European Shooting Championship 2026 Officially Opens in Yerevan

On February 27, the opening ceremony of the European Shooting Championship (rifle and pistol) among adults took place at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex. The event was attended by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan, President of the International Shooting Sport Federation Luciano Rossi, and President of the European Shooting Confederation Alexander Ratner.

The ceremony featured a spectacular show with video projections and special effects showcasing the history of Armenia. Following the performance, the flag of the host country was handed over to the President of the Shooting Federation of Armenia, Artur Hovhannisyan.

Nikol Pashinyan noted that Armenia is hosting the European Shooting Championship among adults for the first time and expressed confidence that participants would return home not only with medals but also with warm memories of the country. According to him, the republic is increasingly becoming a venue for major international competitions.

In his speech, President of the European Shooting Confederation Alexander Ratner highly praised the level of preparation and organization of the tournament, noting that Armenia had successfully met all challenges.

The championship runs from February 27 to March 5. About 400 athletes and coaches from 40 countries are taking part in the event.