A proposal by new International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Vladimir Lisin is to donate $10 million (£8 million/€9 million) of his own money to establish a development fund for the sport has been, not surprisingly, approved by the world governing body's Executive Committee at a meeting in Munich today.
The decision to create the new development fund was approved unanimously.
The ISSF Executive Committee also voted to put in place a system that can ensure full transparency in the decision-making process and in financial operations of the Fund.
The success of NLMK, the steelmaker which Lisin heads, has made the 62-year-old Russian one of the world's wealthiest men, so it is a gesture he can easily afford.
But it should make a huge difference to a body which is heavily dependent on the funding it receives from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as a consequence of shooting's place on the Summer Olympic Games programme.
According to its newly-published 2017 accounts, the ISSF generated just €882,000 (£782,600/$1 million) of its own income over and above its near €4 million (£3.5 million/$4.5 million) per annum IOC subsidy.
This over a year in which expenditures reached €5.6 million (£5 million/$6.35 million).
Lisin has committed to contribute an initial $10 million (£7.9 million/€8.8 million) of his "personal means" to the new fund.
This is to cover the 2019-2022 period, with the money transferred to ISSF accounts not later than January 10, 2019.
"The development fund is a big personal contribution of the President," Joerg Brokamp, chairman of the ISSF Technical Committee, said.
"It will hopefully be good for the future and the wellbeing of the ISSF.
"It is a donation that belongs to the ISSF. As the entire financial responsibility is held by the Executive Committee in accordance with the ISSF Constitution and the decisions of the General Assembly, the members of the Executive committee will also be responsible for the use of the financial resources of this new ISSF Development Fund."
Industry players are being invited to make their own contributions - "financial or material" - to the fund, which is to be run by a board of trustees.
Lisin won the ISSF Presidency by a margin of just four votes over Italy's Luciano Rossi at the body's 68th General Assembly in Munich on November 30.
He succeeded Mexico's Olegario Vázquez Raña, who stepped down after 38 years in charge.
In a bid to convince the Birmingham Commonwealth Games organisers to include shooting at the 2022 Games, the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) has made an extraordinary proposal to bear the financial burden of all the 'field of play' expenditures at the Games, according to National Rifle Association of India President Raninder Singh, who is also one of the four Vice Presidents of the ISSF.
Shooting, which is an optional sport in the Commonwealth Games program, has been a regular feature of all editions since Kingston 1966, barring Edinburgh 1970. However, the decision by Birmingham organizers to ignore shooting caused a furor, particularly in India, which has won nearly one-fourth of its medals at the CWG in the discipline.
Raninder revealed that the ISSF had prepared a proposal for the Review Committee of the Birmingham Games in a bid for re-induction of the sport where one of the biggest commitments was that "everything will be free of cost on the field of play".
"Essentially, we were offering to organize ammunition, targets and all the other things needed for the event at our cost. The only cost to the organizers for having the shooting competition would be transportation besides accommodation for athletes and staff," Raninder told Firstpost on the sidelines of an event to announce a strategic partnership between NRAI and JSW.
"If everything is being done for free, then there's no expense for the organizers," Raninder said before outlining how shooting's governing body would make this possible. "We went to the manufacturers of shooting equipment and told them what the Bisley range needs. They will sign a lend-lease agreement with the facility or will donate the equipment. Similarly, we went to manufacturers of equipment too and asked them to provide shooting equipment like ammunition for free for the event. Meanwhile, ISSF will bear the cost of the jury members."
Raninder said that the ISSF had suggested that the event would be held at Bisley Shooting Centre in Surrey, which hosted the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002.
"At Bisley, you don't have to develop the infrastructure, you just have to do upgrade the targeting systems. It's a Tier 3 military base, so it has inherent security systems already in place. One of their requirements was fencing off the whole area. That would require us fencing 400 acres. That cost could have gone up to £10 million. This was not even the cost for the security of the entire CWG at Gold Coast."
Raninder pointed out that while concerns had been raised about there being no shooting ranges in Birmingham to host the event in 2022, the track cycling event would be held at Lee Valley VeloPark at London, some 136 miles away.
The Bisley shooting range in Surrey, by contrast, is 130 miles away.
"This is too far, that is not? No logic!"
