Answer: The recurve bow is the only one used at the Olympic Games.
A recurve archer pulls the string towards their face with their fingers and aims at the target through a sight. The arrow is then released downrange towards the target.
The bit where the bow is held is called the riser, off which limbs (or the arcs) of the bow extend. The bowstrings are wrapped at the end of each limb.
An adjustable sight, a rod-like object to which a ‘sight pin’ – which helps archers view the target - is set up, is also attached to the riser.
Archers use long and short rods to stabilise the bow, which helps in windy conditions or keeping the bow steady when the arrow is released. To protect themselves from the string, archers wear finger tabs and arm-guards to protect the forearm from rubbing the bowstring.
Recurve bow.
In a recurve event, archers shoot over a distance of 70 metres at a target face which has a diameter of 122cm with the innermost 10-point ring measuring 12.2cm in diameter.
Compound and Barebow
A compound bow is similar to a recurve bow, except that the bowstrings are attached to the limbs through pulleys (also called cams). It thus makes archery less physical, allows more accuracy and power from a greater distance.
A compound archer also views his target through a scope with a magnifying lens in addition to a sight pin. A compound competition is held in World Archery Championships and Archery World Cup but not in the Olympics.
The target in a compound event is set at 50 metres. The target face is 80cm in diameter with the innermost 10-point ring 8cm in diameter.
A barebow is the most primitive form of bow in archery, with archers allowed no stabilisers or sight pins to shoot at their targets.
Barebow archers shoot at targets set at 50 metres, with the target face measuring 122cm in diameter.
Archery at the Olympics
Archery formed an early relationship with the Olympics. It was included in the second edition in 1900 and also in 1904, 1908 and the 1920 Games.
However, too many local variations led to archery being dropped from the Olympic programme. The global body of World Archery was formed in 1931 with the aim of getting the sport back in the quadrennial event.
They finally succeeded in that endeavour 40 years later, as archery made a return to the Olympics at Munich 1972, with recurve events being the accepted form.
At present, 64 men and 64 women compete in the individual, team and mixed team archery programme at the Olympics.
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