Fencing-Shooting

The basics
Three types of weapon are used in Olympic Fencing. In bouts using the Foil and the slightly heavier Epée, hits are scored by hitting an opponent with the tip of the weapon. In Sabre, hits are more commonly scored with the edge of the weapon.

Epée allows both fencers to score at the same time, while Foil and Sabre have rules of right of way and timing that mean only one fencer can score a hit at a time.

Individual Fencing bouts last for three periods of three minutes each, or until one fencer has scored 15 hits against his/her opponent. In the Team events, teams of three fencers compete against their opponents over a series of nine three-minute bouts, with the aim of accumulating a maximum of 45 hits to win the match.

Hits are recorded electronically using wireless technology.

Shooting

Number of medal events
15 – across men’s and women’s Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun events.

Number of competitors
390: 223 men and 143 women, 24 to be confirmed
Each country is limited to 28 athletes (20 men and eight women). This equates to two athletes in all events, except for the women’s Trap and Skeet where only one athlete per country is allowed.

Field of play
Athletes shoot at stationary targets in a range in the Rifle and Pistol events, and at moving targets in the Shotgun events.

History of Shooting at the Olympic Games
With the exceptions of the St Louis1904 and Amsterdam 1928 Games, Shooting has featured on every Olympic programme since the first modern Games in 1896. Women’s events were added to the schedule at Los Angeles 1984.

Find out more about Shooting at the Olympic Games on the International Olympic Committee website.

The basics
Olympic Shooting events fall into three disciplines: Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun events. In Rifle and Pistol events, competitors aim at a 10-ring target from a set distance (10m, 25m or 50m).
Depending on the event, athletes are required to shoot from standing, kneeling or prone (lying down) positions.
In Shotgun events, competitors shoot at moving clay targets launched above and in front of them.

Officials
A range officer is responsible for the safe running of the competition. Athletes must listen to their instruction and obey their words of command at all times.

An international jury is present at all events to ensure that shooters stay within the rules and to deal with any appeals.

Keys to success
Shooting is a tense and testing sport that requires immense reserves of skill and nerve. The winning athlete must remain cool under the enormous pressure that an Olympic competition brings.

Jargon buster
Double Trap – Shooting competition in which two clay targets are launched simultaneously in front of the shooter.
Pistol – one of three firearms used in Olympic Shooting, and the only one to be shot with one hand.
Shoot-off – a tiebreaker.
Trap – the device used for launching clay targets into the air.
3 positions – Rifle events in which competitors shoot in standing, kneeling and prone positions.