Sport Shooting

Shooting takes place at the range using air rifles and air pistols, with electronic targets set at ten metres: the bullseye is worth 10.9 points and measures just a few tenths of a millimetre, which means that even the slightest deviation is decisive. Competitions consist of a full-points qualification round and a knockout final. It is one of the founding sports of the modern Olympic Games: already featured in Athens in 1896, it was championed by Pierre de Coubertin, himself a pistol shooter. The international federation was founded in 1907 and, in recent decades, the rules have evolved towards formats more suited to television, with electronic targets, scores to the nearest tenth and finals involving single-elimination rounds. Breath control, postural stability and, above all, mental discipline are crucial: a top-class shooter fires with an extremely low heart rate and at a precise moment in their breathing cycle. In mixed team events, men and women combine their scores shot by shot. At the 20th Mediterranean Games in Taranto 2026, shooting will take place from 26 to 31 August at the ‘Fernando Albano’ Sports Hall in Torricella, with six titles up for grabs: men’s and women’s rifle and pistol events, and the two mixed team events, for rifle and pistol.

• 1Air rifle and air pistol shooting at electronic targets at 10 metres
• 2Qualifying rounds with full points, followed by a final with progressive elimination
• 3Scores are recorded to the nearest tenth of a point: the maximum per shot is 10.9
• 4Equipment and clothing are subject to technical checks before the competition
• 5Six titles up for grabs in Taranto from 26 to 31 August at the ‘Fernando Albano’ Sports Hall in Torricella