The Archer’s Pathway to LA2028: The Qualification Framework

Navigating & Understanding the LA2028 Olympic Framework

Hello, Archery Family!

In the most recent episode of the Archery Parent Podcast, I bring you crucial insights into the newly-released Olympic Qualifying Framework by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Join me as we unravel the details of this framework, including the changes leading up to the LA 2028 Olympics. All the information can be confusing at times, but I try my best to answer your questions and outline all the major bits. 

Whether you're an Archer, a coach, or a supportive parent, understanding this pathway is crucial for the next two years.

Overview of LA 2028 Qualifying Framework

The LA2028 Olympic Archery program has introduced significant structural changes, while keeping other details the same as Paris.

What’s the same? 128 Archery quota spots are available: 64 spots for the Women and 64 for the Men. This is across Recurve and Compound Archers.

What’s different? Despite no increase in quota spots, the introduction of a Compound Mixed Team event now offers six medals (instead of the usual five), paving the way for a broader range of athletes to shine on the Olympic stage.

I do a deep-dive into why the number of Archers allowed to participate, despite adding a whole new event (Compound Mixed Team), was not allowed to change from Paris. It has to do with IOC caps, the definition of a "new sport", and and allowances that Archery, as a core sport, falls under. Be sure to listen for all this information.

Qualification Details: From Quotas to Mixed Teams

Understanding the quota distribution is vital. Out of the 128 total spots, 116 are achieved through the qualification system; eight are designated for the Host Nation, the USA; and four are Universality invitations for smaller nations.

For 2028, 12 Compound Mixed Team Archers will represent 12 countries. That's 24 Archers in total.

Subtracting the number of Compound Archers from the overall number of 128, that leaves 104 Recurve Archers competing in LA.

Recurve Team and Individual Quota Spot Allocation

The allocation of Recurve Team spots is undergoing major transformation.

The number of available Recurve Team spots has decreased from 12 to 8, challenging nations to strategically qualify their athletes.

This decision has elicited a lot of emotional feedback, both positive and negative. The official announcement was released in April of 2025. I think mostly everyone has come to terms with it by now. 

The Role of Continental Games and Qualification Tournaments

The Olympic qualification journey (aka the "qualification window") begins with the 2027 World Championships in Medellin, Colombia, and continues through to the Final Qualifying Tournament (FQT), hosted in 2028, only weeks before the Opening Ceremony in July.

In between these two events are Continental Games and qualifiers where the majority of available quota spots will be earned. These Continental Games are divided into the Americas, European, Oceania, Asian, and African.

These dates have not all been official released, yet, but the Archery Parent Podcast will share all the news as it comes up. Most of these Games will be in 2027, with the exception being the Asian Games,  in 2026.

What we know so far:

Asian Games | Nagoya, Japan | September 9-October 4, 2026 | Archery: September 25-October 3, 2026

African Games | Cairo, Egypt | January 20-February 7, 2027

European Games | Istanbul, Türkiye | Estimated June-July

Pan Am Games | Lima, Peru | July 16-August 1, 2027

Pacific Games | Tahiti | July 24-August 8 

World Archery Championships | Medellin, Colombia | August 16-22 (To be confirmed)

*Asian Continental Qualifier Tournament | Location and date TBD

Asian Championships | Hangzhou, China | Estimated November 2027

Oceania Continental Qualifier Tournament | Location and date TBD

Pan Am Championships | Location and date TBD

*Pan Am Continental Qualifier Tournament | Location and date TBD

European Archery Championships | Nottingham, Great Britain | Estimated May-June 2028

*European Continental Qualifier Tournament | Location and date TBD

African Archery Championships | Location and date TBD

(*Qualifier Tournaments are usually during a country's Championships, therefore, the date/location is typically in-line with this event.)

Minimum Qualification Scores (MQS) and Strategic Preparation

To qualify for LA2028, all Archers must meet the Minimum Qualification Scores (MQS) during registered 720 events within the qualification window.

Recurve Archers: 

650 for Men 

620 for Women

Compound Archers:

690 for Men

670 for Women 

Achieving the MQS is a fundamental step, but does not guarantee Olympic placement. The competition is fierce and strategic planning is essential. I share more about the MQS in this episode.

