The 49th the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Shooting Championships unveiled here Saturday at the city center Ban J. Jelacic square, named after Croatia's national hero.

The president of Croatia Stjepan Mesic declared opening of the biggest sports event here since the 14th Universiade in 1987.

Jaques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee, Olegario V. Rana, president of ISSF and Milan Bandic, Zagreb mayor and president of the organizing committee were present at the opening ceremony.

More than 2,000 athletes from 107 countries and regions are competing in the 16-day tournament that produces 54 berths in 15 events for the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

China sent a 72-athlete delegation, led by reigning Olympic Champions Du Li and Zhu Qinan, participating in all 15 Olympic events and five others. Russia, the other super power of the sport, has an even larger team with 99 shooters.

"We are here for one or two more Olympic berths," said Gao Zhidan, the Chinese team leader. "At the same time, we take the Championships as an rehearsal of the Beijing Olympics."

The first World Shooting Championships was held in 1897 in Lyons, France after the success of the shooting event at the first Olympic Games in 1896.

Editor: Donald