"We are pleased to announce that the first ISSF Junior Cup will be organized in Suhl, Germany on 26 May to 1 June 2014," said Franz Schreiber., secretary general of the ISSF.

The ISSF are hoping to sanction a junior World Cup on each continent every year with each event including all 15 Olympic events on its programme as well as the Youth Olympic Games mixed team events.

Programmes may also include team events, other ISSF-recognised events or ISSF-recognised Sport for All events, such as target sprint or five-shot air pPistol.

"ISSF Junior Cups are a vital part of a major new ISSF initiative to more actively promote junior shooting on a worldwide basis," said ISSF President Vázquez Raña.

"Encouraging more youth in more countries to participate in our sport by giving them more opportunities to compete in high standard international competitions is a key to our future."

ISSF President Vázquez Raña believes that building a stronger junior shooting programme will help build a stronger ISSF for all ©ISSF



The ISSF hopes to expand the Series over the coming years by selecting additional organisers for 2015 and beyond.

It has encouraged countries interested in hosting an event to come forward and apply to the ISSF headquarters insisting that potential organisers must have venues that have at least 60 10 metre, 60 50m and 40 25m rifle-pistol firing points, with electronic targets.

On the inaugural junior Cup in Suhl, Schreiber added: "Suhl's annual Junior International Shooting Competition is already a well-established junior competition that has been held for many years; in 2013 this competition hosted 550 junior athletes from 40 nations.

"The Suhl Shooting Center is a great venue with many spectators and media support and it will be newly equipped with electronic targets in 2014.

"The ISSF looks forward to cooperating with the German Shooting Federation to launch the new ISSF Junior Cup series there."

Other ISSF Junior development initiatives, in addition to Junior Cups and full ISSF support for the Youth Olympic Games, include adding Finals for 2014 World Championship junior events and encouraging ISSF National Federations to enter juniors in their two out-of-competition entry places in 2014 World Cups.

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