World Cup to adopt new 'green smoke' target

(BEIJING, April 12)-- The opening ceremony of the "Good Luck Beijing" 2008 ISSF World Cup was held on April 11 at the Beijing Shooting Range Hall, one of the newly inaugurated venues for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Gao Zhidan, Director of the Shooting and Archery Administrative Center under the General Administration of Sport, addressed the opening ceremony, saying that the event would not only help the shooters who will be competing adapt to the new Olympic venue but also serve as a test of the venue and its auxiliary facilities.

A total of 878 athletes from 92 countries and regions have registered to compete in the Beijing World Cup from April 12 to 20. Counting officials and delegates, the total number of the participants will reach 1,600, a record high for any "Good Luck Beijing" sport event so far.

Like the Olympic Games, the World Cup features 15 events, with 10 rifle and pistol events and 5 shotgun events. Host China will send a 60-shooter team, among whom 23 will also represent China in the Beijing Olympics this summer.

The World Cup shotgun competitions will be staged at the Beijing Shooting Range Clay-Target Field using throwing devices imported from France. According to the organizers, while the usual red smoke will be visible when the target is hit in the finals, a brand-new green-smoke target will be adopted for the first time in a major world tournament during the qualification rounds.

Feng Jianzhong, Deputy Director of the General Administration of Sport of China, and Olegario Vazquez Rana, President of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), attended the opening ceremony where a lion dance and traditional Chinese kung fu was performed.

(Credit: The Official Website of "Good Luck Beijing" Sport Events)