ISSF President Luciano Rossi met the international media today at the Olympic Shooting Centre in Chateauroux in an official press conference to review the Paris 2024 Olympics and discuss priorities for the future of shooting sports.
Speaking to international members of the press, President Rossi expressed ISSF’s sincere thanks and appreciation to the organizers of these Olympic Games, supported by the French Shooting Federation (FFTir), for their great efforts to organise an unforgettable 10 days of shooting sport.
“The Chateauroux Shooting Centre demonstrated its excellent functionality and proved extremely comfortable for athletes, coaches and everyone present at the Shooting venue. The ISSF is looking forward to future international competitions at this beautiful facility," opened President Rossi.
“It was a great pleasure and a unique experience for 342 athletes representing 82 countries from all 5 continents, as well as two shooters from the IOC Refugee team, to be a part of these unforgettable Olympic Games. All the officials, judges, referees and volunteers made an outstanding contribution to ensure that the shooting events of Paris 2024 was a great success. It was a real triumph of teamwork.”
President Rossi described the challenges caused by shooting sport being almost 300 km away from Paris, but with a unified effort from all stakeholders, Chateauroux became the centre of the shooting world.
“There were many unique moments for shooting sport at Paris 2024: Guatemala won the country’s first ever Olympic Gold medal in any sport, Nino Salukvadze of Georgia took part in a record 10th consecutive Olympics, Manu Bhaker became the first Indian women athlete of any sport to win two medals at the same Games. We can also relish the fact that our youngest competitor at these Games was just 15 and our oldest 60, returning to the Olympic arena 40 years after his first appearance. Shooting is a sport for all.”
The journalists also brought up the topic of shooting sport’s sudden breakthrough into the wider public arena when two silver medal winning athletes, Yusuf Dikec of Turkiye and Kim Yeji of the Republic of Korea, became internet sensations.
“I am delighted by that, as these athletes are helping to boost the profile of our sport with a completely new audience.”
President Rossi also expressed his pride in being responsible for governance of a sport that was global and inclusive, confirming ongoing discussions with the International Paralympic Committee on the best way for ISSF to take over the co-ordination of para shooting events.
On the subject of change, President Rossi was unequivocal that both ISSF, and the sport of shooting, was determined to introduce change. “We are working closely with the IOC and were very happy when President Thomas Bach made the journey from Paris to see the venue and meet our athletes. We are fully aware of what we need to do to ensure that shooting, that has been part of the Olympics since 1896, needs to change to meet the IOC’s expectations for 2028 and beyond. We are now considering all options, including changing technical rules and finding ways to use data from competition, to make a product that is better for television and for spectators and look forward to making a detailed report to the IOC by January 2025. But these changes will come from a wide ranging review by stakeholders, including our athletes and we also invite input from our specialist media. But for sure, we are working to ensure that shooting sport will be at the heart of the LA2028 Olympic experience with our athletes living in the village and taking part in the Opening ceremony.”
President Rossi also confirmed that the 2025 World Cup Final event would take place in New Delhi, India, in October (date to be confirmed) and would bring together Olympic champions and leading athletes in a spectacular climax to the season.