Paralympic Sports A-Z: Shooting

Find out all you need to know about the Paralympic sport of shooting, including the history, rules, classification and equipment. For more info go to: http://www.paralympic.org/shooting Shooting is the ultimate test of accuracy and control and at the Paralympic Games, athletes with physical impairments compete in both rifle and pistol events. In this precision sport, athletes use focus and controlled breathing to reduce their heart rates and improve stability and high performance. This ability to steady hand and mind to deliver a sequence of shots requires well-developed powers of concentration and emotional control. Athletes compete in events from distances of 10m, 25m and 50m in men’s, women’s and mixed competitions. Of the 12 Paralympic shooting events, six are open to both women and men, three are open to women only and three are open to men only. The sport is governed by the IPC and co-ordinated by the IPC Shooting Sport Technical Committee and Management team. The sport follows rules of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) in conjunction with its own IPC Shooting Technical Rules and Regulations, which take into account the considerations that exist for Para athletes in shooting sport. It has been on the Paralympic programme since Toronto 1976 and today is practiced in over 65 countries.