BASC, a representative body for sporting shooting in the UK, has criticised the Olympic Board’s decision to hold the 2012 shooting events at Woolwich rather than the national home of shooting at Bisley.
Woolwich was originally picked by the Olympic Board with only minimal consultation with any of the British shooting bodies.
Woolwich is an inadequate site for two main reasons. Firstly because it requires the closure of roads and the moving of people from their homes to achieve the required safety margins for the shooting events to be held. Secondly and most importantly Woolwich, despite assurances to the contrary, will fail to give British shooting sports any significant legacy beyond the 2012 games.
Yet again cost paring, ineffective decision making and a lack of consultation will sell shooting short for the 2012 games.
Christopher Graffius, director of communications, said: “BASC hopes that even at this late stage the decision will be reconsidered, but if those with limited understanding of shooting insist on this venue, BASC will continue to give whatever support it can to ensure as many British medal winners in the shooting events as possible.”
BASC has written to the Olympic Board asking them to identify the ‘legacy’ to shooting sports that will result from choosing Woolwich for the 2012 Games.
ENDS