Navigating the Emotional and Financial Landscape

Supporting high-performance athletes has its emotional and financial pressures for parents during the 12-13 month qualification period. We are going to talk (A LOT!) more about this in future episodes.

It is advantageous for parents and Archers to become familiar with the official documentation from both the IOC, their country’s National federation and Olympic committee, and the qualification landscape.

The Olympic dream is structured and demands resilience, meticulous planning, and emotional investment from both athletes and their families.

Preparing for LA 2028

As we look towards LA2028, it is imperative that all involved, from Archers to families, remain informed and proactive.

Familiarize yourselves with your country's selection policies, participate in key events, and work towards achieving MQS benchmarks.

And, if your Archer isn't ready for LA2028, and is looking to Brisbane 2032 (or the Games of 2036), I share insights about the building blocks for confidence, steps to take to ensure they are on the right path, and events to put on the calendar to get ready and experience international travel and competition on the biggest stage. 

(I also may or may not go on a wee bit of a diatribe about Archers who take part in a country's Trials for major Games "for experience", when they are not ready. Listen in and tell me what you think about the scenario.)

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For more insights and continued discussions on the Olympic pathway, follow the Archery Parent Podcast and join our community across 43 different countries.

Until next time, we’re doing this one arrow at a time.

Manisha 

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Resource & Reference List

Official Documents & Organizations

• LA2028 Official Qualification Framework: The primary IOC document detailing the pathway to the Games for Archery
• International Olympic Committee (IOC): The governing body of the Olympic Games
• World Archery: The international Archery federation responsible for updating quota spot tallies and news articles
• National Olympic Committees (NOCs): The organizations that own the "Golden Ticket" quota spots (e.g., the Canadian Olympic Committee)

Major Qualifying Events

• 2027 Hyundai World Archery Championships: Taking place in Medellin, Colombia; the first major opportunity for team and individual quotas
• Continental Games (2027): Multi-sport events offering Olympic qualification for Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Oceania
• Final Qualifying Tournament (FQT): The last chance to earn spots, held just weeks before the 2028 Opening Ceremony

Youth Development Benchmarks

• Youth Olympic Games (YOG): Recommended for archers under 21 as a developmental milestone.
• World Archery Youth Championships (WAYC): A key event for Archers to gain international experience

Minimum Qualification Scores (MQS)

Archers must achieve these benchmarks during a 720 round at a World Archery registered event to be eligible for consideration:

Recurve Men | 70 meters | 650

Recurve Women | 70 meters | 620

Compound Men | 50 meters | 690

Compound Women | 50 meters | 670

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SUMMARY & TIMESTAMPS:

The LA2028 Olympic Qualifying Framework for Archery, Explained: Quotas, Changes & Compound

Manisha breaks down the IOC’s newly released Olympic Qualifying Framework for Archery at LA2028, highlighting major program changes and what athletes, coaches, and families should expect over the next two years.

Manisha explains the available 128 quota spots, the new medal count, Recurve team changes, what the addition of Compound means to the overall program at the 2028 Olympic Games, and how Archers and their families can start planning for 2032 in Brisbane and beyond.

The episode also outlines the 2027-2028 qualification window, who quotas spots actually belong to once they have been earned, and the importance of the domestic selection, nomination, and approval processes.

This episode is the much-awaited summary many have been waiting for.

00:00 What’s New in the LA 2028 Olympic Archery Pathway

01:25 The Big Picture

04:34 Compound Mixed Team & and the Recurve Trade-Off

05:42 How Olympic Quota Spots Work

09:21 Recurve Team Qualification

12:12 Continental Games Explained

13:20 Individual Recurve Pathway

15:35 Compound Mixed Team Qualification

18:52 Minimum Qualification Scores (MQS)

21:27 When the Race to LA Starts

24:21 Key Takeaways & Planning

26:34 For Developing Archers

28:13 Why “Good Experience” Can Backfire

31:49 Smart Progression: Choosing Events, Setting Goals & Finding Official Info

33:57 Recap & What’s Next

35:29 Outro