Dear World Shooting Para Sport Member Associations,

Bonn, 28 November 2017

Information: Important Update

Dear World Shooting Para Sport Member Associations,

Following a rule change by the ISSF, we will now shoot 60 shots instead of 40 in the R2 and P2 disciplines. Additionally the R8 discipline will be 3x40 instead of 3x20 for a total of 120 shots.

While we realise there will be an adjustment period for our athletes we believe this is a positive change. Our sport has been ahead of the curve in terms of gender equality and this is another step in the right direction.

Updated MQS scores for the 2018 World Championships in Cheongju have been posted to our 2018 competitions page. We are excited to inform you about our application to include Para Trap in the 2024 Paralympic Games. This is the first of several steps towards inclusion and we are optimistic about our chances to redefine our sport for the better. MQS scores for Para Trap have been posted on our 2018 competitions page ahead of the Lonato 2018 World Championships in October. We will continue our push for national development and integrated events such as National Championships. Two new events in Europe and the Americas have recently been added.

 The development of Visually Impaired (VI) Shooting continues into 2018 with several events planned. In the coming year we plan to finalise the classification and technical rules and vote for sport adoption at our sports forum. If this is successful we will apply to the International Paralympic Committee Governing Board to officially adopt the sport in the spring of 2019. After this VI events will be integrated into our existing World Cup and World Championship events.

Our sport is in an exciting transitional phase and we thank you for your support and flexibility during this time. We ask that these changes are absorbed and embraced as we look towards the bright future of shooting Para sport. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Ghislaine Briez                                        Tyler Anderson
World Shooting Para Sport                                   World Shooting Para Sport Manager
Sport Technical Committee Chairperson             International Paralympic Committee



Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl
Source:- https://www.paralympic.org/sites/default/files/document/171128104635340_Important+Update_World+Shooting+Para+Sport_November+2017.pdf

Exclusive: ISSF to lobby Birmingham 2022 and CGF to have shooting restored to programme

• By Liam Morgan
 
•  Monday, 25 December 2017

International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) secretary general Franz Schreiber has admitted the governing body is "very disappointed" at the decision by Birmingham 2022 to omit the sport from the Commonwealth Games programme.

In a statement sent to insidethegames, Schreiber claimed, however that the global governing body had not given up hope of the sport featuring at the 2022 Games in the British city.

Birmingham 2022 has offered no indication that they plan to change their current stance.

Birmingham were officially awarded the 2022 Commonwealth Games last Thursday (December 21).

Ian Ward, who led the successful bid and is the current head of the Birmingham City Council, revealed to insidethegames that the decision not to include shooting was driven by the limit of athletes and the lack of a venue.

Shooting has been contested at every Commonwealth Games since Kingston 1966, with the exception of Edinburgh 1970. 

It was thought unlikely that it would be included as part of Birmingham's plans as the closest Olympic-standard shooting range to the city is 130 miles away in Bisley in Surrey.

"Naturally, we are very disappointed in the fact that shooting is not included in the sports programme for Birmingham 2022, at this point," Schreiber said. 

"The ISSF is already in contact with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) with a view to discussing the future of our sport in the Games, which will include exploring possibilities for inclusion in 2022."

Birmingham has not included shooting as part of its programme 

for the 2022 Commonwealth Games ©Birmingham 2022

The ISSF had previously urged all cities bidding to replace Durban as hosts of the 2022 Commonwealth Games to include the sport on the programme.

Liverpool, which lost out to Birmingham in the race to be Britain's candidate, had also omitted shooting from its proposal.

Shooting currently features on the CGF's list of optional sports from which a Games candidate city can include up to seven.

It is due to be contested at next year's Games in Gold Coast and was initially selected as an optional sport by Durban, stripped of the event by the CGF in March after failing to meet a series of financial guarantees.

India are among those to be disappointed by Birmingham 2022's decision.

They are currently second on the all-time medal table having won 56 gold, 40 silver and 22 bronze.

The Indian Olympic Association are likely to voice their opposition to both Birmingham 2022 and the CGF.

Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl

Source: - https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1059472/exclusive-issf-to-lobby-birmingham-2022-and-cgf-to-have-shooting-restored-to-programme

Shooting World Cup Para Sport returns to Al Ain in 2018

First time Para trap discipline will be included alongside rifle and pistol events

World Shooting Para Sport has announced that Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE), will host its third straight World Cup from 22-27 March 2018.

