THE 50TH ISSF WORLD SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIP IN MUNICH

as the “skill” of an athlete: to try hard to put
your own abilities and preparation to the test
and possibly also to win.
As an athlete who has become a leader
(bearing similarity to President Vázquez
Raña), Jacques Rogge stressed that the Munich
World Championship are the first major
sporting event in which the Olympic Quotas
for London can be obtained. He indicates to
the athletes, quite simply, what their actual
objective is, also in regards to the Olympic
Games 2012: to display the best possible performance
today in order to cope with the challenges
of tomorrow - a phrase that not only
applies to sports, but also to all aspects of life.
The postcard showing President Rogge
in a perhaps somewhat darker but nonetheless
festive and lively environment, invites
the World Championship athletes to achieve,
through their own individual shooting performance,
the best possible result, both for the
sport and for life. This picture is certainly one
of the most emotional snapshots of the 50th
World Championship.
Massimiliano naldoni
SPEECHES
IOC VICE-PRESIDENT
THOMAS BACH
“tradition can harmonize with professionalism”.
The 50 th ISSF World Championship,
and the General Assembly which preceded it,
were also attended by President of the German
National Olympic Committee, and IOC
Vice-President, Mr. Thomas Bach, one of the
leading personalities of the international sport
world. Mr. Bach spoke to the athletes during
the opening ceremony: “Welcome to Germany!
We are happy to welcome 2200 sportsmen
from more than 100 countries here in Munich!
It is an honor for our country to host such a
record-breaking Olympic Qualifying competition,”
Mr. Bach said. “Your sport is really
popular here in Germany, where we have a
long history of successes. We want to show
to the world how such a traditional sport like
shooting can fit in today’s modern and professional
sport environment. This is a challenge
you are meeting successfully! It is an honor to
have IOC President, Mr. Jacques Rogge, inaugurate
these championships,” continued Mr.
Bach, speaking from the opening stage.
“Mr. Rogge, you competed here in Munich
at the 1972 Olympic Games, so for you
it’s a welcome back!” Mr. Bach also attended
the ISSF General Assembly, greeting the
delegates and the ISSF leaders. The IOC
Vice-President was generous while speaking
before the ISSF TV microphones: “It was a
very good Assembly, and you could really
feel the sense of family and harmony, under
the guidance of your President, Mr. Olegario
Vázquez Raña,” Mr. Bach said. “The record
participation that the championship is registering
here in Munich is a reward for all the
hard work that the ISSF has been doing in
recent years, and proves that your sport attracts
sportsmen from all around the world,”
the IOC Vice-President continued. “We are
proud to host such a major international
sport competition as the 50th ISSF World
Championship.”
50 TH ISSF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MUNICH
IOC PRESIDENT
jAqUES ROGGE
“Shooting is one of the protagonists of
the olympic history”. It was IOC President
Jacques Rogge, invited on the stage by the
ISSF President Olegario Vázquez Raña, who
officially opened the 50th ISSF World Championship
in all shooting events. Dr. Rogge
addressed a few wise words to the athletes
standing at the Marienplatz square, in the
heart of the host city: “Dear athletes, Dear
authorities, Dear friend Olegario, once again
Germany is the protagonist of a great sport
event, the 50 th ISSF World Championship in
all shooting events,” said the IOC President,
speaking before more than three thousand
people following the opening ceremony.
“I would like to welcome you athletes to
Munich. You are competing not only for the
medals, but for the very special goal of qualifying
for the London 2012 Olympic Games,”
continued Dr. Rogge. “Having more than 2200
athletes from 100 countries competing for an
Olympic qualification spot here in Munich is a
clear and indubitable proof of the universality
of the shooting sport. I am very pleased about
that,” added the IOC President later on.
ISSF NEWS 27