Euro shooting moved out of Russia, Worlds next?

Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) announced to move the European Championship out of Russia after the latter’s invasion of Ukraine. The ISSF is headed by Russia's Vladimir Lisin. The European Championships (25m, 50m, 300m and shotgun) was scheduled in Moscow in August.

The ISSF will look for a new host soon. Responding to TOI's query, the ISSF also suggested that if the situation demands, the world shooting body will have to move the World Championships too out of Moscow, which are slated for August 2023. "I am strongly concerned about the current situation.

I do understand that not all athletes will be able to come to the European Championship. I am deeply sorry! The ISSF Headquarters and the ESC Presidium (European Shooting Confederation) don't have any right to make competitions unequal and to limit athletes' chances to win a quota for Olympic Games in Paris 2024. I am sure we will find a solution and will host the Championship in some other place," Lisin said in a statement.

As per the new quota policy, the ISSF has distributed more quotas to the continental championships and hence absence of shooters from Ukraine can attract International Olympic Council's (IOC) ire and make the event ineligible to host the Olympic quota qualifiers. On Friday, the IOC has asked all international sports federations to cancel all events scheduled to be held in Russia due to the turmoil caused by the Russian attack. Alex Ratne, ISSF secretary general, told TOI, "All our decisions will be focused on the approach that not a single athlete is discriminated against and has a chance to participate in the World Championships.