Many archers around the world have already qualified for the Sydney Olympic Games through their results at the world target championships in 1999.

In the team event, the top eight teams of three archers qualified, as did the top 19 individuals whose countries were not able to qualify in the threesomes, among both men and women.

Australia, as Games host, gets three automatic places in Sydney, while three more qualify from regional tournaments in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania. No country receives more than three spots overall.

There are three wildcard entries allowed, to be chosen on the basis of whether the world governing body wants to invite a third archer from a country that would otherwise not have a team, or to encourage the sport to develop in countries where archery has not enjoyed much exposure.