The competition will be the first World Cup of the year and is a crucial opportunity for athletes to fine-tune themselves ahead of the 2018 World Shooting Para Sport Championships in Cheongju, South Korea. In particular, the 2018 Al Ain World Cup will be the last chance for shooters to earn valuable MQS (minimum qualifying score) points in 25m and 50m events towards the 2018 Worlds.

While athletes will focus on preparing for Cheongju, the World Cup is also a step forward in the development of Para trap, which was officially added to World Shooting Para Sport in May 2017. It will be the first competition to feature the shotgun discipline alongside rifle and pistol events.

Tyler Anderson, World Shooting Para Sport Manager, said: “We are excited to return to the shooting ranges in Al Ain. The local organising committee did an excellent job hosting the World Cups the last two years, and I have no doubt they will give the athletes another fantastic experience as they gear up for the 2018 World Championships.

“We are especially thrilled to take advantage of Al Ain’s world-class shotgun range. With Para trap now part of the federation’s family, it is important we continue integrating the discipline into our events and give athletes as many opportunities to compete.”

Al Ain hosted the first competition of 2017 in February, and saw multiple world records set as a new finals format made its debut in the single position events. Finals now consist of two five shot series instead of a three shot series, upping the total number of shots from 20 to 24.

The competition was followed by a Grand Prix in Szczecin, Poland; and three more World Cups in Lonato, Italy; Osijek, Croatia; and recently Bangkok, Thailand.

The World Cup in Lonato was the first for Para trap alone, and took place in September.

The 2018 World Shooting Para Sport World Championships will take place from 1-12 May. Around 300 shooters from 60 countries will take their first chance to grab quota places for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

"With Para trap now part of the federation’s family, it is important we continue integrating the discipline into our events and give athletes as many opportunities to compete”

More information on the 2018 Al Ain World Cup can be found at World Shooting Para Sport’s website.


Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl.
Source: - https://www.paralympic.org/news/shooting-world-cup-returns-al-ain-2018

Singapore shooters ready for new rules

Singapore's Jasmine Ser kneeling while others are in prone position during the Rio Olympics 
women's 50m rifle three-positions qualification round. They will get 40 shots in each position 
next year, double the current 20.ST FILE PHOTO

Women to take the same number of shots as men under longer ISSF format effective from Jan 1

Lim Say Heng

National shooter Jasmine Ser is gunning to show that anything the men can do, the women can too.

The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) announced on Monday a slew of rule changes that will take effect from Jan 1. Among them is having both men and women take the same number of shots during competitions.

For example, the women's rifle three-positions event qualification phase currently requires an athlete to take 20 shots in each position - kneeling, prone and standing - within 1 hour and 45 minutes.

This will be changed to 40 shots in each position, within 2hr 45min (for electronic targets) from next year, the same as the men's event.

It means Ser and her female team-mates will need more physical and mental conditioning for the increase in number of shots and competition period. But she remained unfazed ahead of her 50m air rifle three-positions title defense at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April.

"If they (ISSF) think we (women) are up for more shots, we will be up for the challenge," said the 27-year-old, who is also the SEA Games champion in this event.

She added that Singapore's shooters are mentally "resilient" enough to adapt to the changes.

Reigning SEA Games 10m air rifle champion Martina Veloso, 18, welcomed the changes as she believes the additional shots in the 50m event can work in her favour.

"With 20 shots, we really have to make sure that we cannot afford to make mistakes whereas in the 40-shot format (errors) can be compensated with more shots," she said. "We don't have to be that stressed compared to 20 shots."

Qualifiers for the women's 10m air rifle and air pistol events will increase from 40 shots to 60 shots, while the 25m pistol women event will continue as a 60-shot event.

Commonwealth Games 10m air pistol gold medallist Teo Shun Xie, however, does not think that the longer format will necessarily be more forgiving of errors.

"Everyone is so close during competitions and a bad shot can still make you tumble from the top to the bottom, so you'd need to keep your focus for the entire 60 shots," said the 29-year-old of the 10m air pistol event."

Shooting's global governing body has introduced other rule changes in recent years. Since 2013, qualification scores are no longer carried over to both the men's and women's finals, which are now conducted in an elimination format.

As such, Ser feels that the latest changes are unlikely to affect who will prevail in the final.

In response to queries by The Straits Times, an ISSF spokesman said of the new rules which will extend till 2020: "This decision reflects the ISSF's commitment to the IOC (International Olympic Committee) Agenda 2020 goal of gender equality in sports."

