The 2016 ISSF Shotgun World Cup in San Marino kicked off today, with the official opening ceremony welcoming over 380 athletes coming from 71 countries, that will compete here from tomorrow right to the 10th of June in the five Olympic events of shotgun shooting.
This is the fifth world cup stage of the season, the third in Shotgun events, following Nicosia and Rio de Janeiro.
San Marino, the “oldest Republic of the World”, and one of the smallest European countries with its 31.000 citizens, offered a warm welcome to the participating athletes. Shooting is the national sport here, and it was indeed a shooter - Alessandra Perilli - who reached the top Olympic finish in the history of the country by placing in fourth at the women’s Trap event in 2012. Alessandra and her sister Arianna, both qualified for Rio 2016, are also part of the management team of the shooting range of San Marino, where the competition is held.
Their Excellencies the Captains Reagent - the heads of state - Gian Nicola Berti ad Massimo Andrea Ugolini, attended today’s opening ceremony, along with the President of the San Marino Olympic Committee Gian Primo Giardi and the Minister of Tourism and Sport Teodoro Lonfernini.
“With over 70 participating nations, this is a record competition for us. We are committed to guaranteeing a successful competition,” said the President of the San Marino Shooting Federation, Moreno Benedettini, in his opening speech. “We wish that everyone involved in the competition may lave our country with great memories.”
“I am very honored to welcome you all to our nation,” said San Marino’s NOC President Girardi. “San Marino is a small country, but organization and hospitality are our flagships. We are very thankful to the ISSF that has given us the opportunity to host this international shooting event in the lead up of the Games. Fort the first time, San Marino will proudly line up three shooters at the Olympics in Rio, this summer.”
“In behalf of the ISSF President Olegario Vazquez Raña and of the ISSF Secretary General Franz Schreiber, I would like to welcome all athletes to this world cup stage,” said the ISSF Technical Delegate Demetris Lordos, officially opening the competition.
The ISSF Vice-President Luciano Rossi, who followed him on the stage, thanked the organizers of the competition, recalling the long tradition of the sport in the country and the record numbers of this world cup stage, wishing all athletes to compete in fair play on the Road to Rio de Janeiro.
The first medal match of the competition, the Trap Women final, will take place tomorrow, at 6.15 PM.
All finals will be broadcasted live on www.issf-sports.org