Parties meet to discuss para-clay target shooting

“I felt we moved forward and the next steps represent a good opportunity for the findings to be shared with the wider shooting community before a long-term decision is made.”

Representatives of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) and the Italian Shotgun Shooting Federation (FITAV) met in Bonn, Germany, on Tuesday (18 February), to discuss the feasibility of para-clay target shooting becoming an IPC Shooting recognised discipline.

IPC Chief Executive Officer Xavier Gonzalez and Medical and Scientific Director Peter Van de Vliet welcomed ISSF Secretary General Franz Schreiber and FITAV President Luciano Rossi for a very productive meeting in which the progress of a research project was discussed.

In 2012, the IPC added an agreement regarding the development of the shotgun discipline for shooters with impairments to the existing IPC/ISSF Memorandum of Understanding which was originally signed in December 2010.

Under the terms of the agreement, the ISSF and IPC assigned FITAV as the organisation that would co-ordinate a research project for the development of para-clay target shooting.

Xavier Gonzalez said: “I was delighted to welcome the ISSF and FITAV to Bonn to discuss the progress of the research project.

“I felt we moved forward and the next steps represent a good opportunity for the findings to be shared with the wider shooting community before a long-term decision is made.”

Also present at the meeting were representatives from IPC Shooting, who agreed that there will be a para-clay target exhibition event on 22 July as part of the 2014 IPC Shooting World Championships in Suhl, Germany, which take place from 17-26 July.

The research project will also be discussed with National Paralympic Committees during the IPC Shooting Sport Forum which will be held during July’s World Championships.