With the Bejing Summer Olympic Games only two years away, and the
first International Blowgun Games being held this summer in France, I
thought it was time to post an update on the progress we're making
about getting Competition Sport Blowgun Target Shooting recognized as
a sport by the various National Olympic Committees and the
International Olympic Committee. The individuals that I have been in
communication with from the various National Olympic Committees
(NOC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have been very
helpful, and have provided a great deal of information to me towards
getting our sport recognized and sanctioned.

First the bad news.
1. No National Olympic Committee recognizes our sport as
an "official" sport. Why? Lack of participation! Not even in Japan
is it recognized by the Japananese NOC ... although they are the ones
with the largest national participating membership, and meeting all
the other requirements for recognition. They will most likely be the
first IFA affiliated organization to be recognized by their NOC.

2. Any new sport must be admitted to the Olympic program at least
seven years before the next Olympic Games. For the original goal set
(2016), that means we have to be on the list by 2009! Sadly, Talon-
xls may have called it - we may not be able to meet our original goal.

3. In order for a sport to be played at the games, the sport's
International Organization must be recognized by the General
Association of International Sport Federations. The General
Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), founded in
1967, groups together the International Sports Federations and
various associations with the aim of defending world-wide sport,
becoming better informed and making themselves known, and cooperating
and coordinating their activities. Its aim is to create a forum which
brings together all the sports bodies once a year for an exchange of
views on subjects of common interest. Its mission is to maintain the
authority and autonomy of its members, promote closer links between
its members and all sports organisations, coordinate and protect
common interests and collect, verify and disseminate information.
Currently, the International Fukiyado Association (IFA) is not
recognized (see #1, above). But, Air sports, Netball,
Bandy, Orienteering, Billiards, Sports Pelote Basque,
Boules, Polo, Bowling, Powerboating, Bridge, Racquetball,
Chess, Roller Sports, DanceSport, Rugby.
Golf, Squash, Karate, Surfing, Korfball, Sumo Wrestling, Life Saving,
Tug of War,
Motorcycle Racing, Underwater Sports, Mountaineering and Climbing,
Water Skiing, and Wushu ( a martial Arts sport) are - and are ahead
of us on the waiting list, with the smallest following having more
than double the number of participating nations that we have.

Now, the good news:
1. We have over a dozen national organizations, representing nations
on four continents. Some of these actually have held national level
competitions. However, we need to get a lot more official
participants on the national level (come on, USA - 50 registered
blowgunners? That will never do!)
2. National competitions have been held in Japan, France, the USA,
and Germany.
3. The first International Blowgun Games will be held in France this
year.

What needs to happen next?

In a word - PARTICIPATION!

If you are reading this post ... participate!
Join your national organization if you already haven't.
Form a local club, if you already haven't.
Have a membership drive (Hey! This IS a sport ... we're behind
boules (lawn bowling ...petanque, or bocce ball), Tug-of-War, chess,
Korfball, Netball, and Orienteering ... Curling actually IS an
Olympic Sport already (quick, hand me a broom! LOL).
Be proud of the fact that you are a Blowgun Target Shooter, and good
at it!
Wear your local club or national organization logo.
Hold a local competition and advertise it in the media (newspapers,
radio, TV), and publish the results!

Want more information? Here's some that might help you -
FAQ's and more -

General Olympic Information
Q: Who is eligible to compete in the Olympic Games?
A: Each athlete must be a citizen of the country of the National
Olympic Committee which he/she represents, and must also meet the
eligibility requirements of his/her respective sport's International
Federation, in accordance with the Olympic Charter. No competitor in
the Olympic Games may allow his/her person, picture or sports
performance to be used for advertising purposes during the Olympic
Games.