D-Day on 16 February
"We have done everything humanly possible to bring back shooting at Commonwealth Games. It is not possible to do more. We fought it well. I'm very hopeful of shooting coming back at the 2022 Games. 16 February is the D-Day," said Raninder.
"When they announced the decision to drop shooting from the Commonwealth Games, I was the first one to call for a boycott of the Games. That was only to bring the issue to everyone's attention. I do not believe in boycott tactics," he clarified.
"But I believe the decision was an affront to India. Besides India, many of the home nations don't have anything other than shooters. If shooting is out, their flag won't be at the Games!"
Since the sport has been dropped from the 2022 edition, the ISSF has lobbied extensively to get the sport reinstated. There have been political efforts from India as well, which included Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussing the issue with British PM Theresa May in May this year and Minister for Youth and Sports Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore writing letters to Commonwealth Games Federation President Louise Martin and British Member of Parliament Matt Hancock, who is the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
"In conjunction with some friends in the United Kingdom, we also got a debate organized in the House of Commons. We took the government by surprise," said Raninder. "We got a commitment from the minister of sports on the floor of the House that they want shooting put back and they will do everything to have it put back," said Raninder.
Since the sport has been dropped from the 2022 edition, the ISSF has lobbied extensively to get the sport reinstated. There have been political efforts from India as well, which included Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussing the issue with British PM Theresa May in May this year and Minister for Youth and Sports Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore writing letters to Commonwealth Games Federation President Louise Martin and British Member of Parliament Matt Hancock, who is the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
"In conjunction with some friends in the United Kingdom, we also got a debate organised in the House of Commons. We took the government by surprise," said Raninder. "We got a commitment from the minister of sports on the floor of the House that they want shooting put back and they will do everything to have it put back," said Raninder.
President Vladimir Lisin will contribute with his personal means, while the Industry is invited to make further contributions.
Vladimir Lisin, the newly elected ISSF President, decided to establish a Development Fund that will not depend on the money the ISSF has received or will receive from the IOC.
To begin with, he has committed to contribute USD 10.000.000 (ten million) of his personal means for the quadrennium 2019-2022. This money will be transferred to the ISSF accounts not later than 10 January 2019.
The Industry is invited to make further contributions - financial or material.
According to the President's plan, there will be three groups of grantees. The Member Federations that need assistance in developing the shooting sport in their countries. The Member Federations that get Quota Places for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The athletes who lead the ISSF ranking by the end of the year.
The conditions of rendering assistance or establishing grants will be determined by the ISSF Executive Committee.
The Development Fund will be run by the Board of Trustees.
All five continents and more than 40 nations are represented in the newly elected ISSF bodies.
The new ISSF leadership that emerged from the 68th ISSF General Assembly is completely renewed and shows diversity, as all continents are represented.
Out of 99 elected officials, one third (32) are new to the job, not having served in ISSF bodies in the previous term.
Gender representation within the governing bodies of the Federation sees now 23 elected female officials (in addition to the three women shooters elected in the ISSF Athletes Committee, during the 2018 ISSF World Championship in South Korea).
The geographical representation is also ensured, as 42 countries from all five continents were elected. 19 official represent Asia, three come from Africa, 13 from the Americas, 60 from Europe, and four from Oceania
The first meeting of the newly elected ISSF Administrative Council took place on 2 December, at the Hilton Park Hotel in Munich, under the leadership of the ISSF President Vladimir Lisin and of the ISSF Secretary General Alexander Ratner.
The meeting elected the 5 Members from the Administrative Council to serve in the ISSF Executive Committee for the period of four years, and the members of the Section Committees.
They joined the other ISSF officials elected during the 68th ISSF General Assembly held at the Hilton Park Hotel in Munich (GER) on the 30 November and 1 December.
Continental Confederations Representatives:
President African Shooting Federation: Ahmed HAZEM HOSNY (EGY)
President Shooting Confederation of the Americas: Carlos SILVA MONTERROSO (GUA)
Nominee Asian Shooting Confederation: Ali Mohammed AL KUWARI (QAT)
Nominee European Shooting Confederation: Anna LESHCHIKOVA (RUS)
President Oceania Shooting Federation Ewen PIRIE (NZL)
ISSF Executive Committee members elected by the ISSF Administrative Council:
The ISSF Administrative Council, the Chairman of the Technical Committee, the Chairmen of the Sections Committees, the Auditors and the Honorary Members were elected today, under the guidance of the new ISSF President Vladimir Lisin.
