“In spite of the earthquake you made it!” The ISSF President Olegario Vazquez Raña said to the Organizers, while officially opening the match, today.
“I am very happy to be here today, to open the first stage of the 2011 ISSF World Cup.” The ISSF President Olegario Vazquez Raña said today, while speaking at the opening ceremony of the ISSF Shotgun World Cup in Conception, Chile.
More than 300 athletes coming from 47 nations participate in this World Cup Stage, taking place at the “Estadio Italiano” shooting club in Conception, Chile. The best finalists of the five Olympic events of Trap, Double Trap and Skeet will be awarded Quota Places, the “entry tickets” to the 2012 Olympic Games.
“Chile’s Shooting Federation has been entrusted with the organization of this World Cup Stage in 2008. Two years later, in 2010, a terrible earthquake hit the city of Conception. –President Vazquez Raña said – In spite of that disastrous event, the Organizing Committee made it. And I am proud to officially open this competition, today!”
Exactly one year ago, February the 27th, 2010, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit Conception. The city was shook for three, endless, minutes, and the quake was followed by a tsunami which struck the whole region. Twelve months later, the city welcomes hundreds of athletes coming from all around the world. The President of the Organizing Committee, Mr. Eugenio Garbarino, by the President of Chile’s Shooting Federation, Mr. Pedro Gonzalez , and by the Governor of Conception, Mr. Carlo Gonzales, recalled those difficult moments, while speaking on the opening’s stage.
The first medal match, the Double Trap Men Final, will take place tomorrow, at 16.00 Chile’s time (GMT–3).