“Nîmes is very well known in the world of archery: in the USA, China, Korea, Spain, Italy and Turkey, specialists in the discipline all know where our city is located”, welcomes Jean-Pierre Michel, volunteer at the Arc club of Nîmes, which is organizing its 28th European Indoor World Series tournament from January 15 to 18. A tournament which has acquired worldwide notoriety over the years. Each year, more than 1,200 archers of 45 different nationalities from five continents meet on the shooting ranges installed at the Exhibition Center and at Parnasse. The Nîmes tournament is ranked IWS 1000, tied with that of Las Vegas where the world final will take place next March.
The event attracts the world’s elite in recurve and compound bow Olympic shooting every year to Nîmes. “Most of the top 10 archers in the world rankings will be there,” rejoices Olivier Grillat, technical director of the Arc club.
The reason for this success: the quality of the welcome and that of its organization supported by the Nîmes club and several dozen volunteers. “Some have never even shot archery, they come for the atmosphere”, explains Philippe Michelutti, president of the Arc club. A special atmosphere, which particularly appeals to Brady Allison, the undisputed star of world archery. The American only missed the Nîmes test during the Covid episode. In total, nearly 5,000 people, shooters, coaches, guides, spectators, are welcomed for three days in Nîmes.
Are archery competitions boring and austere? Certainly not! The madness that takes over the stands during the final stages on Sunday with an American-style show (pom-pom girls, DJs, light shows) demonstrates just the opposite. Given the very high level of the competitors, the point and sometimes the victory are decided by the millimeter. The suspense is therefore often at its height on the stands of Parnassus. The warm public actively and loudly supports the French archers and in particular the Nîmes. This year, hopes are high around the premises. Victoria Sebastian, third in the tournament and second in the Las Vegas tournament last year, has just won the Taipei round. Jean-Charles Valladont and Baptiste Addis, both members of the French team, silver medalists at Paris 2024, ranked second and third respectively in the same Asian tournament. All three are among the favorites on their home soil.
