Terni, Italy: The Rising Youth Archery Capital Shaping Italy’s Olympic Future

Terni, Italy—A small city in Umbria known for its steel industry is quietly becoming Italy’s epicenter for youth archery, with elite coaches and athletes calling it a “goldmine” for developing the next generation of Olympic archers. The city’s investment in world-class training facilities and partnerships with national federations has positioned it as a key player in Italy’s push to dominate archery at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and beyond.

According to Federazione Italiana Tiro con l’Arco (FITA), Terni’s youth archery programs have produced three national junior champions in the past 12 months, with several athletes now training under the Italian Olympic Committee’s (CONI) elite development program. The city’s Polisportiva Tagliavento facility, a former industrial site repurposed into a multi-sport complex, has become the hub of this growth, offering year-round training to over 150 young archers aged 12–18, records show.

*”This isn’t just about producing good archers—it’s about creating future Olympians,”* said Mauro Tagliavento, president of Polisportiva Tagliavento, in an interview with FITA’s official communications team. *”We’re not just training kids to shoot arrows; we’re giving them the discipline, the mental toughness, and the technical foundation to compete at the highest level. The results speak for themselves.”*

Why Terni? How a Steel City Became Italy’s Archery Training Ground

Terni’s transformation from an industrial hub to a sports powerhouse began in 2019, when the city’s municipal government partnered with CONI and FITA to repurpose the abandoned Tagliavento steelworks into a €5 million multi-sport facility. The centerpiece is a 360-degree indoor archery range, one of only two in Italy equipped with automated scoring systems and climate-controlled conditions—critical for year-round training.

*”The old Tagliavento plant was a symbol of decline, but now it’s a symbol of renewal,”* said Luciano Rossi, Terni’s sports assessor, in a statement to Umbria Region’s official press office. *”We saw archery as a way to invest in young people, give them structure, and create a pipeline for Olympic success. The numbers don’t lie: since we opened, we’ve seen a 40% increase in youth participation in archery across Umbria.”*

Key facilities in Terni:

• Polisportiva Tagliavento: 360° indoor range, outdoor Olympic-standard field, strength/tactics lab
• CONI Youth Academy: Residential training program for top prospects (ages 14–18)
• FITA Technical Center: Video analysis and biomechanics lab for elite juniors

From Local Clubs to National Teams: Terni’s Olympic Pipeline

The city’s success stems from a three-tiered development system, verified by FITA’s 2023 annual report:

1. Base Level (Ages 8–12): Free introductory programs at local schools, run by certified coaches from Polisportiva Tagliavento.
2. Regional Academy (Ages 13–16): Select athletes train 4–5 days/week, with access to the indoor range and strength programs.
3. Elite Pathway (Ages 17–21): Top prospects move to CONI’s residential program, where they train alongside Italy’s senior national team.

One of Terni’s success stories is 16-year-old Emma Rossi, who won Italy’s 2023 U18 National Compound Championship after training at Tagliavento for just two years. *”Before, we had to travel to Rome or Milan for proper training,”* Rossi told FITA’s official magazine. *”Now, we have everything here. The coaches push us harder, and the facilities are better than any club I’ve seen.”*

Rossi is now one of eight Terni-trained archers in Italy’s 2024 European Youth Olympic Festival squad, a team that will serve as a proving ground for the 2028 Olympics. *”This is about building a culture,”* said Federico Bianchi, Italy’s senior national team coach, in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport. *”Terni isn’t just producing athletes—it’s creating a generation that understands what it takes to compete at the Olympic level.”*

How Terni Stacks Up: Youth Archery in Italy

Terni’s rise is part of a broader trend in Italian youth sports, but its focus on archery sets it apart. Here’s how the city compares to other Italian archery hubs:

Note: Data sourced from FITA’s 2023 annual report, CONI’s youth development database, and Gazzetta dello Sport interviews with coaches.

Why This Matters for Italy’s 2028 Olympic Ambitions

Italy’s archery program has struggled to produce consistent Olympic medalists in recent decades, with only one medal (bronze) at the 2016 Rio Games. But the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics present a rare opportunity: archery will return to the U.S. for the first time since 1904, and Italy is eyeing a podium finish in both recurve and compound divisions.

Terni’s role in this plan is critical. *”The 2028 Games are our target,”* said Antonio Moretti, FITA’s technical director, in a statement to CONI’s press office. *”With Terni’s infrastructure, we can now focus on refining technique and mental preparation. The facility there is identical to what the athletes will face in Los Angeles—same weather conditions, same range design. That’s not luck; that’s strategic planning.”*

Italy’s current Olympic archery team includes three athletes who trained at Terni’s youth programs, including 2021 European Champion Luca Bertelli, who credits the city’s facilities for his breakthrough. *”When I was 14, I had to drive two hours to train,”* Bertelli told RAI Sport in 2022. *”Now, kids in Terni don’t have that problem. They can train every day, and that’s how you build champions.”*

Hurdles and the Road to Los Angeles

Despite its progress, Terni’s program faces challenges that could threaten its Olympic timeline:

• Funding: The €5 million initial investment was co-funded by the Italian government and Umbria Region, but CONI estimates an additional €2 million annually is needed to maintain elite-level facilities. *”We’re not just talking about arrows and targets,”* said Rossi. *”We need physiotherapists, sports psychologists, and travel budgets for competitions.”*
• Competition: Rome and Milan remain dominant in Italy’s archery scene, with established private academies and historic clubs. *”Terni is new,”* acknowledged Bianchi. *”We have to prove ourselves in competitions before the world takes us seriously.”*
• Retention: Some top junior athletes are lured to northern Italy or abroad for higher-level training. *”The biggest risk is losing them before they’re ready,”* warned Tagliavento.

To address these, FITA and CONI are piloting a “Terni Scholarship Program”, offering full funding for the city’s top 10 prospects to train at the facility through age 21. *”This isn’t just about Italy,”* said Moretti. *”We’re competing with South Korea, China, and the U.S. for global dominance. Terni gives us a real shot.”*

Key Competitions and the Path to 2028

The next 12 months will be pivotal for Terni’s athletes as they aim to secure spots on Italy’s Olympic team. Here are the must-watch competitions, with local times (CEST) and UTC conversions:

Note: Times are based on CONI’s official competition schedules. For live updates, follow FITA’s social media or Polisportiva Tagliavento’s website.

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Terni’s archery program is still in its early stages, but its impact is already being felt across Italy’s national team. For updates on the athletes’ progress, follow @TerniArchery on Instagram or check FITA’s official news. And if you’re a young archer in Italy, Polisportiva Tagliavento is now accepting applications for its 2024–25 youth programs.

What do you think of Terni’s rise as Italy’s archery hub? Share your thoughts in the comments—or tag us if you’ve trained at one of Italy’s top facilities.