Record-breaking 2015 ISSF Shotgun World Championships declared open

                                                                                                                      By Liam Morgan

The 2015 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Shotgun World Championships have officially opened in Lonato, Italy, today, where 10 quota places for next year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will be available. 

Around 800 athletes from 92 countries are due to compete at the event, the most in the history of the World Championships, which is due to conclude on September 18 and is being staged at the Trap Concaverde shooting club.

The all-important Olympic quota berths will be up for grabs in men's and women's trap, men's double trap, and men’s and women’s skeet, with the first medal scheduled to be awarded tomorrow.

Today's Opening Ceremony was attended by ISSF President Olegario Vazquez Raña, as well as two special guests - Formula One driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland and three-time Olympic canoe champion Antonio Rossi of Italy.

“Welcome to the ISSF Shotgun World Championship in Lonato,” Vazquez Raña said.

“I would like to congratulate FITAV - the Italian Shotgun Shooting Federation - for hosting this Championship, and to thank the FITAV's President Luciano Rossi for the great hospitality.

“We are very happy to see so many athletes and officials here, today and we wish everyone a successful competition.”

Finnish Formula One driver Valtteri Bottas was one of the special guests at the Opening Ceremony of the Shooting World Championships in Lonato, Italy, where 800 competitors from 92 countries are due to take part ©Getty Images

The event is due to get undreway with the women’s trap competition tomorrow, where both medals and Olympic quotas will be given out, before the women’s junior trap final follows later in the evening.

The men then get their turn at earning a spot on the podium and an Olympic spot for their respective country with the trap event on Saturday (September 12).

“I would like to welcome all athletes and officials here in Lonato,” Rossi, who is also an ISSF vice-president.

“Eight hundred shooters coming from 92 countries arrived here in Italy to compete in this event, setting a new record of participation for an ISSF Shotgun World Championship.

“I would like to thank the ISSF President Olegario Vazquez Raña for all that he's doing for the shooting sport, and the President of the Trap Concaverde shooting club Ivan Carella for the excellent work of the organising committee.”

Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl
Source - http://www.insidethegames.biz