Q: Is there an age limit for Olympic athletes?
A: The only age limit for Olympic competitors are prescribed for
health and safety reasons in the competition rules of certain IFs,
including bobsled (minimum of 14 years old), boxing (17-32), diving
(minimum of 14), equestrian (16 or older), figure skating (15 by July
of previous year), gymnastics (must be 16 years old in Olympic year),
judo (15 or older), luge (16 or older), soccer (under 23), team
handball (over 18), weightlifting (17 or older) and wrestling (must
be at least 17 on day of Opening Ceremonies). There are no general
restrictions among the International Federations on an "upper" age
limit.

Q: How does a new sport, discipline or event get added to the Olympic
program?
A: First, the respective sport's IF must be recognized by the
International Olympic Committee as a federation operated and
organized under the principles and regulations of the IOC. Second,
for a new sport to be considered for the Olympic program, the IF must
present proof that the sport is widely practiced (i.e., national
championships, regional competitions such as the Pan Am Games, world
championships and other international competitions are held on a
regular basis). Starting in the year 2000, for those sports seeking
inclusion or currently on the summer Olympic program, sports for men
must be played in at least 75 countries on four continents before
being considered for inclusion on the Olympic program and, for women,
the sport must be contested in at least 40 countries and on three
continents. Any new sport must be admitted to the Olympic program at
least seven years before the next Olympic Games and, with a few rare
exceptions, no changes are permitted after that time. The standards
for admission of disciplines or events to the Olympic program are
very similar to those for a sport.

Q: What are the Paralympic Games?
A: The Paralympic Games (not to be confused with the Special
Olympics), both summer and winter, are held for elite athletes with
physical or visual impairments, representing the four international
federations of the blind, paraplegics and quadriplegics, people with
cerebral palsy, amputees and others (including dwarfs). The first
Paralympic Games were held in Rome, Italy, in 1960, and have been
held in the same city or country hosting the Olympic Games and
Olympic Winter Games since then.

France has a website dedicated to Paralympic Blowgun Games! This is
not part of the games in the USA.

Q: Where can I find information on Olympic drug and substance abuse
policies?
A: The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) is the organization
responsible for setting and enforcing Olympic drug policies. To find
out more about USADA and its policies, visit their official website.

Q: What is the Olympic motto and what does it mean?
A: The Olympic motto -- "Citius, Altius, Fortius" -- is Latin and
means "Faster, Higher, Braver" in Latin, but the universally accepted
meaning is "Swifter, Higher, Stronger." The motto is believed to have
been conceived by Father Henri Didon, headmaster of the Arceuil
School near Paris, to express the aspirations of all the athletes in
the Olympic Movement.

Q: What is the Olympic creed?
A: "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but
to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the
triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have
conquered but to have fought well." These words, referred to as the
Olympic creed, are commonly attributed to Baron Pierre de Coubertin,
the founder of the modern Olympic Games, although there is some
question as to whether or not he was the actual author. De Coubertin
is believed to have first delivered the Olympic creed following the
Congress of Paris in 1894.

Q: What is the Olympic oath?
A: The Olympic oath is a symbolic gesture of sportsmanship that
traces its origins to the 1920 Olympic Games. One athlete from the
host country takes an oath at Opening Ceremonies on behalf of all the
athletes. The oath is "In the name of all competitors, I promise that
we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by
the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without
doping and without drugs, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for
the glory of sport and the honor of our teams." A similar oath is
also taken by a judge from the host country.

Q: What is the International Olympic Committee's role in the overall
Olympic Movement and where is it located?
A: The International Olympic Committee was created by the Congress of
Paris on June 23, 1894, and was entrusted with the control and
development of the Modern Olympic Games. The IOC is the final
authority on all questions concerning the Olympic Games and the
Olympic Movement worldwide. The Olympic Movement includes the IOC,
International Sports Federations (IFs), the National Olympic
Committees (NOCs), the Organizing Committees of the Olympic Games
(OCOGs), the national sports federations and other associations. The
IOC's headquarters are in Lausanne, Switzerland, and its web site is:
www.olympic.org.

