Paralympic shooting

Paralympic shooting is an adaptation of shooting sports for competitors with disabilities. Shooting is a test of accuracy and control, in which competitors use pistols or rifles to fire a series of shots at a stationary target. Competitions are open to all athletes with a physical disability. Athletes use .22 caliber rifles and air guns (pneumatic, CO2 gas or spring). Paralympic shooting is practiced in at least 51 countries and first appeared in the Summer Paralympics at the 1976 Toronto Games.

Athletes compete in rifle and pistol events from distances of 10, 25 and 50 metres, in men's, women's and mixed competitions. Shooting utilizes a functional classification system, which enables athletes from different disability classes to compete together either individually or in teams, with wheelchair users competing on equal level with standing shooters.

Shooting is governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and co-ordinated by the IPC Shooting Technical Committee following the modified rules of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF). These rules consider the differences that exist between shooting for the able-bodied and shooting for persons with a disability.

Classification system

*SH1 - Shooters able to support a gun without a stand
*SH2 - Shooters requiring a gun support in order to shoot
*SH3 - Blind Shooters (sights seek sound-emitting targets)Sub-classifications A, B and C define wheelchair backrest height depending on back and pelvic strength per athlete.

Equipment adaptations

Disabled shooters use exactly the same guns and clothing as able-bodied shooters. There are adaptations like the use of a shooting chair for competitors unable to stand, also a shooting table for events like kneeling or prone. A shortened shooting jacket is used for seated competitors, depending on chair height. Rules are covered by ISCD cross-referenced with ISSF rules.

The only additional event is the 10m air rifle prone which is shot with both male and female shooters mixed together. Both sexes shooting 60 shots within 1 hour 30 minutes. Finals are also conducted. For the 10m air rifle prone mixed event, slings are optional for SH1 shooters. SH2 shooters are not allowed to use a sling in this event.

Rifle events

Air Rifle, 10m Range
* Standing (Standing or seated, no elbow support)
* Kneeling (Seated, with single elbow support)
* Prone (Seated, with both elbows supported by a shooting table)

.22 Rifle, 50m Range
* English Match (.22 prone on ground or seated with both elbows supported by a shooting table)
** Mixed Men and Women, 60 shots.

3x20 .22 Rifle (women's event)
* Standing (Standing or seated, no elbow support)
* Kneeling (Seated, with single elbow support)
* Prone (Seated, with both elbows supported by a shooting table)

3x40 .22 Rifle (men's event)
* Standing
* Kneeling
* Prone

Pistol Events

Air Pistol
* Men's, Women's events

.22 Pistol
* Men's, Women's events

Competitions

Paralympic shooting events are held in competitions across the world, including the Summer Paralympics. The ASIAN Games for the Disabled, formerly known as the FESPIC Games, and the Jikji Cup Asian Open Championships in Korea are the biggest Paralympic shooting events in Asia. Both of these competitions serve as qualifying events for the Paralympic Games.

ee also

* Shooting at the Summer Paralympics

External links

* [http://www.issf-shooting.org/ ISSF - International Shooting Sport Federation]
* [http://www.paralympic.org/release/Summer_Sports/Shooting/About_the_sport/ IPC - International Paralympic Committee - Shooting]
* [http://www.shootonline.org/ ISCD - International Shooting Committee for the Disabled]
* [http://www.ibsa.es/eng/deportes/shooting/presentacion.htm International Blind Sports Association: Shooting]
* [http://www.accessibility.com.au/paralympics/shooting Beijing 2008 Paralympic Shoting Information with an Australian slant from accessibility.com.au] - includes nomination criteria for the 2008 Australian Paralympic Shoting squad.