Archery

In Olympic archery, competitors shoot with a recurve bow from a distance of 70 metres at a target 122 centimetres in diameter, the centre of which — the 10-point yellow ring — measures just 12.2 centimetres. After a qualifying round of 72 arrows, the competition moves on to head-to-head sets: the winner of the set scores two points; in the event of a draw, one point is awarded; and six points are required to progress to the next round. The bow has been used by mankind for millennia as a tool for hunting and warfare; its transformation into a sport took place in England between the 18th and 19th centuries, with the first archery clubs and the first regulated competitions. Archery first appeared at the Olympic Games in 1900, was dropped from the programme for half a century, and returned at the 1972 Munich Games, when the technical format still in use today was adopted. It is a sport of absolute consistency: the technique must be identical for every arrow, with the same anchor point, the same draw length and the same release, whilst wind, light and mental tension are constantly changing. In head-to-head contests, the pressure is immense, as any single arrow can turn the score on its head. At the 20th Mediterranean Games in Taranto in 2026, archery will take place from 25 to 27 August at the Nuovo Palazzetto dello Sport in Crispiano, with five titles up for grabs: men’s and women’s individual, men’s and women’s team, and mixed team.

• 1Recurve bow, 70-metre distance, 122-cm target with a 10-point centre
• 2A 72-arrow qualification round to determine the draw
• 3Head-to-head sets: 2 points to the winner of the set, 1 point each in the event of a tie; the set is won at 6 points
• 4In the event of a tie at the end, a tie-breaker arrow is shot: the arrow closest to the centre wins
• 5Five titles up for grabs in Taranto from 25 to 27 August in Crispiano