Practical rifle shooting world championships conclude in Ruutikangas, Finland

The Practical Rifle Shooting World Championships concluded on Saturday at Ruutikangas, located on the border of Liminka and Lumijoki. This unprecedented event in Finland attracted competitors from 36 different countries, with approximately 700 participants, including over 100 from Finland. Practical shooting is a rapidly growing sport that combines speed and precision.

While the event was well-attended, there is speculation about whether practical shooting could one day become an Olympic sport. According to competition director Petteri Aro, the international governing body has been actively working towards this goal. “The international federation and the Olympic movement have already established a preliminary agreement for our sport to be included, at least as a demonstration sport, at the Olympics,” Aro stated.

However, Vesa Nissinen, president of the Finnish Shooting Sport Federation, is less optimistic about practical shooting’s chances of ascending to Olympic status. “Currently, shooting is one of the sports that struggles to maintain its existence in the Olympics. It would be a significant achievement just to keep our current status,” he noted. The upcoming Los Angeles Olympics will feature the existing shooting disciplines, but future inclusion of new sports remains uncertain.

Nissinen highlighted additional challenges, such as potential restrictions on lead use within the EU, which could complicate competitive shooting. Meanwhile, safety at the World Championships was a top priority, with security arrangements described as special due to the large number of firearms present. Over the week-long competition, around 600,000 to 800,000 cartridges were used.

The championships ended with a shoot-off team competition and a private celebration attended by about 1,000 participants. Aro expressed satisfaction with the event’s success, noting that feedback from partners, sponsors, and competitors was overwhelmingly positive. Although Finland remains a powerhouse in the sport, American competitors have started to close the gap, securing around 50% of the medals compared to Finland’s typical 60-70%.