Shooting is not the only sport that has been affected by the IOC's Gender Equality Review Project.

The 2020 Tokyo Games are set to see 48.8 percent of participation by women - the most gender-balanced edition in Olympic history - following the introduction of new events.

There will be mixed team events in archery and judo; a 4x400m mixed relay in athletics, a 4x100m mixed medley relay in swimming, table tennis mixed doubles and a mixed team relay in triathlon.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 23, 2017, with the headline 'Singapore shooters ready for new rules'. Print Edition | Subscribe


Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl.
Source: - http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/singapore-shooters-ready-for-new-rules

Follow new rule: Bindra ~

Abhinav Bindra

New Delhi: Abhinav Bindra, on Tuesday, said the latest decision to bring the number of shots in women's events on a par with their male counterparts was taken by the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) only after consulting a large number of top shooters.

The decision has raised many eyebrows, including here in India. Bindra, too, has faced criticism since he is the chairman of the ISSF athletes' commission.

Bindra said: "It would be better for the shooters to adapt to the latest change rather than complaining about it. The ISSF only took the decision after consulting with lots of shooters across the world. The majority of them agreed to it," he said.

"A lot of petitions wanting an increase in shots had been pending for last few years, something which was in the works for a long time. The rule has been changed and everybody has to adapt to it. You must follow the new rule.

"It wasn't the decision of the athletes committee alone. It's the decision taken by the ISSF's administrative council which overwhelmingly voted in favour of the rule change," the 2008 Olympic gold medallist said.

According to the new rule, which would come into effect from January 1, the shots in the women's 10 meters air rifle and air pistol events will increase from 40 to 60.

The number of shots will be increased in other women's rifle events and in women's skeet and trap events.

Bindra was in the capital, on Tuesday, for the launch of the Elms Sports Foundation. Speaking on the occasion, the former star shooter said the country needed coaching in a scientific and professional manner to nurture the sporting talents in the country.

"Last decade, we have seen the emergence of a large number of talented sportspersons in India. Talent is always there. We are from the self-help generation, who have now grown up," he said.

Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl

Source: - https://www.telegraphindia.com/sports/follow-new-rule-bindra-194898

ISSF Rules Changes for 2018-2020 approved

Summary of important changes found in the ISSF Official Statutes, Rules and Regulations, Second Print 01/2018, that can be downloaded from the ISSF website.

The ISSF Administrative Council has just approved rules changes that will go into effect on January 1^st, 2018. A new Second Print 01/2018 version of the ISSF Official Statutes, Rules and Regulations will govern all ISSF Championships for 2018 through the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The ISSF Constitution designates the Administrative Council, a 35-person body elected by the General Assembly or appointed by Continental Confederations, as the ISSF body that is responsible for “approval of technical rules for shooting events.”  

Rules changes include technical rules for the new Mixed Team events that were needed to implement International Olympic Committee (IOC) decisions regarding the Olympic Shooting Program for Tokyo 2020 and the June 25^th 2017 Extraordinary General Assembly decision to accept those changes. One significant rule change adopted by the Council is an increase in the numbers of shots in women’s shooting events so they will now be the same as the men’s events.  This decision reflects the ISSF’s commitment to the IOC Agenda 2020 goal of gender equality in sports. Rules changes also include many, mostly minor changes to resolve interpretation issues or to address questions received by the ISSF concerning the rules.  

The complete ISSF Official Statutes, Rules and Regulations, Second Print 01/2018 can be downloaded from the ISSF website at http://www.issf-sports.org/theissf/rules.ashx. Here is a summary of important changes found in this revised edition:

10m Air Rifle and 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Rules. A new section 6.18 was added to the General Technical Rules to provide technical rules for these events. National federations will be allowed to enter a maximum of two Mixed Teams, each with one male athlete and one female athlete. In the Qualification, each team member will shoot 40 shots in a 50-minute time limit. The top five teams will advance to the Final. The Final begins with each team member shooting three 5-shot series. The Final continues with each team member shooting single shots. During both the 5-shot series and single shots, team members must alternate firing shots. Eliminations take place after both team members have fired 17, 19 and 21 shots. The remaining two teams continue until each team member has fired 24 shots and the gold and silver medal winners are determined. The detailed rules are published in the Rule Book.

