49th WMC Shooting – Doha (QAT) – Technical Meeting, Press Conference & Opening Ceremony

DOHA (QAT) – The 49th edition of the WMC Shooting is currently taking place in Doha (QAT) in the magnificent Lusail Shooting Sports Complex located 30 minutes away from the center Doha. The complex is providing optimal conditions for the 438 athletes and 240 officials coming from 50 different countries who will compete from 13 to 19 November.

Today, November 13, the day started with the Technical Meeting during which the CISM OCR for this WMC and BoD member, Major Jon Kirknes (NOR), the CISM Shooting PCSC, Colonel Bruno Wolfensberger (SUI), the WMC Shooting Director, Brigadier General Nasr Al-Hitmi (QAT) and the two  CISM CSC Shooting members, Brigadier General Ahmed Al-Jaidah (QAT) and Brigadier General Abdulla Al-Hammadi (QAT) welcomed the Chiefs of Mission and gave a brief overview about the competition (general information, competition information…).

The Technical Meeting was followed by a Press Conference in presence of Major Jon Kirknes, Colonel Bruno Wolfensberger, Brigadier General Rashed Mahboub Al-Dosari (QAT), Head of the OC Media Committee, and Brigadier-General (Tech/Air) Abdulla Al-Hammadi (QAT), Head of the OC Technical Committee who answered the questions of the local media representatives. They emphasized on the fact that Qatar was a Sport Nation and that OC worked closely with CISM in order to ensure a successful organization.

In the afternoon, the Opening Ceremony of the 49th WMC Shooting, which was broadcasted live on the Qatari TV-Channel Al Kass, took place in the Lusail Shooting Sports Complex in presence of the CISM President, Colonel AbdulHakeem Alshino (BRN), Major Jon Kirknes, Colonel Bruno Wolfensberger, HE Lieutenant-General (Pilot) Ghanembin Shaheen Al-Ghanem (QAT), Chief of Staff of the Qatar Armed Forces, HE Major General Dahlan Jamaan Al Hamad (QAT), President of the Qatar Military Sport Association, high authorities of the Qatari Armed Forces, ISSF representatives, CISM Chiefs of Mission… The National of Anthem of Qatar was played by the Qatar Band Unit and followed by the parade of athletes and officials.

HE Major General Dahlan Jamaan Al Hamad took the floor to welcome the athletes and thank his Highness Sheikh Tamin Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces for his support for the organization of this WMC and declared that Qatar was very proud to host this event. He underlined the fact that Qatar has always played an important role in the Military Sports World by participating in or organizing several CISM events. Finally, he wished good luck to all the participants.

Then, in his speech, the CISM President, Colonel Abdulhakeem Alshino, declared that Doha was the city of international sport events and that the FIFA World Cup 2022 will be another opportunity to prove it. He also emphasized on the fact that Qatar has always supported the CISM Sports Committees as shown by the presence of several Qatari delegates in the CISM Sports Committees. He added that CISM keeps intensifying his efforts to organize sports events in conflict zones. Colonel Bruno Wolfensberger also offered a Saber as a special unique gift in the name of the athletes and officials to HE Lieutenant-General (Pilot) Ghanembin Shaheen Al-Ghanem (QAT), the Chief of Staff of the Qatar Armed Forces.

HE Lieutenant-General (Pilot) Ghanembin Shaheen Al-Ghanem (QAT) had the honor to declare open the WMC Shooting. The Opening Ceremony concluded with the raise of the CISM Flag done by Colonel Bruno Wolfensberger and the raise of the WMC flag by Brigadier General Nasr Al-Hitmi.

The competitions will start tomorrow with the first awarding ceremony for the Trap Women Final. For the complete schedule of events, click here.

All the results will be available on www.results.sius.com. For more information, please visit www.cism-shooting.ch.

(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department)

(Pictures: Maxime Morlet, CISM Media Assistant)