By Gary Anderson

IPC Shooting has launched a new-look website ahead of the World Championships in Germany next month ©IPC ShootingA new-look website has been launched by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) ahead of what is expected to be the largest Shooting World Championships ever in Suhl, Germany, next month.

The IPC cliams the new design aims to give the sport a bolder digital identity to better showcase its international athletes and brand, while still featuring the latest news, events, results and rankings.

A record number of athletes and countries are set to descend on Suhl for the Championships, due to take place from July 18 to 26.

Fifty-five countries will be represented at the event with a total of 268 competitors taking part, with organisers receiving a record number of female entries.

The previous World Championships were staged in Zagreb, Croatia, in 2010 and organisers claim there is also a 28 per cent rise in the number of National Paralympic Committee (NPCs) registered for the event, with 55 countries indicating they will be sending athletes to the tournament.

"We are delighted to see such a huge increase in the number of participating National Paralympic Committees in comparison to the previous World Championships," said IPC Shooting sport manager Sarah Bond.

"We particularly look forward to welcoming 13 new countries to what will be their first World Championships ever.

"In the two years since London 2012 we have seen more and more athletes and teams participating in competitions on a national and international level, particularly the IPC Shooting World Cups, European Championships and now the worlds.

"This shows the widening popularity and investment in shooting Para-sport within countries as it gains more profile.

"With new developments ongoing and amendments to competition formats and scoring now firmly in place, these are incredibly exciting times and what we hope will be the best World Championships ever."

Home star Natascha Hiltrop will be one of the athletes targeting success at the IPC Shooting World Championships in Suhl ©Getty Images Home star Natascha Hiltrop will be one of the athletes targeting success at the IPC Shooting World Championships in Suhl ©Getty Images



Earlier this month, the IPC announced that a specially selected group of athletes have been invited to the Championships in Suhl to take part in two new demonstration events that are under consultation and development.

The athletes will try out Para-clay target shooting and visually impaired shooting disciplines using a number of new systems and formats.

NPCs will have the chance to watch the demonstration and athletes will be given a survey to complete on the prototype shooting systems.

Feedback will then be taken at the 2014 IPC Shooting Sport Forum, running alongside the Championships, before a decision to carry on with further development of the disciplines will be taken.

To view the new-look IPC Shooting website, click here.

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