Trap Mixed Team Rules. A new section 9.19 was added to the Shotgun Rules to provide technical rules for this event. In the Qualification, each member of two-person (one man and one woman) national teams will shoot at 75 targets (3 25-target rounds, 150 total targets). The top six teams will advance to the Final. In the Final, team members, in the order designated by the team coach, will alternate in shooting series of five targets. After all teams have fired at 25 targets, the 6^th place team is eliminated. Eliminations will continue after 30, 35 and 40 targets. The remaining two teams will shoot two additional five-target sequences for a total of 50 targets to decide the gold and silver medal winners. The detailed rules are published in the Rule Book.

Equal Numbers of Shots for Women and Men. Starting on January 1^st 2018, all shooting events will have the same numbers of shots for men and women. The new rules provide that:

• Women’s 10m Air Rifle and Air Pistol events will increase from 40 shots to 60 shots.
• Women’s 50m and 300m Rifle 3 Positions events will increase from 3x20 shots to 3x40 shots (60 to 120 shots).
• Women’s Trap and Skeet events will increase from 75 targets to 125 targets.
• The Women’s Running Target event will increase from 40 shots to 60 shots.
• All Women’s Junior events will have the same increases as women.
• The 25m Pistol Women (and Women Junior) event will continue as a 60 shot event (30 + 30 shots).

These changes will be in effect at all 2018 ISSF Championships including World Cups, Junior World Cups, Continental Championships and the World Championship in Changwon, Korea.

ISSF Recognized Shooting Events. New tables with detailed information about ISSF recognized events were added to section 6.0 of the General Technical Rules.

Shotgun Shotshell Inspection. The rules were clarified to ensure that the use of colored wads would result in a warning while the use of overweight shot charges (<24.5 g) will continue to result in disqualification.

Skeet Marker Tape Checking. A new method of checking skeet marker tape locations was adopted.

Side Blinders for Shotgun Athletes. Shotgun athletes only are authorized to use side blinders because of safety concerns in those events. Side blinders may now extend up to 30 mm forward of the “center point of the forehead.”

Interpretations and Corrections. The newly approved rules changes include many amendments to address issues or clarify intent, but that does not change the original intent of the rules.

National Federation officials, competition officials, coaches and athletes are urged to download the new rules so they can work with the most recent ISSF Rules edition. National Federations that publish rules in their language should contact ISSF Headquarters to request a special version of the rules where all changes are marked. Anyone with questions or comments about the new rules should also contact ISSF Headquarters.

ISSF Press Office

Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl

Source: -  ISSF Website

ISSF mourns the loss of four-time Olympian Lones W. Wigger

The Shooting Sport family mourns the loss of honored and distinguished rifle shooter Lones W. Wigger, who passed away yesterday evening.

The ISSF and the whole Shooting Sport family mourns the loss of Lones W. Wigger, a four-time Olympian and one of the most decorated shooters in the world, who passed away on the evening of December 14, 2017 at his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. 

Wigger’s illustrious international shooting career spanned 25 years and saw him winning 111 medals and setting 29 world records, along with winning two Olympic gold medals and one silver, two ISSF World Championship individual titles, 9 CAT Gold medals and 4 Pan American Games titles. 

Wigger’s mark on the sport reaches far beyond his international shooting career. After a distinguished 26-year career in the U.S. Army, Wigger retired in 1987 and went to work for the NRA as the Director of Training for the U.S. Shooting Team until retirement in 1994. Right up until his death, he was active in growing the USA’s National Junior Olympic Shooting Program, volunteering and organizing countless shooting matches, serving on the USA Shooting Board for various terms through 2016, even coming to work daily at the USA Shooting headquarters and managing the USA Shooting Alumni program. 

In honor of his achievements and in celebration of his 80^th birthday on August 25, USA Shooting renamed the interior of its headquarters and upper range the Lones Wigger Legacy Hall and Range. Wigger also wanted his legacy to also benefit young shooters and the Lones Wigger/USAS Jr. Olympic Endowment was established to grow youth shooting programs. To date, more than $225.000 has been raised and will impact junior shooting for years to come.

The ISSF extends its sincere condolences to his family as well as to Wigger’s many shooting friends in USA and around the world.  We will never forget our good friend Lones W. Wigger.

