Press Release - 20

ASC Delegation Attends 2nd Asian Air Gun Championships, Nanjing, China and

“Good Luck Beijing” ISSF World Cup, Beijing, China April 10 – 21, 2008

The Asian Shooting Confederation President, H.E. Sheikh Salman Al Sabah, together with the Chairman of Development and Fund Sub Committee, Mr. Duaij Al Otaibi, have recently attended the 2nd Asian Air Gun Championship in Nanjing, China, hosted by the Chinese Shooting Association, in their desire to improve shooting sport on the Asian continent. This event was held on 4 – 9 April 2008. Highlights included: a welcome reception dinner hosted by the Organizing Committee of the Championships, as well as the 11th meeting of the ASC Executive Committee, where important decisions were taken toward the further development of Youth and Junior Athletes, by way of the establishment of an internet-based Academy. Also, a decision was taken regarding the hosting of the 3rd Asian Air Gun Championships, to be held in late 2009 in Qatar.

H.E. Sheikh Salman Al Sabah President of ASC with H.E. Gao Zhidan Vice President of ASC

The above event preceded the “Good Luck Beijing" ISSF World Cup” held in Beijing, China, an international test event before the 2008 Summer Olympics, on 10 – 21 April 2008. ISSF President H.E. Olegario Vazquez Raña, welcomed all participants along with the ASC President, H.E. Sheikh Salman Al Sabah, and the organizers.

The ASC President, on behalf of the Asian Shooting Confederation, welcomed ISSF leadership, who have worked hard to ensure the representation of shooting sport at the Olympics, and voiced appreciation to the Chinese Shooting Association, and the people and government of the People’s Republic of China, for hosting this important event.

H.E. Sheikh Salman Al Sabah, President of ASC with Mrs. Unni Nicolaysen Vice President of ISSF

Four important ISSF meetings – of the Executive Committee, Administrative Council, culminating with the General Assembly were held during this time, and several important decisions were taken, towards the development of shooting sport worldwide.

1. Changes and additions made to the ISSF Rules and Regulations for the next Olympic cycle were approved, especially changes regarding sponsorship and eligibility rules, which will now allow shooters to have more sponsorship, and will therefore increase funding, directly benefiting federations.

2. Due to the depreciation of the US Dollar, official ISSF currency was changed to the Euro, and entry fees for the World Cups and World Championships were raised.

3. Arabic was approved as one of the official ISSF languages.

4. Granada was elected as the host of the 2014 World Championships for all events.

5. A Wild Card distribution system was reviewed: Wild Cards would first be given to countries with no quota, second to countries with the highest number of MQS.

Catering to the large number of attendants at the ISSF General Assembly, the ASC established an office at the Shangri-La hotel (the official hotel of the ISSF World Cup), for the duration of the meetings, in order to always be accessible to its Asian member federations.

A dinner banquet was hosted on April 12 at the Shangri-La hotel, to welcome all Asian family members. Honorable guests present at the banquet were the ISSF President H.E. Olegario Vazquez Raña, Secretary General H.E. Horst G. Schreiber, members of the ISSF Executive Committee and Administrative Council, and key members of the Chinese Shooting Association.    

ASC President H.E. Sheikh Salman Al Sabah, and the Kuwait delegation returned to Kuwait, after wishing China all success in the upcoming XXIX Olympiad.

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