IBSA Conference and General Assembly. Beijing, China, 6th – 12th June 2005. This meeting was of paramount importance for the future of VI archery internationally. The VI archery international steering group proposed the agreed set of rules to IBSA in August 2004.

The rules were presented to the IBSA Technical committee for their meeting at the end of last year, which were approved, and forwarded to the next stage. They were then forwarded to the IBSA Executive committee in February of this year, where again they were approved and forwarded to the final stage.
For final ratification they had to be presented for approval at an IBSA General Assembly, the Assemblies only take place every four years.

In my role as secretary of the international steering group, and with financial assistance primarily from Sport UK, BBS, and GNAS, funds were raised to enable myself and my escort to attend this very important meeting.

I was accompanied on the trip by Helen George who is a GNAS (Grand National Archery Association) senior coach, is also part of the BBS archery development team, the BBS/GNAS liaison officer, co-optee on the GNAS disabled committee and GNAS coaching and education committee, so as you can see, well qualified to assist me not only as my escort, but most importantly to spread the word about VI archery and ensure we achieved our aim, and secure the vote.

This we did, VI archery is now accepted as an Official IBSA sport.

As IBSA are a member of IPC, this acceptance will now enable us to continue with our push to become accepted as an IPC archery category.

To give a little background and to show it was not a simple task to develop the rules, as it took a huge amount of dedication, patience and paperwork.

In my previous role as chairperson for BBS archery, in 2003 I instigated the first ever International seminar, where six countries came together to agree the way forward. In a vote by the delegates attending, I was voted onto the newly formed steering group as the secretary. I inadvertently also agreed to draft the rules!!

I used the existing rules of France and Britain, the recommendations of the IPC judges and officials (from previous competitions and demonstrations), and advice from IBSA (thanks to Brian Scobie and Andrew Chew) to begin the basis of what would eventually deliver the agreed rules.

The second seminar was held in France in 2004, where the first agreements were discussed again, and some more details were added.
After many months of contact with the other members of the steering group, drafting, circulating, re-drafting and re-circulating many times, we finally had agreement. The rest as they say is now history.

So as you see, BBS played the major role in this great international achievement.

Special thanks to Helen for being my sighted guide and her dedication to assist me, as she was really there as an escort, she could have gone off sight seeing, but she attended every minute of the conference and assembly with me and her enthusiasm was exceptional. Thanks also to Sport UK, Elizabeth Smith BBS fundraiser, the BBS Trustees, BBS archery committee and GNAS for their financial support.
I hope you all agree it was well worth it.

But, I can’t get too comfortable yet, as my role as International secretary will exist until the new IBSA archery committee is formed.

Report by Sandra Nesbitt

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