The Italian Armed Forces hosted the third edition of the Inter-Forces Archery Tournament at the Pratica di Mare air base near Rome on May 15–17, 2024, bringing together military personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Carabinieri for a three-day precision shooting competition.
Organized by the Italian Air Force’s sports division under the auspices of the Centro Sportivo Olimpico dell’Esercito (CSE), the event featured both individual and team recurve bow disciplines across men’s and women’s categories, following World Archery Federation rules adapted for military sporting events.
Over 120 athletes participated, representing 15 different military units stationed across Italy, from alpine garrisons in the north to naval bases in Sicily and Sardinia. Competitors fired at standard 122cm targets from 70 meters, the Olympic distance, in qualification rounds followed by head-to-head matchplay.
The Air Force team emerged victorious in the men’s team recurve event, scoring 1,982 points across three archers to edge out the Navy by 14 points. The Carabinieri claimed bronze with 1,956 points. In the women’s team competition, the Army secured gold with 1,891 points, narrowly defeating the Air Force (1,876) and Navy (1,843).
Individually, Sergeant Marco Rossi of the 4th Alpini Regiment won the men’s title with a score of 678 out of a possible 720, defeating Air Force Lieutenant Andrea Bianchi in the gold medal match 6–2 in set points. Rossi’s performance included three perfect 10-point ends during the semifinal round.
In the women’s division, First Lieutenant Giulia Conti of the Army’s Logistics Command captured individual gold with 652 points, overcoming Navy Petty Officer Elena Greco in a tightly contested final that went to a one-arrow shoot-off after both scored 148 in the semifinal set.
The tournament also included a novelty mixed-team event pairing one male and one female archer from the same service branch. The Air Force duo of Bianchi and Conti won gold with a combined score of 1,330 points, highlighting the growing integration of gender-equal competitions within military sports programs.
Officials emphasized the event’s role in fostering inter-service camaraderie and promoting precision sports as part of military physical readiness. “Archery demands focus, breath control, and mental discipline — qualities directly transferable to operational environments,” said Colonel Luca Ferrini, head of the Italian Air Force Sports Center, during the closing ceremony.
All scoring was verified using World Archery-approved electronic scoring systems, with double-check protocols in place to ensure accuracy. Results were published in real time on the Italian Defense Ministry’s internal sports portal and later shared publicly via the aeronautica.difesa.it website.
The competition served as a qualifier for selection to the Italian Armed Forces World Games team, which will compete later in 2024 at the Military World Games in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Top performers in each category earned automatic consideration for the national military squad.
Weather conditions remained favorable throughout the event, with temperatures ranging from 18–24°C and light winds under 5 km/h — ideal for outdoor archery. The Pratica di Mare venue, located 25 kilometers southwest of Rome, has hosted similar events since 2010 due to its dedicated shooting ranges and proximity to military housing.
Looking ahead, organizers confirmed plans to expand the tournament in 2025 to include compound bow divisions and invite participation from allied NATO nations’ military sports teams, aligning with broader defense cooperation initiatives.
For ongoing updates on Italian military sports events and athlete profiles, readers can follow the official channels of the Centro Sportivo Olimpico dell’Esercito and the individual service sports councils.
What did you think of this year’s Inter-Forces Archery Tournament? Share your thoughts in the comments below or join the conversation on social media using #ForzeArmateTiroConArco.
