The big dance

Well, it’s almost upon us; the most troubled Summer Olympics in all our living history, the first one of what we’ll probably all be calling ‘the COVID era’ someday. It’s happening, but it is possibly the most unpopular Olympics ever held, if the opinion polls of various Japanese newspapers are to be believed. (We’ve explored a few of the issues around holding it towards the back of this issue of your soaraway Bow.)

The Olympics remains the biggest thing in the archery world; the bump in awareness boosts interest, numbers and the business of archery all over the world (and that includes compounds). The world of archery needs the shot in the arm every four years that the Games generates, and this year more than ever.

In the past few issues, archery at the Olympics has been a ratings success story punching above its weight as a global sport, generating viewer numbers many other Olympic sports would kill for in the first week before the athletics gets fully underway.

This issue upcoming, of course, will be different to most, due to the political and public health constraints imposed by the times; venues at 50% capacity, no foreign supporters, a punitive regime of testing everyone and everything, and, essentially, enclosing the competition in a bubble as far away from most of the Japanese public as possible. The usual story that the IOC loves to tell – the peaceful expression of soft power and a global celebration – will be replaced by a more functional, pragmatic competition. How this will play out on the all-important TV broadcast you will all find out for yourselves in due course. For a lot of us, watching the archery finals live will involve some very late nights or some very early mornings. Bow will be there and bringing you all the news and information we can.

See you on the shooting line,