The first ISSF Shotgun World Cup of the season kicked-off in Nicosia, Cyprus, today.
373 athletes coming from 61 countries arrived here to compete in the five Olympic Shotgun shooting events. The World Cup stage, held at the Nicosia Olympic Shooting Range, will run until the 24th of March.
“The best shotgun shooters of the world are here in Cyprus once again - said the President of the Cyprus Shooting Sport Federation Demetris Lordos, at today’s opening ceremony - I would like to thank them and the International Shooting Sport Federation for entrusting us. This competition will turn into an excellent preparation for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The Organizing Committee worked effortless to guarantee the best conditions, and I wish all the participants to reach their goals in the next days!”
“It’s special honour for our country to have athletes from over 60 nations coming to Cyprus to compete - said the President of the Cyprus Sports Organization, Klea Xadjistefanou Papaellina - It is with great pride that we support this event.”
The Secretary General of the Cyprus Olympic Committee General Charlalambos Lottas, the Director General of the Ministry of Defence of Cyprus Mr. Christos Malikkides, and the Major of Latsia, Mr. Panagiotis Kyprianon, also welcomed the athletes during the ceremony.
The competition was officially opened by the ISSF Technical Delegate Mohamed Wahdan, who thanked the Organizing Committee in behalf of the ISSF President Olegario Vazquez Raña and of the ISSF Secretary General Franz Schreiber. “This high participation reflects the trust that athletes from all over the world put into the Cyprus Shooting Sport Federation,” said Mr. Wahdan.
The first final match of the competition will take place tomorrow afternoon (March 19) at 4.15 PM (UTC+2).
News and live updates of the World Cup stage will be published on the ISSF official website and on its social media profiles: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Sina Weibo and Youku. The five finals will also be broadcasted live on the ISSF Livestream official channel.