Pierre- Emmanuel ...

I understand that France has decided to allow anything (equipment,
save regulating size down to a 4 ft. barrel length)in the World Cup
for 2007.

I know that you think this is a good idea, because it does not
discourage anyone from using their own style of darts, barrel bores,
etc.

However, I must caution you - the International Olympic Committee
will not look kindly towards this idea, as it demonstrates a lack of
standardization in the international realm for our sport. The idea
of the Olympics is to show athletic prowess, not advancement of
equipment. Think of how it would be, if in curling, the size of the
stone were restricted, but there were no weight requirements. One
could easily cast an 8 lb. stone, while those stuck using a 12 lb.
or 16 lb. stone would have more difficulty. In bicycle track
racing, if you had a 1-speed bike with a 13/39 gear ratio, and I had
a 15-speed bike with a top gear of 13/26, who would win? If you a
50 meter swimming pool, and I had a 48 meter swimming pool, and our
swimmers were to race for 100 meters - my swimmers would have to do
an extra 1/4 lap. It makes no sense.

Long distance target shooting, and Field competition styles have
always been open to all calibers, all dart types, all barrel
lengths.

However, 10 meter target shooting needs to have stricter
guidelines. The .40 cal., .50 cal., and .51 cal. are what have been
historically allowed (120 cm (4 ft. English) barrel length or
shorter, with setback handicaps of 1 ft. per in. of longer barrel
lengths), and agreed to by the heads of the IFA affiliated
participating nations. Wire target darts with a plastic molded
tailcone (.40 or .50 cal. - 0.8 gm for the .40 and 1.0 gm. for
the .50), or Fukiya style film cone darts (0.8 gm, 20 cm length
for .51 cal.) only.

For France to recind these agreed upon standards on their own,
without consulting the heads of the other IFA affiliated national
organizations, will make the 2007 World Cup an embarrassment to the
sport.

You can do whatever you wish regarding equipment, etc. for internal
compettions within France. It is your organization, your country,
your rules.

When you host an International competition, you must comply with the
International Fukiyado Association affiliated members' agreed upon
standards for International 10 meter target shooting Competitions.