Official opening ceremony of the World Cup competitions for Olympic shooting was held in Gabala.

Official opening ceremony of the final stage of the World Cup competitions for Olympic shooting was held in Gabala region.
National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was played in the ceremony organized in Heydar Aliyev Congress Centre in Gabala city. President of “Gabala” Sports Club Tale Heydarov, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport Ismayil Ismayilov, Head of Gabala Region Executive Power Sabuhi Abdullayev, President of Azerbaijan Shooting Federation Hafiz Jafarov, President of the International Shooting Sport Federation Olegario Vazquez Rana and Secretary General Franz Schreiber made a speech at the event.
Speakers talked about the works carried out for strengthening the material-technical base of sports in Azerbaijan, attention and care of the President of the Republic Ilham Aliyev to athletes as well as about gained achievements and wished success to the competitors.
President of “Gabala” Sports Club Tale Heydarov reported that hosting the World Cup competitions for Olympic Shooting stimulates recognition of Azerbaijan as dynamically developing sports country and joining to Olympic Movement.
It was noted that as a result of implementation of proper sports policy in our country with the support of the President of the Republic Ilham Aliyev the First European Games was held in Azerbaijan this year. Organization of the World Cup competitions for Shooting in Gabala which is the largest contest after European Games is one of the great achievements of successful sports policy of our country.
The speaker stated in his speech that this competition will make a great contribution to worldwide recognition of Gabala.
In the ceremony it was stated that nearly 2 thousand athletes from 100 countries in Olympic Shooting that takes special place in the world ranking list as well as official guests and sports representatives participate in the final stage of the World Cup competitions held with the support of National Olympic Committee, Ministry of Youth and Sports and organized by “Gabala” Shooting Club, Azerbaijan Shooting Federation.
Information provided that 5 stages of the World Cup competitions have been held in U.S., Germany, UAE, Cyprus and Mexico over the past year. Athletes scored points and won places in the world ranking in those competitions gain the right to take part in the final stage of the World Cup held in Gabala.
The 6th stage of competitions that is final matches will be held from August 8 to August 16 in Gabala. According to the calendar plan of the International Shooting Sport Federation, the competition is considered the most important event during 2015 after the European and World Championships.
The competitions will start on August 8 at Gabala Archery and Trap Shooting Complex. Athletes will compete in 17 shooting sports for 34 licenses to the Summer Olympic Games that will be held in Rio de Janeiro city of Brazil in 2016. The competitions will be broadcasted live on “ISSF TV”, the official TV channel of the International Shooting Sport Federation.
After speeches President of the International Shooting Sport Federation Olegario Vazquez Rana declared the World Cup competitions open and the anthem of the Federation was played.
The event continued with a concert program.