LAC LA BICHE - The 2024 World Archery Field Championships, which had taken over Lac La Biche from Sept. 16-22, concluded on Sunday evening with a special gala dinner event held at the Bold Center.
The large group of world-class archers, coaches and officials who had come from 29 countries for the international competition gathered inside of Cenovus Fieldhouse 2 for the closing ceremony, which got underway with a parade of dignitaries.
These dignitaries included Canadian and international archery officials such as World Archery Secretary General Tom Dielen, Lakeland Archers president Rene Schaub, along with representatives of Lac La Biche County. Led by piper Molly Fyten, the procession made its way into the fieldhouse and, following a few short speeches, the dinner and other events of the evening got underway.
Rene Schaub, president of the Lakeland Archers, said the competition-the first major international archery event to be hosted in Lac La Biche since the 2019 World 3D Archery Championships-was a success.
He attributed much of this success to those who helped organize the event-as well as the sunny and dry weather that was prevalent during much of the week-long archery competition.
“We just had a great organizing crew…everybody did their job,” Schaub told Lakeland This Week. “The weather was just great.”
Having already put on a major international archery competition in 2019, organizers were better prepared for the field worlds, Schaub explained. Throughout the week, the president of the local archery club frequently spoke with competitors who came from every corner of the globe, who were very impressed not only with the games, but the community as well.
“They just loved it…they said it was the best ever,” he said.
Now that this competition is over, the local archery club will soon be making preparations for the Nationals that will be taking over Lac La Biche next year during the August long weekend.
Many of the volunteers who worked at the Worlds, Schaub, continued, are also eager to help out with the upcoming national archery competition, which is expected to draw 500 archers from across Canada.
“I got a lot of volunteers that want to help us out for the Nationals,” he stated. “I think it’s going to make a difference in volunteers…they see how much fun it is.”
Kevin Pare, Ward Two councillor for Lac La Biche County, was also in attendance at the closing ceremony for the games. Pare stated that hosting the world is incredible for a small community such as Lac La Biche.
“It just blows me away that a little area like this can host a world event like this not once, but twice,” he said. “It was just a phenomenal event.”
The World Archery Field Championships, Pare continued, also provided a substantial economic boost for the Lac La Biche area.
“You can’t have 400 people here and not have an economic impact on the community,” he said.
Many of these international athletes-including Team USA member Hailey Franzone (who brought home with two bronze medals)-not only enjoyed participating in competitions while they were in Lac La Biche, but they also had the opportunity to explore the area and even learn about the local Indigenous culture.
Franzone was part of a group of archers who got invited to a harvest celebration at Beaver Lake Cree Nation. While there, they met with elders from the community and learned about traditional medicines and hunting and outdoor skills.
This was an amazing experience for the resident of Phoenix, Arizona.
“It was eye opening,” she said.
Even though he failed to secure any medals, Austrian archer Mario Hehenberger still enjoyed shooting in the 2024 World Archery Field Championships. He was also amazed at the friendliness of local residents, who treated him and his teammates with warm hospitality.
Being in Lac La Biche also gave Hehenberger the opportunity to watch a live rodeo for the first time ever.
“It was a nice experience,” he said of the rodeo.
There are many stories from the week of competition at www.lakelantoday.ca. Coverage includes results and many images and video from the 2024 World Archery Field Championships.
