World Archery Europe

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European and Mediterranean Archery Union (EMAU) / World Archery Europe

The European and Mediterranean Federation of Tyre with the Arch, commonly referred to as EMAU or World Archery Europe, is an archery organization headquartered in Rome, Italy. Founded on April 17, 1988, in Paris, France, by François de Massary, president of the French federation, its primary objective was to promote and encourage archery throughout Europe and the Mediterranean basin.

Initially comprising delegates from 19 European countries – Belgium, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Turkey, Yugoslavia – EMAU aimed to foster archery activity and create championships in Europe. The federation's establishment was a significant milestone in promoting archery across the continent.

Over time, EMAU underwent several name changes, with its most recent transformation occurring on an unspecified date when it rebranded as World Archery Europe (WAE). Despite this change, WAE continues to serve as the continental federation managing archery in Europe and is recognized by the World Archery Federation. The organization's leadership has been shaped by notable figures such as Mario Scarzella, Ugur Erdener, Vladimir Esheev, Marinella Pisciotti, Gianni Mangino, Kahraman Bagatir, Eva Thesen, Thierry Zintz, Evelyn Papadopoulou, and others.

WAE is also closely associated with the FITA (International Federation of Archery) and its Italian counterpart, FITARCO. The federation's anthem was composed by Henoel Grech, who had previously penned the hymn for the 2006 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Turin. This musical piece made its debut at the XI indoor European Championships and Mediterranean archery events held on March 12, 2008.

Today, WAE continues to promote archery throughout Europe and the Mediterranean region, with a focus on developing competitions, fostering growth among member countries, and supporting the development of the sport as a whole.