 

Marco Dalla Dea

Posted by Thom Eri k Syrdahl

Source: - ISSF  Website

Lones Wigger: Legend Lost - COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (December 14, 2017)

Lones Wigger: Legend Lost

1937-2017

“We can say with great assurance that he didn’t make a dime over his 20 years of practicing tens of thousands of hours of shooting. He didn’t do it for the money. He did it – as the ancient Greeks did – for the glory of sport.” - Dr. John Lucas, Ph.D., an Olympic historian on Lones Wigger’s induction into the Olympic Hall of Fame in 2008.

Ret. Army Lt. Col. Lones W. Wigger, a four-time Olympian and the most decorated shooter in the world, passed away on the evening of December 14, 2017, at his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado of complications from pancreatic cancer. He was 80 years old.

During his induction to the Olympic Hall of Fame in 2008, Wigger’s daughter and 1983 Pan American Games teammate, Deena, said her father “has paid more back to the sport of shooting than he ever got out of it.” Wigger’s illustrious international shooting career spanned 25 years and saw him winning 111 medals and setting 29 world records, along with winning two Olympic gold medals and one silver.

Wigger’s mark on the sport reaches far beyond his international shooting career. After a distinguished 26-year career in the U.S. Army, Wigger retired in 1987 and went to work for the NRA as the Director of Training for the U.S. Shooting Team until retirement in 1994. Right up until his death, he was active in growing the National Junior Olympic Shooting Program, volunteering and organizing countless shooting matches, serving on the USA Shooting Board for various terms through 2016, even coming to work daily at the USA Shooting headquarters and managing the USA Shooting Alumni program.

“If you hear me speak about Lones, you will not hear me use Lones or Wig, you will hear me call him ‘Wiggles,’” said 2012 Olympic champion Jamie Corkish. “Wiggles is a true legend. He not only was an amazing shooter in his Olympic career, but he continued to win long after his International retirement. What a true champion, mentor, friend and legend.”

“How do you define ‘The Best Ever?’ Would you add up the total medals won to see who is on top? Would you add up the total number of years he has dominated his sport? Would you take a survey of everyone who has been his competitor, to determine who received the most votes? Would you look at the number of national and world records held? Not only is Wigger the only name at the top of these lists, no other shooter even comes close,” said two-time Olympic medalist and 1972 Olympic teammate Lanny Bassham.

In honor of his achievements and in celebration of his 80th birthday on August 25, USA Shooting renamed the interior of its headquarters and upper range the Lones Wigger Legacy Hall and Range. Wigger also wanted his legacy to also benefit young shooters and the Lones Wigger/USAS Jr. Olympic Endowment was established to grow youth shooting programs. To date, more than $225,000 has been raised and will impact junior shooting for years to come.

“Everyone here knows what it takes to be a champion or a success in life,” Wigger told the more than 300 attendees at that dedication ceremony. During the 30 minutes he spoke, he honored his family, teammates, friends and coaches for 25 of them. He only credited himself with his drive to train hard. “There are no secrets. It takes hours and hours of hard work, commitment, dedication, sacrifice and desire. Maybe desire is the most important. Everyone can be a winner. It just depends on how bad you want it. Never forget to dream. Dreams can and do come true.”

Wigger started shooting in his childhood home of Carter, Montana where his father, Lones, Sr. ran the local rifle range. A lifelong baseball fan, no youth baseball programs existed in the area, but young Lones wanted to be competitive and picked up his first rifle. As only Wigger could say in his trademark, cut-and-dry kind of way, “I just got started and I made it up.”

“[My father] would have to come in at night and pull me off the firing line, say we’re closing the range tonight and that we’re going home, otherwise I’d practice all night long,” he said. “I really took to it, and it was fun and I enjoyed it.”

From there, Wigger always wanted to shoot with the best. He went on to Montana State University where he earned a degree in Agronomy, as well as All-American Honors for three years. He later entered the Army in 1960, then commissioned to the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit. He would later also serve two tours in Vietnam.

“The Army and the Army Marksmanship Unit gave me the opportunity to train, compete and the support you couldn’t get anywhere else and I’m thankful for that,” Wigger said. “That allowed me to become the best I could be. Shooting is not a sport you can shoot on weekends and win – it’s full time. It’s a full-time effort. You’ve got to work hard, have desire, to do what’s necessary to get there, and it’s hard work. There are not many who have the fortitude to do the hard work necessary to excel.”

Wigger became the only athlete to win medals in all three Olympic rifle shooting disciplines and was selected as one of the U.S. Olympic Committee’s 100 Golden Olympians in 1996.

