Visit of the ISSF President Mr. Luciano Rossi and ISSF Executive Board Member Ms. Melis Giraud
On Wednesday, 10.7.2024, at the invitation of the President of the SZS, the President of the ISSF, Mr. Lucianno Rossi, accompanied by a member of the Executive Committee, Ms. Melis Giraud, paid a full-day visit to Slovenia. The purpose of the visit was to deepen mutual cooperation, exchange experiences and find answers to current challenges and open questions on the further development of world and Slovenian shooting.
In addition to the host, SZS President Ljubas Germić, the discussion at the shooting range in Ljubljana was attended by SZS Vice President Polona Sladič, President of the Judges' Commission Robert Ferenčak and SZS Secretary Sabina Suljić.
At the beginning of their talks, both Presidents expressed their satisfaction at the meeting and their conviction that this was not a one-off visit. The President of the SZS gave a detailed presentation of shooting in Slovenia and in particular highlighted the organisation and activities of the SZS, the mass participation, the successes achieved so far, the financial framework, the underdeveloped shooting infrastructure and the contents of the recently outlined strategy for the development of shooting until 2032. He then raised the issue of the ISSF Development Fund, where Ms. Mr Giraud outlined the purpose of the ISSF and the system for allocating funds. The discussion also focused on the organisation of international competitions in Slovenia, the problem of recruitment of professional staff and the qualification system for participation in the Olympic Games. The initiative to replace the current Olympic discipline - rapid fire pistol - with the discipline MK pistol 30+30 was also presented. The need to improve the shooting infrastructure and the problem of electronic targets and the insufficient number of shooting ranges for shotgun were expressed.
The ISSF President specifically pointed to the threat that shooting was in danger of being excluded from the Olympic programme as early as 2028, but was pleased to note that the ISSF leadership had managed to keep shooting on the Olympic programme in talks with the IOC. Efforts to raise the profile of shooting sports and to find a competition format that would appeal to spectators and the media were highlighted. He also presented the new ISSF Academy, which would provide properly qualified coaches. He expressed his support for the organisation of international competitions and congratulated them on their exemplary performance so far. The ISSF GP Ruše is guaranteed to be included in the ISSF calendar for the next two years and to gain points for the rankings. The ISSF supports the inclusion of youth categories in the programme.
A discussion followed, in which participants exchanged views on outstanding issues and current challenges, and discussed possibilities for joint projects, exchanging good practices and experiences.
After lunch, the President of the SZS, Mr Ljubo Germič, on behalf of the SZS, presented the two guests with symbolic gifts in appreciation for their visit and very good cooperation.
In the afternoon, there was a reception at the headquarters of the Olympic Committee of Slovenia (OKS-SZ) and a discussion with the OKS leadership, which was attended by Franjo Bobinac, President of the OKS, Tomaž Jontes, Secretary General of the OKS, and Miran Kos, Vice President of the OKS. The group was joined by the second Vice President of the SZS, Andraž Lipolt, who is also a member of the OKS Executive Committee.
In the opening speeches of all three Presidents, regret was expressed that for the first time Slovenia does not have a representative at the Olympic Games. To this end, the SZS also presented an analysis of the unfair system of qualification for the Olympic Games, which, in the opinion of the SZS, distributes the quotas unfairly across the continents, according to quality. The discussion focused on the development challenges of the ISSF - the inclusion of a shooting programme in the future Olympic Games and the question of how to bring shooting closer to the spectators. The President of the OKS expressed his willingness to assist the efforts of the SZS to solve the problems of recruitment of shooting coaches and investment in shooting infrastructure.
The ISSF President Luciano Rossi presented the ISSF activities to the OKS management with basic information and challenges for further development. He highlighted the successful work of the SZS and thanked for the very correct and honourable cooperation of the SZS with the ISSF. At the same time he thanked the OKS management for the welcome and the opportunity to exchange views. Both from the point of view of the OKS and the ISSF, satisfaction with the visit was expressed and the wish for further good cooperation between the ISSF, SZS and OKS was expressed.
At the end of the meeting, the President of the OKS, Mr Franjo Bobinac, thanked the President of the ISSF, Mr Rossi, and the member of the Executive Committee, Ms. Mr. Giraud presented a commemorative gift.
In view of all the satisfaction expressed, we consider that the visit of the ISSF President, Mr Rossi, accompanied by Ms Melis Giraud, was a great success. We discussed a number of outstanding issues and agreed to work together openly and even more closely in the future.
Sabina Suljic
SZS Secretary
Slovenian 
English