Chateauroux World Cup venue opens doors

The French Federation of Shooting Sports (FFTir) unveiled its new state-of-the-art venue that will host the next major shooting Para sport event in four months’ time.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on 17 May to celebrate the inauguration of the National Sports Shooting Centre (CNTS) in Chateauroux. It will be the site of the World Shooting Para Sport World Cup (24-29 September), the first major competition to take place following the 2018 World Championships held in May in Cheongju, South Korea. The World Cup will be the first to combine rifle, pistol, shotgun and vision impaired, and includes quota distribution for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

More than 600 people attended the inauguration to explore the new infrastructure that took two years to build. The venue includes 10m, 25m and 50m ranges; as well as long-distance shooting stand at 100-300m and 600m.

On each installation, members of the French shooting teams and the federal coaches provided demonstrations throughout the afternoon in 10 of the disciplines practiced at the French Federation.

Visitors also had the opportunity to meet many high-level athletes, managers, referees and instructors present. They also met with Paralympic and Olympic medallists, including Cedric Fevre, who won gold in the R3 (mixed 10m air rifle prone SH1) at London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The National Centre’s primary purpose is to allow the regular training of the French teams, host the biggest national and international competitions, and used as a rear base in preparation for the Paris 2024 Paralympic and Olympics Games.

More information can be found on the FFTir and CNTS websites.