The opening ceremony for ISSF House preceded the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony this evening as the ribbon was cut by ISSF President Luciano Rossi, accompanied by ISSF Secretary General Alessandro Nicotra di San Giacamo.
This unique facility close to Olympic competition range in Chateauroux is serving as a gathering point for the international shooting sport community during the Games.
Over the course of the next 10 days it will bring together athletes, federations, coaches, sponsors, sporting goods manufacturers, media and supporters, with food, drink, dancing and a VR experience that will allow all guests to feel what it is like to be a shooting sport Olympian.
The party got started almost immediately tonight as Executive Committee members, national federation delegates and other guests ate and drank and watched the Opening Ceremony taking place on the River Seine via live screens.
“It is a great honour, as President of ISSF, to be here in Chateauroux for the opening of the 33rd Olympic Games – Paris 2024 – as well as of our ISSF House in Chateauroux,” Rossi said.
“I am looking forward to seeing the shooting sport family united in this wonderful place for 10 days.
“A total of 340 athletes from 81 NOCs - these are the best shooting sport athletes in the world seeking the greatest prizes in our sport.
“We are delighted that we have a great range of ages – from 15 to 60 years.
“I want to thank the International Olympic Committee for their trust in our sport and our leadership, all the member federations of ISSF and the many passionate volunteers who work daily on behalf of our sport.
“Thanks are also due to our friends in France who have worked extremely hard to make sure that we have fantastic facilities at the French National Sport Shooting Centre and everything our athletes need to perform at their best.
“But today we also have another special opening - that of the ISSF House.
“For the first time in our history we have our own unique home for shooting sports at the Olympic Games.
“We look forward to welcoming our guests here, starting tonight, to celebrate our great sport.”
The Paris 2024 shooting sport programme starts tomorrow at 0900 local time (CEST) with 10m air rifle mixed team qualification.
The tradition of the first medals of the Games being awarded in shooting sport is being maintained, as the mixed team bronze medal match is scheduled for 10.30 and the gold medal match at 11.00.
Qualification for the 10m air pistol men will start at 10.30, and qualification for the 10m air pistol women - which will involve Georgia's Nino Salukvadze, who will thus make a unique tenth consecutive appearance at the Games - will start at 12.30.