Commonwealth Games
Manchester, England 2002

The shooters of the Commonwealth can probably sigh a good, deep sigh of relief following a final determination that shooting, including pistol shooting, will be on the program of sports in 2002. Whilst the nod was given, though reluctantly, some time ago, the recent publication of the complete games program and the allocation of funding for shooting facilities have put the seal on the bottom line.

Once again shooting will take place at an outpost venue and for 2002, that venue will be Bisley; the renowned home of full bore rifle shooting. Bisley is only some 30-40 minutes from London, has well established full bore facilities, has basic facilities for small bore, pistol and clay target, and does have a lot of accommodation on the range. The venue is more often referred to as "Bisley Camp". The full bore facilities will benefit from some upgrading but facilities for all other disciplines will require new construction.

In spite of the difficulties with shooting (and particularly pistol shooting) in Great Britain, the British Government has undertaken to develop Bisley as a national shooting ground.

Planning is well past the design drawing stage and provided that the full amount of funding pledged (many millions of pounds) does eventuate, then British shooting will probably be much better off than if a temporary facility or a half hearted facility had been built close to Manchester. The proposed National Shooting ground will be able to comfortably cater for the Commonwealth Games, National Championships, and European Championships etc.

The English shooting council has been awarded the 2001 Commonwealth Shooting Federation Championships following New Delhi 1995, Langkawi (Malaysia) 1997 and Auckland 1999. England will use the CSIF Championships as a test event for the 2002 Commonwealth Games program of shooting events.

For the 2001 CSF Championships all competitors and officials will find accommodation within Bisley Camp and in nearby hotels should the demand warrant.

For the 2002 Commonwealth Games it is hoped that a new (and large) accommodation block on Bisley Camp will have reached completion. If that does happen then all involved will be accommodated on the venue.

Unlike the 1998 Commonwealth Games when all team competitors and officials had accommodation in the main village in Kuala Lumpur and in the outpost village on Langkawi Island, in 2002 there will be accommodation only in the Bisley area. Teams will fly from Heathrow (which is dose to Bisley) to Manchester for the Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies and back on the same day. The 2002 games organising committee has already advised that there will be insufficient accommodation in the main village for all teams and that some countries or some team officials may have to sleep outside the security fence. Perhaps Bisley won't be so bad after all.

The full program of pistol events includes:
For Women - Sport Pistol and Air Pistol
For Men - Free Pistol, Air Pistol, Rapid Fire and Centre Fire

Australia's shooters have contributed extremely well at the Commonwealth Games and given us perhaps our greatest slice of publicity through all media avenues. Our pistol shooters hopeful of a berth in the 2001 and 2002 teams to Bisley are already preparing themselves. Let us wish them well, in the knowledge that continued international success is vital for our future.