Wigger is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mary Kay, his two sons Ron and Danny, daughter Deena, son-in-law Tom, as well as two grandchildren. 

Funeral and memorial services will be announced.  In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Lones Wigger/USAS Jr. Olympic Endowment.

Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl.

Source: - http://www.usashooting.org/news/2017/12/14

14 Buenos Aires 2018 quotas delivered at the Asian Championship

10th Asian Championship 10m, Asia YOG Qualification · Wako City, JPN

The championship, held in Wako City (JPN) from December 6th to December 12th, awarded 14 slots in four events: 10m Air Rifle Men, 10m Air Pistol Men, 10m Air Rifle Women and 10m Air Pistol Women.

The 10th edition of the Asian Championship took place from December 6th to December 12th in Wako City (JPN), and it also served as a qualifying competition for the four shooting events to be contested at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games: 10m Air Rifle Men, 10m Air Pistol Men, 10m Air Rifle Women and 10m Air Pistol Women.

A total of 157 athletes competed for the YOG quotas, representing 24 National Olympic Committees and also battling for the Asian Championship podium.

The 14 slots were awarded to:

10 Air Rifle Men

• Zhang Chonghong of the People’s Republic of China
• Arnab Sharar of Bangladesh
• Shahu Tushar Mane of India
• Amirsiyavash Zolfagharian of the Islamic Republic of Iran

10m Air Pistol Men

• Chaudhary Saurabh of India
• Erfan Salavati of the Islamic Republic of Iran
• Shin Okcheol of the Republic of Korea

10m Air Rifle Women

• Mehuli Ghosh of India
• Gao Mingwei of the People’s Republic of China
• Chen Yun-Yun of Chinese Taipei

10m Air Pistol Women

• Xiao Jiaruixuan of the People’s Republic of China
• Manu Bhaker of India
• Kanyakorn Hirunphoem of Thailand
• Shirlene Hew Yun Ting of Singapore

The quotas were delivered to eight different NOCs, with India pocketing four of them and the People’s Republic of China taking three. The Islamic Republic of Iran grabbed two slots, while Bangladesh, Chinese Taipei, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand all secured one.

More quotas will be awarded in two remaining competitions: the 2018 European Championship in Gyor (HUN) and the 2018 ISSF World Cup Stage 3 in Fort Benning (USA).

The third edition of the Youth Olympic Games is taking place in Buenos Aires from the 6th to the 18th of October 2018.

Marco Vettoretti

Posted by Thom DErik Syrdahl

Source: - ISSF Website

Lonato to host first Para trap Worlds

The first World Shooting Para Sport World Cup in Para trap was held in Lonato, Italy © • FITAV and Trap Concaverde
2018 Championships will be held at ‘birthplace’ of the discipline

World Shooting Para Sport has announced that Lonato, Italy, will host the first World Championships in Para trap, which will take place from 2-7 October 2018.

The shotgun specialism became an official discipline under the sport’s international federation in May 2017. The Italian town is no stranger to Para trap, having hosted the first World Cup in the discipline in September that saw 53 athletes from 14 countries compete.

Around 60 athletes from 18 countries are expected to compete at Lonato 2018, which is being organized by the Italian Shotgun Federation (FITAV).

Tyler Anderson, World Shooting Para Sport Manager, said: “We are thrilled to have the first World Championships hosted in the birthplace of Para trap. The discipline has come long way in a short amount of time, and its continued growth and development is a great sign of its popularity among our athletes.

“I am confident FITAV will be an excellent host. They were outstanding in running a smooth and successful World Cup in September, and have shown continued passion to develop Para trap.

“Lonato 2018 World Shooting Para Sport Championships will also be very important for the development of the sport, including inclusion at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.”

Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, will host the first World Cup of 2018, and marks the first time Para trap will be contested alongside rifle and pistol events. The Al Ain World Cup will be an important event for athletes ahead of the 2018 World Shooting Para Sport World Championships from 1-12 May. Around 300 shooters from 60 countries will take their first chance to grab quota places for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl

Source: - wwhttps://w.paralympic.org/news

ISSF Delegation visits Changwon in preparation of the 52nd ISSF World Championship

I
Changwon (KOR), will host the 52nd ISSF World Championship in all shooting events, in 2018. While the existing venue of Changwon is being reconstructed and extended, an ISSF delegation led by Secretary General Franz Schreiber visited the Organizing Committee to follow the preparations.

