“The place of archery is solid, but perfectible”

The 56th Congress of World Archery will be held in Gwangju (South Korea) on September 2 and 3. A meeting that will decide on the future president of the federation. Uğur Erdener will return his apron after his fifth term. To succeed him, the Belgian Tom Dielen, secretary general of the FI, presents himself, as Greg Easton, whose father Jim had chaired the body from 1989 to 2005. The American, who promised that he would fully transfer his remuneration to improve the accompaniment of member federations, delivers his vision of the future of archery for archery for archery for archery Francs games.

Why do you want to become president of World Archery?

My decision to present myself to the presidency of World Archery stems from a deep conviction as to what we can accomplish together as a global archery community. Having served our sport at all levels, including in the World Archery Executive Committee for nine years, I could see both the enormous potential and the shortcomings that we have to fill. I am passionate about our sport. Archery has shaped my life for more than three decades. I participated in competitions as an art, directed the local organizing committee of five prestigious international events, located on the board of directors of USA Archery and managed global companies in the field of archery.

In recent months, I have also heard a clear and constant call on the part of many actors in the world of archery in favor of change, new ideas, renewed energy and leadership attentive and in action. Through hundreds of conversations with member associations, athletes and partners, I learned that an effective leadership does not consist in having all the answers, but in constituting and empowering a solid team at the service of people who shape and support our sport. Within the World Archery family, we have expertise and now have the opportunity to strengthen our collaboration, to raise our ambitions and to have a lasting impact on athletes, member associations and all our stakeholders.

How would you assess the current place of archery in the world sports landscape?

It is solid, but perfectible. Archery has a unique attraction thanks to its precision and its mental appearance. But we must transform this unique attraction into global demand. Amazing work has been accomplished. However, we must redouble their efforts to provide the best possible product to our athletes and our fans. Our Olympic relevance remains strong, in particular with the inclusion of the mixed team mixed test in pulleys in Los Angeles in 2028. However, I understand the need to make our tests more attractive and immersive, both for athletes and for spectators.

In all objectivity, how far can archery go?

The potential for archery is considerable, but to exploit it fully, it takes strategic reflection and collaboration. The key lies in better communication around athletes, strategic partnerships and innovative formats that attract new generations without losing sight of the essence of our sport. We can expand the scope of archery thanks to digital -oriented experiences, formats for young people and even the introduction of electronic sports. Success will not be measured only in terms of audience, but also by creating significant routes for athletes, financial viability for countries that host events and the offer of experiences that highlight what makes archery so special.

What are the three main ideas of your program?

My program is based on four strategic pillars, but if I had to highlight the three most important areas, it would be:

Member associations and athletes: a unique approach for all countries does not work in our diversified global community. We must provide tailor -made support that reflects the specific needs of each country, create stronger development paths and strengthen the representation of athletes in decision -making.

Events: Our events are the place where archery comes to life, but they must evolve to meet increasing expectations. We need flexible reception models, better support for emerging hosts and events that are attractive to athletes and fans, while being financially viable for hosts and athletes.

Governance: During my conversations with member associations, several of them stressed their feeling of being disconnected from key decisions. Good governance requires regular consultations, transparent communication and a culture where managers listen first, openly share and ensure that each voice is heard before taking important measures.

These priorities are not only my vision; They come directly from my conversations with the global archery community.

What lessons do you learn from the inclusion of the mixed arc team test in 2028 for the future?

This shows that innovation and tradition can successfully coexist. Archery in Poulies is a discipline of high technology, but there remains fundamentally archery with its skills, its mental discipline and its precision. This teaches us that we must continue to innovate in a thoughtful way, to build solid arguments in favor of the evolution of our sport and to maintain our commitment to excellence in all disciplines. This also strengthens the importance of offering diverse paths to athletes and the value of mixed competitions in the current sports landscape. Having several courses in our sport is a force, not a complication.

At the same time, we must be aware that new additions to the Olympic program can lead to compromises, such as reducing the number of places for athletes practicing classic archery, which can be particularly difficult for small countries. This awareness must encourage us to ensure that the opportunities remain balanced and accessible to all athletes.

The world championships have never been organized in Africa. What is missing for this continent, like other regions, can engage more?

Continental representation in our major events is an aspect that we must favor. The organization of a major championship requires significant investments in infrastructure, technical expertise and financial resources which can represent a challenge for member associations in development. However, these obstacles are not insurmountable, they simply require targeted support and a new way of thinking.

For Africa in particular, we have to work closely with the continental association in order to identify potential hosts and set up multi -year development programs that make it possible to develop both infrastructure and expertise. This may include partnerships with hosts established for knowledge transfer, the provision of technical assistance and possibly exploring co-organization models.

My manifesto specifically addresses this question by committing to support emerging hosts by practical advice, mentoring and concrete planning tools. By rationalizing requirements and concentrating resources on the experience of athletes and the quality of competitions, we can make organization more accessible to a larger number of member associations.

In this campaign, is it an advantage or an drawback that your father was president?

I think it is both an advantage and, in a way, a slight drawback. Many people in the archery world knew my father and appreciate everything he did for World Archery. Thanks to his leadership and his life, he left an inheritance of excellence, integrity and hard work, values that I try to perpetuate in my own life and my own leadership.

At the same time, I understand that some may think that I only follow his traces. But his presidency ended more than 20 years ago, and since then I have traced my own way, as an art, member of the executive committee of World Archery, organizer of major events and manager of international companies in the archery. I present myself with my own program and my own commitment to serve, by providing my experience in service, commercial leaders and my vision for the future of our sport.