The first ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup of the year kicked-off in Sydney, Australia, today. Shooters from all around the world will compete here right to the 28th of March.
The 2010 ISSF World Cup in Rifle and Pistol events kicked-off today in Sydney, Australia, where more than 200 shooters will compete from the 21st to the 28th of March.
“I welcome the shooters to the first ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup stage of the year in behalf of the International Shooting Sport Federation” said the ISSF Technical Delegate for this event, Mr Woo Jae Lee from Korea, during the opening ceremony.
“We thank the Australian International Shooting Limited which took over the organization of this important competition. – Continued Mr Woo Jae Lee, speaking in behalf of the ISSF President Olegario Vazquez Raña of the ISSF Secretary General Horst G. Schreiber “The beautiful Sydney Olympic shooting range is once again the venue for a World Cup, and we are very pleased to see that this venue has a long-lasting legacy for our shooting sport.” “We are wishing all athletes good luck and fair competitions, and extend our greetings to the Organizers and to the spectators, who will certainly enjoy exciting competitions”
Mr Peter Sharp of the Australian Sport Commission, and the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Mr Nick Sullivan, welcomed the shooters to the 2000 Olympic Shooting Range of Sydney, where the athletes will compete in the ten Olympic events of Rifle and Pistol Shooting. A symbolic shot of cannon was then fired, and the competition officially opened.
Here, athletes coming from more than 25 countries will have a chance to obtain their Minimum Qualification Scores, a fundamental step on the path leading to the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
The 10m Air Rifle Men final round, the first medal match of this World Cup, will take place tomorrow at 12:45, Sydney time (GMT+11). Check the competition schedule for the next rounds, and follow the finals live on ISSF TV, at www.issf-sports.org