City to host 2028 European archery championships

A city famed for its links to a legendary outlaw armed with a bow and arrow is set to host the 2028 European archery championships.

Qualification events and eliminators will be held at Nottingham's Victoria Embankment with the final being held in the Old Market Square in May.

The event will be the last chance to qualify or compete before the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Megan Havers, who was the youngest archer to compete in Paris 2024, said she was looking forward to local crowds cheering them on "so the atmosphere will be really cool."

The city council said a number of national and local organisations had worked together for a year to make the successful bid.

Council leader Neghat Khan said hosting the event with Archery GB was a "tremendous honour and an exciting opportunity".

She added: "As the legendary home of Robin Hood, archery is part of our cultural heritage.

"Beyond the thrill of welcoming world-class athletes and fans from across the globe, this event will showcase Nottingham as a premier destination for international sport."

Ms Havers, from Leicester, said having the competition in England brought lots of benefits. She added: "It's good publicity for archery.

"And for us to compete here, we are going to have British crowds cheering us on, so the atmosphere will be really cool.

"It is going to be a great experience."

Archer Ajay Scott, won mixed team gold at this year's World Cup stage 2 in Shanghai, said: "There is obviously a lot of history with Robin Hood being in Nottingham.

"But its going to put a spotlight on archery in the UK and hopefully it will encourage more people to take up the sport.

"People say it is easy, you just pull it back and let it go but there's a lot more behind it.

"There's a lot of muscle memory, those fine muscles you have to tune."

Graham Potts, president of archery GB, said: "It's a wonderful square, a wonderful venue and I think it is going to be an absolutely brilliant event with all the support Nottingham are putting behind it.

"Even for those who have gained spots to be at LA in '28, the teams will be coming here because it helps them build towards that event."

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