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Ogden scores world youth archery competition

OGDEN -- The city's latest step in its quest to become a center of outdoor recreation involves nocks, pyles and a sport that traces its roots back tens of thousands of years.

In July 2009, the world's top teenage archers will converge on Weber State University for the Youth Archery World Championships of the International Archery Federation, or FITA.

More than 450 athletes ages 14 to 18 and representing more than 50 countries are expected to come to town for the event, scheduled for July 11-19.

In addition to crowning the top young archer for the year, the event will serve as the main qualifier for the inaugural 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

Denise Parker, a Utah native and bronze-medal archer in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, is one of two top organizers for the competition. She said next year's event could be the first of many in Ogden.

"If things run smoothly from an operational standpoint, there is the potential for more world-class events in future years," said the Plain City resident.

The competition will feature two days of qualifying to determine individual rankings, followed by head-to-head competitions to pare the field down to what will probably be the final four participants.

The finals, planned for the downtown area around Historic 25th Street, will be the most enjoyable for the public, Parker said.

"The events at Weber State will be open, but they won't be very viewer-friendly. For the Saturday finals, we'll have a big-screen TV and people will be able to see where the arrows hit."

Parker said one of her former sponsors, Easton Sports, approached her last year about bringing a world archery competition to the Salt Lake City area.

After efforts in the state's capital didn't pan out, she turned to the Ogden area, where the reception was much warmer.

"In a big city, this is a small event," she said. "In a smaller city like Ogden, it's a big deal, and people really got behind it."

Parker, who won the 1991 Youth World Championship, is organizing the event through her company, DP Event Marketing.

Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey said the Ogden/Weber Convention & Visitors Bureau did most of the work in bringing the competition to Ogden.

"They've been working on this for some time, and they did most of the heavy lifting."

CVB President Sara Toliver said the area has a committed volunteer base, with experience in planning and organizing events like the 2002 Winter Olympics, that will help make the event successful.

Godfrey said FITA representatives were impressed by the facilities Ogden offers, and by downtown's proximity to the mountains and other recreation opportunities.

"They love Ogden, and they're excited to be a part of what we're doing here."

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