Easton - Expect the Best

Ogden, UT - July 11, 2008 – The International Archery Federation (FITA), Easton Sports Development Foundation (ESDF), the Ogden Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Utah Sports Commission today announced Ogden, Utah as the host for the 2009 Youth Archery World Championships, which will also serve as the archery qualifier for the first ever Youth Olympic Games. Ogden City will also host World Cup Archery events in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

The Youth World Championship events, which will be held from July 13-18, 2009 at Weber State University, are expected to bring over 450 archery athletes. Participants are between the ages of 14 to 18 and represent over 50 countries. These events will also qualify countries for slots to participate in the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010.

“As a city that is focused on attracting worldwide attention to our sports and recreation resources, we are honored for this opportunity and are fully committed to the success of these events,” said Ogden City Mayor, Matthew Godfrey. “These events will not only attract more attention to Ogden as a recreational hub in the west, but they are also expected to have a tremendous economic impact of over $2 million for our great city.”

The World Cup archery events will take place in Ogden during the next three years. The dates for these events are as follows: August 3-7, 2010; August 1-6, 2011; June 19-23, 2012. Each event is anticipated to attract 889 million television viewers worldwide.

“Bringing these events to Utah would not have been possible without the support and backing we received from the Utah Sports Commission, the city of Ogden, Weber State University and Weber County,” said Jim Easton, current member of the International Olympic Committee, board member of the United States Olympic Committee, founder of the Easton Sports Development Foundation and owner of Jas. D. Easton, Inc.. “They really stepped up to the plate and showed their desire to bring these events to their community. We have full confidence in our partners who will be providing the needed resources to make these events successful.” Mr. Easton continued, “I am also pleased that the ESDF is supporting this event as the Local Organizing Committee, which furthers our Foundation’s objectives of promoting and supporting archery.”

“On behalf of the Utah Sports Commission, I am thrilled to be welcoming so many to our state as host to these historic worldwide events,” said Jeff Robbins, president and CEO of the Utah Sports Commission. “Ogden represented our state extremely well as the host of the men’s downhill and curling competitions for the 2002 Winter Olympics, so we are confident that these events will be no exception.”

Background on the Youth Olympic Games
In the summer 2010 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will organize the first Youth Olympic Games (YOG). The objective is to attract and organize 3,500 young and talented athletes aged between 14 and 18 years old.
Most of the Summer Sport International Federations are involved in the 2010 edition of the YOG. As is the case for the Olympic Games, winter editions of the YOG will also take place, based on the same format of the Olympics.
With the goal to present an attractive competition format for a limited number of athletes, the International Archery Federation (FITA) is proposing a five-day competition with 32 boys and 32 girls participating. A ranking round at 70m will take place on the first day, with eliminations and Olympic Round Finals on days 3, 4 and 5. The second day will be dedicated to a mixed team competition, 1 girl and 1 boy, in match format (1/8, 1/4, 1/2, bronze and gold).
Background on the Archery World Cup
The Archery World Cup was launched in 2006 and it has received glowing reviews from athletes, media, fans and sponsors since. Through allowing vast flexibility for organizers to take the competition venue to spectacular locations together with a focus to make the event into a show, the Archery World Cup has raised spectator and media interest in all the host cities as well as in international viewership. Last year, the Archery World Cup ended in spectacular fashion with a World Cup Final in Dubai, held on a floating venue with the famously spectacular 7-star Burj Al Arab hotel as the backdrop.
Beside the World Championships, the World Cup Stages have reached new participation heights on average bringing together more than 300 athletes from about 40 countries.