Day-2 of the ISSF General Assembly in Munich was opened by the newly elected ISSF President Vladimir Lisin (RUS), who welcomed the delegates of over 130 member federations on his first day in office.
Yesterday, 30 November, Mr. Lisin became the 7th President in the 111-year history of the federation, as he won the votes of the Assembly. He succeeded to Mexico’s Olegario Vázquez Raña, who was elected honorary president as he stepped back after leading the body for 38 years.
Alexander Ratner (RUS) joined him at the lead of the federation as Secretary General position, taking over the seat held by retiring Franz Schreiber of Germany. President Lisin and Secretary General Ratner worked together (in the same positions) in the European Shooting Confederation since 2013, proving to be a winning team.
Day-2 of the ISSF General Assembly saw the conduction of several votes, and various decisions were taken by the delegates.
The new ISSF Administrative Council
This morning, delegates of more than 130 member federations elected the 15 new Administrative Council members (in alphabetical order):
Christina AHLSTEDT (SWE)
Ali DADGAR (IRI)
Yair DAVIDOVICH (ISR)
Alexandros DIMAKAKOS (GRE)
Catherine FETTELL (AUS)
Rafael GUERRA MOLLINEDO (CUB)
Egbert IJZERMAN (NED)
Pekka KUUSISTO (FIN)
LEE Dal-gon (KOR)
LIANG Chun (CHN)
György NAGY (HUN)
Hugues SENGER (FRA)
Gerardo TROTTA (VEN)
Michael VAZ (SGP)
Hans-Heinrich VON SCHÖNFELS (GER)
Chairmen of the ISSF Committees
The General Assembly also re-elected Mr. Jörg BROKAMP (GER) as the Chairman of the ISSF Technical Committee, Mr. Böck SIEGFRIED (AUT) and Mr. Alexandros DIMAKAKOS (GRE) as the new ISSF Auditors, and the Chairmen of the Section Committees:
ISSF Rifle Committee: David GOODFELLOW (GBR)
ISSF Pistol Committee: Susan ABBOTT (USA)
ISSF Shotgun Committee: Demetris LORDOS (CYP)
ISSF Running Target Committee: Claes JOHANSSON (SWE)
ISSF Judges Committee: Peter UNDERHILL (GBR)
ISSF Statutes and Eligibility Committee: Biserka VRBEK (CRO)
ISSF Medical Committee: Dr. James LALLY (USA)
The General Assembly also elected Mr. Derek IVY (GBR) as an Honorary Member by unanimous decision. Ivy served as a member of the Pistol Committee from 1984 to 1996 and as a Member of the ISSF Administrative Council from 2006 to 2018, and chaired the ISSF Judges Committee from 1998 to 2006.
The elected officers join the new leadership team of the ISSF, along with President Lisin, Secretary General Ratner, and Vice-Presidents Kevin Kilty (IRL), Raninder Singh (IND), Robert Mitchell (USA) and Wang Yifu (CHN).
2019 ISSF Shotgun World Championship
Delegates selected the host of the 2019 ISSF Shotgun World Championship, after hearing the presentation of Italy, Cyprus and Spain. The bid of Lonato (Italy) won the votes of the Assembly, proposing a championship to be held at the well-known Trap Concaverde shooting club on the shores of the Garda Lake, in north Italy. The dates of the Championship will be decided - and communicated on this website - later on.
ISSF Competitions
The General Assembly decided to postpone the review of the ISSF Competitions Calendar (and the world championship scheduling) for the Olympic cycle 2021-2024 to a possible ISSF Extraordinary General Assembly to be held in 2019.
Concerning the current Olympic cycle (2016-2020), and upon a proposal of the German Shooting Federation, the planned 2020 Junior World Cup to be hosted in Suhl (GER) was upgraded to an ISSF Junior Wolrd Championship.
The 2019 ISSF Junior World Cup planned to be held in Lima (PER) was canceled.
