On Saturday, the starting shot goes for the country’s biggest shooting competition. After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, thousands of shooters of all ages and levels will gather to find out who is the best shooter. Shooting is the country’s third largest grassroots sport. But now they are struggling with dropouts and recruitment. After two years of a pandemic, it is ready for the National Archery Convention (LS) again. This time in Bodø. Photo: Ola Helness / news Biggest decline among young people Young people are fleeing organized sports. This is also felt in shooting sports. The National Archery Convention has used to have approx. 1,000 participants under the age of 18. This year, the figure is 450. – There are approximately 50 per cent fewer registered in the youth class than at Evje in 2019. That’s what Jarle Tvinnereim, general secretary of the Voluntary Shooting Association (DFS), says. In total, less than 3,000 participants will compete at this year’s national shooting competition. This is the lowest number of participants in 46 years. Jarle Tvinnereim, general secretary of the Volunteer Shooting Service (DFS). Photo: Hans Henrik Bårtvedt / news Shooting (sport) Photo: Dag Aasdalen / news Shooting sport is a collective term for competitive shooting with a rifle or pistol. There are several federations and organizations within this sport. The Norwegian Shooting Association, NSF, organizes international sport shooting in the disciplines that are on the Olympic programme. That is, rifle shooting, pistol shooting, clay pigeon shooting and game target shooting. The voluntary Skyttervesen, DFS, is the largest organisation. The Landsskytterstevnet is the voluntary Skyttervesen’s championship competition in range shooting and field shooting with a rifle. A little history In Norway, the Bergen Skydeselskab was founded in 1769. The first central organization came in 1923 (Norwegian branch of the International Shooting Union), in 1925 the Norwegian Sports Shooting Association was founded, and in 1928 the Norwegian Miniature Shooting Association. There was also a shooting committee in the Workers’ Sports Confederation. In 1946, these organizations were merged into the new Norges Sportskytterforbund, now Norges Shootersforbund. The National Championships have been organized since 1929. Shooting became an Olympic sport in 1896 and has since taken part in all the Summer Olympics except 1904 and 1928. Source: SNL as of 24.07.22 Hopes the National Archery Convention can change the trend The pandemic is largely to blame for dropouts and low recruitment. Instructor Anders Jakobsen Bodø Østre shooting team says they still have several new youngsters who will try their hand at the national shooting competition. – There has been positive development, including at the last shooting school last year. Now we have several beginners who will shoot for us now at the national shooting convention. He hopes the convention can lead to attention and a growing interest. – This is one of the top targets for those who practice shooting. – What can be done to increase the share? – We organize a shooting school. And then you have to be drawn into the community, says Jakobsen. Landsskytterstevnet Photo: LJOMOK / Store Norske Lexikon The Landsskytterstevnet is the voluntary Shooting Association’s championship competition in range shooting and field shooting with a rifle. The competition has been organized since 1893 and annually gathers many thousands of shooters at all levels from all over the country. The main exercise is range shooting at 200 or 300 meters with a coarse-caliber rifle. The winner is awarded the king’s trophy and is named shooter king or shooter queen. The competition had a stay in 2020 and 2021 due to the corona pandemic. Source: SNL as of 24/07/22 – Feels only a little recoil Marcus Jakobsen (14) will compete for the first time this weekend. He has been shooting for five years and is in second place in indoor shooting. – It’s very fun. In the beginning it was a little scary. But now it’s going perfectly fine. I just feel a little recoil. He is looking forward to the national shooting competition, but notices that this is not as common as football among his friends. – There aren’t that many people who stick around. It can quickly become a bit boring in training. But it’s fun. The invitation is clear: – Sign up for the shooting school this autumn and take part in training throughout the winter. Join! It is fun. The instructor’s son, Albert Jakobsen (13), has been shooting since he was 9. He agrees with Marcus. It’s fun, but he also wants more friends here. – What’s fun about shooting, Albert? – The bangs. The national shooting competition in 2022 will be at Bestemorenga in Bodø from 30 July to 5 August. Albert Jakobsen (13) has his eyes fixed on the target. In this sport, men and women from 10-90 years of age come together. Photo: Ola Helness / news
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