President of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Luciano Rossi has expressed hope to demonstrate the charm of shooting sports and inspire the future generation at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

"We want to showcase how shooting sports combine tradition with innovation, providing an inclusive and diverse environment where athletes from all backgrounds can excel. Our goal is to inspire the next generation of shooters and elevate the sport's global profile," Rossi told Xinhua via e-mail.

Fifteen shooting events will be staged at the Chateauroux Shooting Center from July 27 to August 5 at the Paris Olympics, and the 10m air rifle mixed team event will witness the very first gold of the Games, according to the current competition schedule.

Just like three years ago in Tokyo, the champions in the 10m air rifle mixed team event must excel in a 16-point gold medal match contested between the top two teams from the qualification. In the gold medal match, athletes will fire single shots, and the team with the higher combined points will be awarded two points. If the scores are tied, both teams will be awarded one point each. The first team to reach 16 points wins the competition.

"The introduction of the 16-point gold medal match format was driven by a desire to enhance the excitement and spectator engagement of shooting sports. This format creates a more dynamic and intense competition, making the final moments more thrilling for both athletes and viewers," the Italian noted.

In the Paris Olympic cycle, this competition format was also applied to individual events in some World Cups and world championships but is limited to mixed team events only at the Paris Olympics.

"After evaluating its impact, we decided to retain it only in mixed team events to balance traditional and modern elements of the sport. Mixed team events benefit from this format as they emphasize teamwork and strategic collaboration, which are key aspects we want to highlight," Rossi explained.

According to Rossi, new event formats are part of ISSF's efforts to engage more audiences in the sport, which also include enhanced broadcasts, real-time analytics, and the development of interactive platforms, especially through social media.

Moreover, the international shooting governing body also managed a Fortnite competition in the Olympic Esports Series in Singapore last year, and Rossi saw in it "the potential synergies between traditional sports and e-sports."

"This presents opportunities to engage younger audiences, leverage technology, and innovate in event presentation. However, challenges were presented considering the gap between traditional and digital sports communities," Rossi admitted.

Rossi also acknowledged China's strong presence in the sport, hailing its efforts to foster talent and develop shooting facilities. In Tokyo, Chinese shooters won four gold, one silver, and six bronze medals from 15 events. Among Team China's roster for Paris, six athletes are world champions in their respective events.

"China has been a significant contributor to the development of international shooting sports, particularly in rifle and pistol disciplines. Chinese athletes have consistently performed at a high level, bringing prestige and visibility to the sport.

"China's commitment to developing talent and investing in top-notch training facilities has set a benchmark for excellence. We look forward to continued collaboration with Chinese shooting federations and hope that China's success will inspire other nations to invest in and develop their shooting programs," Rossi said.

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