Tokyo 2020 report
The General Assembly received an update on the preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games by Mr. Peter Underhill. Tokyo 2020 Shooting sport events will be held at the Asaka shooting venue, located 23 Km from the Olympic Village, some 50 minutes drive. This will be a temporary venue set in a green area at some 4km from the town of Asaka, studied for the maximum sustainability. The Shooting venue will provide a combined 10-meter / 50-meter range and a combined 25-meter / Finals Hall. Three combined Trap and Skeet layouts surrounded by a lead-recoil net will be constructed for the conduction of Shotgun events. The competitions will be conducted over 11 days, from 25 July to 3 of August 2020. The test event is planned to take place in April 2020.
Tomorrow: the first meeting of the Administrative Council
Tomorrow, 2 December, a new era for the ISSF will officially start, as President Lisin leads his first ISSF Administrative Council, here at the Hilton Park Hotel in Munich, Germany. The Council will be asked to vote for the members of the Section Committees and to form the Executive Committee.
Mr. Franz Schreiber shared a farewell message with the Shooting sport family, on his last day of service as ISSF Secretary General.
At the 2018 ISSF General Assembly in Munich, today, retiring Secretary General Franz Schreiber (who did not stand for re-election) shared a farewell message with the Shooting sport family, while at the same time offering his support to the new management for the transition period.
During his report to the General Assembly, Mr. Schreiber said:
“I will not stand for re-election. I will fall back to my CEO position. In this position I will be available for a transition period.”
“Please have only the sport on your agenda. Please leave politics out of your agenda. Please become united again.”
In a farewell message to the Shooting Sport family, which will be published in full in the next ISSF News Magazine, Mr. Schreiber said:
“I did not stand for re-election. Friends and colleagues asked me several times why I took this decision. And indeed, it hasn’t been an easy one,”
“It is no secret that this four letters, “ISSF”, represented more than simply a job for me. My family has been bounded to the history and to the life of the Federation since President Olegario Vazquez Raña took office in 1980, along with my father Horst Schreiber. I have been serving in the position of Secretary General since 2010 and throughout my career I dedicated 38 years to the federation, which is more than half of my life.”
“When President Olegario Vázquez Raña announced he was going to retire at the end of 2018, I decided not to stand for re-election. I decided that it was time for a change in my life, time to leave space to a new leadership, time to stop and to spend some quality time with my beloved family and to take care of my health.”
“I am proud of the job that I have done and I am grateful for the trust I have been enjoying from President Olegario Vázquez Raña and from the whole Shooting sport family in all these years.”
“In my capacity as Secretary General, I have no doubts that we are passing forward a fully functional, healthy and modern Federation. In these years, our efforts were directed to improve the regulations of the sport, to implement an effective anti-doping system and to state our educational role through the ISSF Academy and the ISSF Workshop for Championship Organizers. We invested in communication, social media, TV distribution, branding and youth programs, in order to keep up with the changing environment. At the same time, the ISSF fostered its transparency and governance, and strengthened its ties with international bodies.”
“While leaving, I wish unity to the Shooting sport family. We are one of the oldest sport, one of the oldest federations in the world, and I am sure that if we stand united, we have a bright future in front of us.”
“I would like to take this chance to thank all the friends, all colleagues, volunteers, freelancers and the ISSF staff members that have been sharing all this with me in the last 38 years. We had been a great team and we delivered! I would also like to publicly acknowledge thanks and much appreciation to my family for being part of this. My wife Brigitte, my daughter Franziska, my brother Wolfgang and my mother always supported me. Finally and most importantly, I thank Mr. Olegario Vazquez Raña for his leadership, support and trust!”
“Good luck to the new leadership and to the whole ISSF!”
Vice-President Gary Anderson steps down: “wish a bright future to our sport”
68th ISSF General Assembly · Munich, GER
The two-time Olympic Champion retires after being part of the shooting sport movement for 60 years.
As the 2018 ISSF General Assembly meets in Munich to elect its new officers, long-standing ISSF Vice-President Gary Anderson (USA) was not a candidate for re-election.
The 2-time Olympic Champion, 7-time world champion, and 2-time Pan American champion were first elected in the ISSF (UIT at that time) Administrative Council in 1978, along with President Olegario Vàzquez Raña. He was then elected in the ISSF Executive Committee in 1980 and became ISSF Vice-President in 1990.