Q: What is the role of a National Olympic Committee (NOC) and how
many are currently recognized by the IOC?
A: Each "nation" has but one NOC. Although most the NOCs that are
recognized are from nations, the IOC also recognizes independent
territories, commonwealths (such as Puerto Rico), mandated
territories, protectorates and geographical areas. As of February
2000, the IOC recognized 200 National Olympic Committees. Each NOC
has the responsibility for governing Olympic affairs within its
nation, including identifying, training, selecting, entering and
funding an Olympic Team from that nation to compete in the Olympic
Games.

Q: What is the role of an International Federation (IF) and how many
IFs are currently recognized by the IOC?
A: The International Federations (IFs) for Olympic sports and those
sports wishing to be considered for the Olympic program establish the
eligibility and competition rules, set the schedule of events (which
then must be approved by the IOC and the host organizing committee
for the Olympic Games), and select and identify the referees, judges
and other officials to "run" the sport. The IFs can also make
proposals to the IOC concerning the revision or development of the
events in its own sport, and recommend the addition or deletion of an
event on the Olympic program. The IF is responsible for resolving all
technical issues such as officiating disputes and recognizes only one
National Governing Body (NGB) per sport in each country. As of
February 2000, there are 35 International Federations for the
different medal sports on the programs of the Olympic Games or
Olympic Winter Games. There are another 22 "Recognized International
Federations" for those sports seeking inclusion on future Olympic
programs.

Q: What is a National Governing Body and how many are currently
recognized in the U.S.?
A: A National Governing Body is the sports organization that is
recognized by and affiliated with an International Federation. In the
U.S., there are currently 39 Olympic Sport Organizations or NGBs for
the sports on either of the Olympic Games, six Pan American Sport
Organizations for the sports on the Pan Am Games, and another six
Affiliated Sports Organizations such as karate, rugby, sports
acrobatics and underwater swimming, which are among the sports
seeking inclusion on future Olympic programs. The NGBs operate
independently of the USOC. Information about NGB calendar of events,
Olympic Trial and/or Selection Dates and answers to sport-specific
questions should be obtained through those organizations.

Q: Who determines the program of sports, disciplines and events for
the Olympic Games?
A: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) establishes the program
for both the winter and summer Olympic Games, which includes only
those sports recognized by the IOC as Olympic sports meeting the
criteria outlined in the IOC Charter. The program of the Games of the
Olympiad must include at least 15 Olympic sports, but there is no
minimum number of sports required for the Olympic Winter Games
program. After each Olympic Games, the IOC reviews the program and
may rule to admit or exclude sports, disciplines or events or may
change the standards from admitting or deleting sports, disciplines
or events from the future Olympic Games programs.

Q: What is the USOC?
A: The United States Olympic Committee, which has its administrative
headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo., is comprised of 72 member
organizations. It is the coordinating body for Olympic-related
athletic activity in the United States. The vision of the USOC has
been to assist in finding opportunities for every American to
participate in sport, regardless of gender, race, age, geography or
physical ability.

Q: How can I make the U.S. Olympic Team?
A: Each sport's National Governing Body develops their own athletes
and sets the selection procedures and/or Olympic Trials dates, which
must then be approved by the USOC's Games Preparation Committee and
the USOC Board of Directors. Each athlete must meet the requirements
of his or her respective sport's International Federation and
National Organizing Committee. The NGB websites contain further
contact information.

Official Olympic Summer Sports:
archery
badminton
baseball
basketball
bowling
boxing
canoe/kayak
cycling
diving
equestrian
fencing
field hockey
gymnastics
judo
karate
modern pentathlon
racquetball
roller sports
rowing
sailing
shooting
soccer
softball
squash
swimming
synchronized swimming
table tennis
taekwondo
team handball
tennis
track & field
triathlon
volleyball
water polo
water skiing
weightlifting
wrestling

Official Olympic Winter Sports:
biathlon
bobsled
curling
figure skating
ice hockey
luge
short track
skeleton
skiing
snowboarding
speedskating