen so far of the archers are showing that the venue will be ready for high scores, if not world records and Olympic records. Also the back drop of Rio, you can see where you are, there is no discussion you see you are in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil," Dielen told Reuters, as the nearby Christ the Redeemer statue overlooked the stadium.
    The Sambadrome hosted the Brazilian Archery Championship in October 2014, when shooting was positioned perpendicular to the 700-metre (2297-foot) passage.
    The Olympic installations have shifted the pattern, however, with the 70-metre (230-foot) shooting range stretching out in the direction followed by the parades.
    Athletes each have 40 seconds to shoot their six arrows at the target measuring 1.22-metres (3.28-feet), aiming to demonstrate accuracy and consistency through what is known as "grouping", whereby the arrows meet the target as close together as possible.
    One of the main challenges for this is the effect of the wind, or "drag", which in the Sambadrome is channelled through the centre due to the high stands for public viewing running down each side.
    The position of the sun is also a factor for athletes to take into account this week in the open-roof stadium where carnival pageants stride on despite pouring rain.
    For Dutch archer Sjef Van Den Berg, the installations were satisfactory and as expected.
    "It is kind of what I was expecting because I saw pictures from the 3D renders, and it looks kind of similar. It is good, I don't have anything to complain about and it looks nice," said Van Den Berg.
    But London Gold medallist Oh Jin-Hyek of Team Korea had a different experience.
    "I liked it here but I had some difficulties. I think they raised the platform because the floor was not completely flat, and when I stand to try to shoot the floor wobbles a bit, which affects my concentration and possibly my result," Jin-Hyek said.
    The South Koreans are leaders in the sport at Olympics level, with Ki Bo Bae as world number one and winner of one Bronze and two Gold medals, and Im Dong Hyun who holds on to two Golds and a Silver.
    A total of 593 workers will be involved in the week-long event, wrapping up with medals for the female division on September 21, and the male division the following day. Among these are 77 members of the Rio 2016 organising committee, 378 out-sourced workers and 138 volunteers.
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