While retiring after serving the Federation for 40 years, 79-year old Anderson addressed a farewell message to the Shooting sport community. The full text of the message will be published in the next ISSF News Magazine edition.
Mr. Anderson’s message reads:
“This General Assembly concludes my 60-year international Shooting career that began as an athlete and subsequently encompassed 40 years of service as an elected ISSF official. My farewell message to you is a message of thankfulness for the experiences I have had and the opportunities I was given to serve our sport.”
[…]
“For the past 38 years, I have been privileged to be part of an ISSF leadership team that made the changes necessary to transform our sport into a modern Olympic sport. Under Olegario Vázquez Raña’s leadership, Shooting changed from being an endangered Olympic sport to becoming a big, highly respected and enduring Olympic sport. Shooting changed to become a full gender equal sport. Shooting became a spectator sport, with dynamic start-from-zero finals and real-time electronic targets. The introduction of new women’s and air gun events changed Shooting into a world sport with universality in participation and governance.”
[…]
“Now our era as ISSF leaders is ending and it is time for a new generation of leaders. As we say farewell to the ISSF, I believe President Olegario Vázquez Raña, Secretary General Schreiber and other members of our leadership team can step down knowing the ISSF and Shooting are stronger and better positioned as an Olympic sport.”
“Living through 60 years as an athlete, national federation leader, and ISSF official may seem like a long time, but these years have gone swiftly. I am sincerely grateful for the experiences I have had and the wonderful people with whom I have served. I want to recognize now-departed ISSF leaders who encouraged and mentored me, especially Secretary General Horst Schreiber and Executive Committee members Bjorn Schüllstrom and Bernhard Fischer. I owe an immense debt of gratitude to Olegario Vázquez Raña for the loyalty, friendship and support he has given me. I owe another huge thank you to outgoing Secretary General Franz Schreiber for the close friendship and collaboration we have enjoyed. A special thank you must go to my wife Ruth Ann and our two children, Kirsten and Erik, who often had to sacrifice time with their husband and father so the ISSF work could be done.”
“And to all members of the shooting sports family, thank you and best wishes for a bright future for our great sport!”
The ISSF General Assembly elected him as the 7th President of the Federation, following the 38-year long presidency of Olegario Vázquez Raña.
Vladimir Lisin (RUS) is the new ISSF President. He beat Italy’s Luciano Rossi in the succession to the 38-year long presidency of Olegario Vázquez Raña (MEX).
In the ISSF General Assembly held today at the Munich Park Hotel in Munich, Germany, 136 member federations were present, in addition to 23 proxies, for a total of 159 represented federations and 292 votes, out of the maximum possible representation of 160 members, 147 countries, and 294 votes.
Delegates awarded 148 votes to Mr. Lisin, and 144 votes to Mr. Luciano Rossi. A third candidate, the President of the Lebanon Shooting Federation Jalkh Boutros (LBN), withdrew his candidature yesterday, 29 November.
Mr. Vladimir Lisin (62) is a Russian entrepreneur holding Ph. Ds in Engineering and Economics, and the Chairman of one of the world’s leading steelmaking companies, NLMK Group. He practices shooting sport since the age of 14 and has been involved in the management of the sport for years. In 2002, Mr. Lisin became President of the Russian Shooting Union, and since 2009 he has been leading the European Shooting Confederation (ESC). From 2009 to 2013 he served as a member of the ISSF Administrative Council, and since 2011 he is the President of the Summer Olympic Sports Association of Russia. In 2013 he became a member of the ISSF Executive Committee, winning then the votes of the delegates at the 2014 ISSF General Assembly to become ISSF Vice-President. At the same time, he has been serving the IOC as a member of the IOC Commission for Culture and Olympic Education (2006-2014) and in the IOC Marketing Commission (2015- onward).
Today, Mr. Lisin becomes the 7th President of the International Shooting Sport Federation, one of the oldest international federation, founded in 1907 as the UIT (Union Internationale de Tir). He succeeds Olegario Vázquez Raña, a Mexican entrepreneur and titled athlete who led the ISSF for 38 years. Vazquez Raña stepped back this morning, following a decision he had made public in 2014. He was nominated ISSF Honorary President, right after his farewell speech addressed to the Shooting sport family, today.
