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The IOC President Jacques Rogge officially opened the 50th ISSF World Championship in all shooting events in Munich, today.

Marienplatz, the main square of the city, become the centre of the shooting sport’s world for two hours this afternoon, as about three thousands spectators, a few hundreds of athletes and tenths of journalists gathered to follow the opening ceremony of the 50th ISSF World Championship in all shooting events, filling the most representative square of the Bavarian capital.

The IOC President Jacques Rogge, invited on the stage to officially open the match by the ISSF President Olegario Vazquez Raña, addressed a few intense words to the athletes parading through the square “I would like to welcome you athletes to Munich. You are competing not only for the medals, but for the very special goal of qualifying for the London 2012 Olympic Games!” said Dr. Rogge, mentioning the fact that this is going to be the first qualifying event for the London 2012 Games.

“Having more than 2500 athletes from 105 countries competing for an Olympic qualification spot here in Munich is a clear and indubitable prove of universality of the shooting sport. I am very glad about that!” added the IOC President later on.

Mr. Olegario Vazquez Raña, who has just been re-elected at the guide of the ISSF, answered to the IOC President from the stage “Thank you for being here, Dr. Rogge, and thank you for the support and the interest you have always shown for shooting!” said Mr. Raña “We keep on working for the development of our sport, a sport which is clean and that regards fair play and universality as its core values!”

The President of the German Olympic Committee, and IOC Vice-President, Mr. Thomas Bach, also saluted the participants: “It is an honour for our country to host such a record-breaking Olympic Qualifying competition. – He said from the stage – Good luck to all the athletes, and good luck to the city of Munich, in its run to host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games!”

The Prime Minister of Bavaria, Horst Seehofer, the Mayor of Munich Christian Ude, and the President of the German Shooting Federation Mr. Ambacher, also saluted the athletes during the opening ceremony, giving their warmest welcome to the participating athletes.

Mr. Christian Ude, the Lord Mayor of the City of Munich, remarked the special boundaries existing between the Bavarian Capital and the shooting sport “We wish you will feel at home, here in Munich. – He said – The Shooting Sport has a long tradition in our city and in our country. Just think about it: our traditional Oktober Fest, a 6-million visitors festival, nowadays like in the past only ends when a new “shooting king” is elected!”

The first competition shots of the 50^th ISSF World Championship in all shooting events will be fired tomorrow morning at the 1972 Olympic Shooting Range of Munich. The competition, which is the first 2012 Olympic Qualifying event, broke every record with 2500 participants from 105 countries, who will compete in 55 different events from tomorrow to the 11^th of August. 69 Olympic Quota Places, the entrance tickets for the next Games, will be distributed to the best finalists in the 15 Olympic events of Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun shooting in the next days.

The 15 Olympic Finals of Shotgun, Rifle and Pistol, as well as the Running Target medal matches, will be broadcasted live by the ISSF TV on the ISSF website at www.issf-sports.org . Furthermore, the 15 Olympic Finals will also be broadcasted worldwide by the Eurovision distribution network.

The ISSF General Assembly, meeting today at the Hilton Park Hotel in Munich, Germany, in occasion of the 50th ISSF World Championship in all shooting events, re-elected by acclamation the ISSF leadership guiding the Federation since 1980.

The ISSF General Assembly re-elected by acclamation the ISSF President Olegario Vazquez Raña (MEX) and the ISSF Secretary Horst G. Schreiber, (GER) confirming the leadership that has been guiding the ISSF throughout the last 30 years, since their first election in 1980.

The re-elected President, Mr. Olegario Vazquez Raña, surrounded by his family and accompanied by a long and warm applause of the delegates coming from 115 National Federations, thanked the Assembly for the renewed trust received.

“I would like to thank you for your confidence and friendship – said the President – This is once again a very special day for me. Since many years I have been active in the International Shooting Sport Federation, first as an Olympian, and then as an officer. After all these years, your trust is the most important thing for me.”

