By: Nabila Essam

Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Nevin Al-Kilani, Minister of Culture, and President of the International Shooting Federation Vladimir Lisin, attended the opening ceremony of the World Pistol and Rifle Shooting Championship in the Olympic Village in the New Administrative Capital, under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, in the presence of Major General Staff Khaled Ahmed Shawky, Head of the Training Authority of the Armed Forces, Major General Staff of War Hossam Khader, Head of the Sports Authority of the Armed Forces.

The tournament will be held from 12-28 October, with the participation of more than 1,041 male and female shooters from 88 countries from around the world, and for the first time in Egypt and directly qualifies for the Paris 2024 Olympics, in the presence of Alexandra Ratner, Secretary General of the International Shooting Federation, Major General Hazem Hosny, President of the Federation African and Egyptian shooting, and a group of presidents of federations, clubs and universities, public and media figures, athletes, ambassadors of the participating countries and leaders of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

The Minister of Sports said: "We are pleased and honored to organize the 161st World Championships hosted by Egypt, which is held under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and his sponsorship of Egyptian sports in hosting international sporting events, and all thanks and appreciation to the attendance of the President of the International Shooting Federation, and all thanks to the Egyptian and international federations and Egypt City for the Olympic Games,” stressing his continuous follow-up to the championship, pointing out that the presence of 88 countries confirms their great confidence in Egypt’s organizational capabilities, and its success in implementing all strict precautionary measures to confront the Corona virus.

The minister explained the readiness of the Egyptian state to host various world championships due to the capabilities and elements that characterize Egypt, and the construction boom and achievements the country is witnessing under the leadership of the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who provides all support to Egyptian sports, which has accomplished many achievements during the current period. The minister thanked the Armed Forces, saying: "I extend my greetings, appreciation and gratitude to our armed forces, which contributed to the establishment of the largest Olympic city in the Middle East, and which is about to host the tournament's events."

While Vladimir Lisin, President of the International Shooting Federation, said: “I am happy with the ongoing cooperation with the Egyptian state, with its strong sports infrastructure that always qualifies it to host world championships, including this tournament. He affirmed that Egypt has become one of the best countries in the world in organizing shooting tournaments, expressing his thanks and appreciation to all the organizers of the event.

Hazem Hosny, head of the African and Egyptian Shooting Federation and head of the organizing committee of the tournament, stressed that the federation is moving with the state's plan and the instructions of the Ministry of Sports to harness all the capabilities of the federation for the success of the tournament at the highest level, emphasizing Egypt's huge capabilities in hosting all sports events and emphasizing its good reputation with the International Federation, which It is entrusted with hosting the largest tournaments in the world with confidence and showing Egypt with its proper back and that it is able to organize all global, African, Arab and local events and competitions.