In his speech, before the vote, Mr. Lisin said:
“I don’t want to make empty electoral promises. There’s a lot of work to do for all of us. We should respect the interest of all federations and all continents.”
“We will support member federation who really intend to develop Shooting sport in their countries. My recent trips to America and Africa showed there’s a lot to do. Our goal is not to increase the number of federations, but also to increase the competition level of those federations that already part of our family.”
Right after the result of the elections was announced, he added: “Thank you for your trust!”
The ISSF General Assembly must indeed continue, as the delegates are now called to elected the ISSF Secretary General, four ISSF Vice-Presidents, the new ISSF Administrative Committee, the Chairmen of the Sections Committees (Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun, Running Target, Judges, Statutes and Eligibility, Medical), the Auditors, and the ISSF Honorary Members.
On the agenda of the delegates, there is also the approval of the ISSF’s financial statements, a proposal for amendments to the ISSF Constitution, and - on day-2, 1st of December - the decision on the country to organize the 2019 ISSF Shotgun World Championship, and several other regulatory and administrative decisions.
The longest-standing ISSF President steps back today, as the ISSF General Assembly in Munich (GER) elects its new leadership.
The longest-standing ISSF President, Olegario Vàzquez Raña (MEX), retires today, 30 November 2018, after 38-year at the lead of the International Shooting Sport Federation, as the federation elects its new leadership in Munich (Germany).
Vàzquez Raña, an 83-year old Mexican entrepreneur, was elected for the first time in the ISSF (UIT, at that time) Council in 1978, and became the President of the Shooting world’s governing body two years later, at the General Assembly held in Mexico City in 1980.
The Mexican was an active, successful shooter who competed in four Olympic Games (1964, 1968, 1972, 1976) and five World Shooting Championships (1966, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1979), setting several national, continental and world records. He served as an IOC Member from 1995 to 2015, before becoming an IOC Honorary Member in 2016.
His leadership has truly changed shooting sport, which he modernized while preserving the traditional traits and values set into the disciplines, increasing the number of Olympic events from 7 to 15 during his time.
Under the guidance of President Vazquez Raña the sport saw the introduction of the ISSF World Cup Series, of the ISSF Wolrd Cup Finals, of the Olympic Quota Place system, of the final matches, of electronic targets, of the internal television production ISSF TV, and of all the branding and communication activities, just to mention some of the innovations he fostered.
His vision continued to change the sport in the last decade, with the update of the competition and final formats, and the introduction of the new Mixed Team events that guarantee gender equality in the sport in the lead up to Tokyo 2020. The program of the next Games will include 15 shooting events (6 men, 6 women, and 3 mixed gender events) for a total participation of 360 athletes.
Today, the ISSF General Assembly elected him as ISSF Honorary President by acclamation, in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to the development of Shooting sport. While proposing his election to the honorary position, Olympic Champions Abhinav Bindra and Kimberly Rhode said: "Olegario Vazquez Raña has been an Olympian, and he transported the same passion to the administration of Shooting sport. Athletes like us have been empowered and encouraged to help keeping our sport fresh, healthy and strong throughout four decades, thanks to his vision. We respect his decision to step down, but at the same time, we would like to retain a strong bound with him. That's why we ask the General Assembly to approve the unanimous recommendation of the Executive Committee and of the Administrative Council to elect him ISSF Honorary President."
After the election, Mr. Vázquez Raña said:
“This is the last time I am speaking with you as the ISSF President. I am happy but also a bit sad because I consider you my family. I can only say that I fulfilled my duties with integrity, and I have always supported the athletes. I am just a normal person. And I will always be a normal person. You elected me as you Honorary President. So if you invite me sometimes I will come to say hello, but I will never interfere in the sport. Thank you!”
In his farewell message to the ISSF family, which he anticipated during the Assembly and that will be published in full in the next ISSF News Magazine, the retiring leader said:
“Every stage of my life has been made up of cycles and it is time to finish mine as President of the ISSF. I have said and will reiterate that it has been a privilege and an honor to have served our sport for 38 years. I will always remember these years fondly.”