The ISSF Secretary General Franz Schreiber led a delegation that visited the Organizing Committee of the 52nd ISSF World Championship in Changwon, Korea, last week. 

The World Championship will take place there from the 31st of August to the 15th of September 2018, and will include competitions in all Olympic and non-Olympic ISSF disciplines: Shotgun, Rifle, Pistol, Running Target and Target Sprint. Some 2.000 athletes are expected to compete in the event, which is organized every four years, and represents a highlight for the International Shooting Sport Federation. 

The delegation - including the ISSF Technical Delegates Gary Anderson, Demetris Lordos, Peter Underhill and Mohamed Wahdan, along with the ISSF Events Manager Jan Ketzel - visited the venue, which is being reconstructed and extended for the championship. 

Shotgun events will be conducted on 5 combined ranges, equipped with Mattarelli target machines, Saggitario Targets and Elettronica Progetti Acoustic targets release systems. 

The 10m shooting range will feature 100 electronic targets (SIUS LS10), while the 25m range will be equipped with 14 layouts for a total of 70 SIUS HS 25/50 targets. The 50m range will be equipped with 80 SIUS HS 25/50 targets. 

Running targets events will be conducted over five 10m shooting ranges (SIUS RT10) and two 50m shooting ranges (SIUS RT50). Target Sprint - the new ISSF “Sport for All” event - will also be conducted in an outdoor area the shooting range in Changwon, using the Hora falling targets system. 

300m shooting events will be organized on a separate temporary venue, the Jinhae Naval Shooting Range, providing 40 SIUS 310S targets. 

All finals will be conducted on a new Final Range which is currently under construction. 

The delegation conducted several meetings with the Organizing Committee, the Korean Shooting Federation, and local public authorities, revolving around venue’s developments, transportation and accommodation plans, media coverage and marketing activities, and in-depth discussions on several organizational areas. In this occasion, the Major of Changwon announced the launch of the promotional campaign “2018: the Year to visit Changwon” which will unfold in concomitance with the championship. 

The ISSF delegation visit took place in connection with the ISSF Rifle and Pistol Judges Course and the ISSF Shotgun Judges and Shotgun Referee Course held in Changwon, under the guidance of the Technical Delegates. The courses were conducted in an effort to share the experience of ISSF experts with local officials ahead of next year’s event. All participants passed the examinations with excellent results, and their skills will positively reflect on the local sport community as well as on the conduct of the 52nd ISSF World Championship, next year. 

ISSF Secretary General Franz Schreiber said: 

“The preparations for the 52nd ISSF World Championships in all shooting events are proceeding according to the schedule. We visited the venues, which are almost completed, and we were really impressed by the scale and the quality of the developments. Changwon has been a traditional location for our ISSF competition in the past, and the new installations will take it to the next level.”

“The Organizing Committee and the Korean Shooting Federation are working positively in cooperation with the ISSF, and with an excellent support from the City of Changwon. We have no doubts that they are going to deliver an excellent competition.”

“We would like to thank our hosts and wish them good luck. We will come back here in Changwon in April 2018, when an ISSF World Cup in Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun events will be organized on the lines of the new range, serving as a test event.”

Further details on the Championship will be published in the next months, on the ISSF Website www.issf-sports.org 

Marco Dalla Dea

Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl

Source - ISSF Website

Buenos Aires 2018 launches volunteer programme

The Organizing Committee of the 3rd Youth Olympic Games opened online registration to be part of the voluntary workforce of Buenos Aires 2018.

The Organizing Committee of the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games launched its volunteer programme, in coincidence with the International Volunteer Day, celebrated worldwide on December 5th.

Voluntary work is at the heart of the Olympic Movement, and both the Olympic and Youth Olympic Games wouldn’t be possible without the participation and the passion of many, many volunteers, who donate themselves daily, with dedication and commitment.

The President of the Buenos Aires 2018 Organising Committee, Mr. Gerardo Werthein said: “Athletes are at the centre of the Olympic Movement and of the Games. Volunteers are essential for the Movement and essential for the development of the Youth Olympic Games.”

Up to 8.000 volunteers will be chosen from a list of local and international candidates. Many, different positions will be available within multiple sectors: spectator assistance, translation services, media relations and sports competition support, just to name a few.

 

If you’re interested in being part of Olympic history, apply here: www.buenosaires2018.com.

Online registrations are open until March 31st, 2018.

 

Marco Vettoretti

Posted by Thom Erik Syrdahl

Source: - ISSF Website