“I am here with my wife and my daughter, my family surrounds me, and I share with you the same respect as if you were part of my family. The Shooting Sport Federation is my family!” added Mr. Olegario Vazquez Raña.

“Thank you everybody!” concluded the President “I will keep on doing my best to promote our sport, and to keep up with your confidence. Thank you!”

The ISSF Secretary General, Mr. Horst G. Schreiber was also re-elected by acclamation by the ISSF General Assembly, and said he will serve for another term next to the President

“I would like to thank you for your confidence!” Said Mr. Schreiber “I will continue working for the shooting sport as in the past also in the future!”

The ISSF General Assembly elected three new Honorary Members, Nicolysen, Ambacher and Schattleitner, by acclamation.

Mrs Unni Nicolysen of Norway, Mr Josef Ambacher of Germany and Mr Fritz Schattleitner of Austria were elected as ISSF Honorary Members, the highest ISSF honour accorded to individuals, during today’s ISSF General Assembly taking place in Munich.

Mrs Nicolysen, the former President of the European Shooting Conferderation who has been serving as ISSF Vice-President from 1994 to 2010, was elected Honorary member by acclamation. Serving the shooting sport for more the 30 years, Nicolysen had been a member of the ISSF Women Committee from 1980 to 1984, before becoming a member of the ISSF Council from 1984 to 1990.

“Mr President, Delegates, Friends, thank you very much for your support and confidence – said Mrs Nicolysen speaking at the General Assembly – I have been devoted to the ISSF for 32 years, and I will try to be an active Honorary Member. So, be sure, we will see us again in future occasions! Thank you!”

The President of the German Shooting Sport Federation, Mr Ambacher, a member of the ISSF Executive Committee from 1994 to 2006 and then member of the ISSF Administrative Council from 2006 to 2010, was also elected by acclamation by the General Assembly.

The 15 members of the ISSF Administrative Council were elected today during the second day of the 2010 ISSF General Assembly.

The ISSF General Assembly elected the new ISSF Administrative Council, this morning.

Later in the afternoon, the new Administrative Council will meet to elect the new ISSF Executive Committee.

New elected ISSF Administrative Council:

Marco Dalla Dea

The ISSF General Assembly taking place in Munich (GER) has elected the Chairmen of the ISSF Committees.

Following the re-election of the ISSF President Olegario Vazquez Raña and of the ISSF Secretary General Horst G. Schreiber, and the elections of the four ISSF Vice-Presidents, several ballots took place to elect the ISSF Committees’ Chairmen.

Mr Max Mückl (GER) was elected as Chairman of the ISSF Technical Committee by the ISSF General Assembly, that elected him at the unanimity by open vote “I would like to thank you for your trust in my work, and your confidence in my person. I will try my best to work in the benefit of our Federation” said Mr. Mückl.

Mrs Susan B. Abbott (USA) was confirmed as Chairman of the ISSF Pistol Committee, as well as Mr. Demetris F. Lordos (CYP), who was re-elected at the head of the Shotgun Committee “Dear friends, thanks for your confidence – said Mr. Lordos – I promise you that I will keep on working in the benefit of our sport and of our athletes!”

Mr Pekka Kuusisto (FIN), who had been leading the Running Target Committee during the previous term, was re-elected as Chairman of the Committee, and said to be ready to keep on serving the ISSF in the interest of the sport and the athletes.

The ISSF General Assembly also re-elected in their positions Mr Antonio Fernandez Arena (MEX) as Chairmen of the Statutes and Eligibility Committee, Dr James Lally (USA) as the Chairman of the ISSF Medical Committee, Mrs Kerstin Bodin (SWE) as Chairman of the Judges Committee, and Mr Tomislav Sepec (CRO) at the guide of the Rifle Committee “Dear President and Delegaters, hank you very much for entrusting me! – said Mr Sepec – Be sure that I will continue to work vey hard in favour of the sport, all over the world!”