“I leave with my head held high because I fulfilled all the goals I set for our Sport, thanks to the great team I’ve had: 36 members of the Administrative Council and 13 in the Executive Committee, who have all worked tirelessly, lending their unconditional support. Some are no longer with us, but I shall never forget them and I will be forever grateful. “
“Secretary General Franz Schreiber, whom I love like a son, has known how to implement all directives with absolute professionalism and loyalty. Vice-president Gary Anderson, my fellow athlete, has dedicated his life to the development of the ISSF Rules. My great Friend Carlos Silva Monterroso, has been like a brother to me and has worked unconditionally for the future of the Shooting Sport, always supporting me.”
“There have also been difficult times, - continued Vàzquez Raña - I always adhered to the Constitution and the Statutes of the ISSF. I am a man who admits no pressure and I had learned that nothing tempers a man like wanting to be up to the task at hand. I have always worked with passion to develop the Shooting sport I love so much and my position as a Member of the International Olympic Committee was always at the service of our sport.”
“I am proud of what we have achieved and I acknowledge that it would not have been possible without the unconditional help of all of you,” he concluded, speaking to the Shooting sport family.
Earlier this year, at the ISSF World Championship in Changwon, South Korea, he spoke about his life within the ISSF, during a tribute night organized for his retirement.
“I have been in charge for 38 years, even if I was never interested in becoming part of the leadership of the federation.” He said then.
“I was in love with the sport as an active athlete, and I was a businessman with many other obligations. But I was asked to get involved by my fellow athletes, and by our member federations. I took on the challenge and I worked to shift the focus of sport politics back to to the important issues: the rules, the competitions, the athletes.”
“I have been confirmed as the President of the ISSF mandate after mandate because I worked for the athletes, I worked for the sport. Please don’t forget that I love this sport, that it has been part of my whole life.”
“My decision to retire was taken and communicated four years ago the 2014 ISSF General Assembly here in Munich. I have been asked to stay longer. But it’s now time for me to retire. I gave most of my life to this sport, and I want to spend more time with my family. I am leaving satisfied and happy. I feel very proud of the work I have done all these years.”
“I hope the new leadership will continue working with the enthusiasm and love I have had for all these years.”
Vazquez Raña’s documentary “Shooting Sport: my passion, my life” released
The outgoing ISSF President opened his doors to ISSF TV, telling the story of his life-long involvement with Shooting sport, from how he got into the sport by chance, to his imminent retirement.
Mexico’s Olegario Vázquez Raña (83) has been leading the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) for 38 years. A successful entrepreneur, a four-time Olympian as well as a national, continental and world record holder, he has been the driving force behind the innovations that changed sport in the last four decades.
On 30 November 2018 he steps down and retires following a decision he made public in 2014, as the ISSF General Assembly elects its new leadership in Munich.
ISSF TV met him in Mexico City in July 2018, when Mr. Vázquez Raña opened the doors of his office and of his house to tell the story of how he got involved in the sport by chance, to end up being a shooting champion, as well as the longest-standing ISSF President.
The documentary, a collection of memories and stories spanning half century, has now been published on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/TSxgsofr1zo
The video also features interviews with IOC President Thomas Bach, ISSF Secretary General Franz Schreiber, ISSF Vice President Gary Anderson, ISSF Executive Committee Members Robert Mitchell and Alexandros Dimakakos, ISSF Administrative Council Member Derek Ivy, India's first Olympic Gold medalist and former ISSF Athletes Committee Chairman Abhinav Bindra, the President of the Shooting Confederation of the Americas Carlos Sliva Monterroso, and Olegario Vazquez Raña's wife Maria de Los Angeles Aldir de Vazquez, their son Olegario Vazquez Aldir, and their daughters Monica and Maria.
“I started by chance, but I soon got to love Shooting. I love this sport. It’s in my blood, it’s in my dreams,” President Vázquez Raña said.
“My decision to retire was taken and communicated four years ago the 2014 ISSF General Assembly here in Munich. I have been asked to stay longer. But it’s now time for me to retire. I gave most of my life to this sport, and I want to spend more time with my family. I am leaving satisfied and happy.”
“I leave with my head held high because I fulfilled all the goals I set for our Sport, thanks to the great team I’ve had.”
