(Beijing, March 20) The "Good Luck Beijing" 2008 ISSF World Cup is to be held at the Beijing Shooting Range Hall and Beijing Shooting Range Clay-Target Field (CTF) from April 10 to 21. It was learned, from a press conference today, that this event, as an ISSF world cup, was superior to the previous world cups ever held at home whether in scale, level or standard.

At a press conference held today by the event organizing committee, Li Feng, BOCOG Competition Manager for shooting, disclosed that by March 29 a total of 1,273 shooters and officials from 92 countries and regions had entered for this event, and the total number of participants reached 1,600 including ISSF officials and representatives coming for the ISSF General Assembly, making it the biggest international shooting event in scale ever held in China, but also an event with the most participants among all "Good Luck Beijing" sport events.

As this World Cup will be the only chance for athletes to adapt themselves to the venue and equipment for the Beijing Olympic Games, all teams have attached great importance to it by sending all their shooters qualified for the Games to Beijing. Among these teams all world shooting giants have fielded their strongest lineups, including 60 from China, 29 from Russia, 38 from the USA, 31 from Germany and 30 from Italy.

Besides, Li said that the 2008 ISSF World Cup, as one of the "Good Luck Beijing" sport events, would also be used as a test run of the venue operation for the Olympic shooting competition so as to ensure the success of the Beijing Games in the coming August.

Prior to the World Cup tournament the ISSF Executive Committee, ISSF Council and ISSF General Assembly will meet from April 7 to 11, with the participation of all ISSF officials and officials from all ISSF member associations.