Olympic medallists Michael Diamond (Gold, 1996 and 2000), Russel Mark (Gold 1996), Adam Vella (Bronze 2004) and Warren Potent (Bronze 2008) will lead the Australian charge at the 2010 ISSF World Shooting Championships which open in Munich, Germany today.

Australia will field 22 senior athletes, including 11 Olympians, in the 12 day event that provides shooters from across the globe with their first chance to qualify athlete quotas for their respective nations for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

The World Championships offer 69 places for the 2012 London Olympic Games in the 15 Olympic contested events, while more than 2500 athletes will contest the 55 Olympic, non-Olympic and junior categories in Munich.

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge will officially open the 50th ISSF World Championships at the ceremony to be held at Marienplatz, in the centre of Munich.

The Australian team is a great mix of youth and experience. Nicholas Kirley is only 20 and after winning the 2007 Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney he is now giving the seniors a good run including Mark who is more than twice his age.

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge will officially open the 50th ISSF World Championships at the ceremony to be held at Marienplatz, in the centre of Munich.

Australian International Shooting Limited CEO Nick Sullivan says all of the athletes are looking forward to the World Championships.

“A large portion of the team has now arrived in Munich and there is a sense of excitement in the camp ahead of the opening day of competition,” Sullivan said.

“It is always a special occasion when all of the rifle, pistol and shotgun athletes congregate at the same event and there will be some quality competition over the 12 days.

“There is also that added incentive of knowing that the 2012 London Olympic Games campaign begins here with the chance to qualify athlete quotas.”

AUSTRALIAN SENIOR ISSF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM

Shotgun
VELLA Adam VIC Men Trap
DIAMOND Michael NSW Men Trap
ROIALL Stacey VIC Women Trap
MARK Russell VIC Double Trap
TREMBATH Craig VIC Double Trap
KIRLEY Nicholas VIC Double Trap
BARTON Clive NSW Men Skeet
MARK Lauryn VIC Women Skeet

Rifle
POTENT Warren NSW Men Prone / 300m
VAN NUS Robyn NSW Air/3P
GODWARD William SA Men Air / 3P
VITLER Tyren WA Men Air
HENS Jennifer NSW Prone
LOWE Debbie SA Prone
HOLLISTER David NSW 300m
TAYLOR Maris NSW 300m

Pistol
YAUHLEUSKAYA Lalita VIC Sport
ASPANDIYAROVA Dina VIC Air
RYAN Linda VIC Sport
MCKENZIE Pamela WA Air
FINKEN Lucas VIC Centre/Stand
MULLENS Gary VIC Centre/Stand

AOC and Australian Shooting