By Tom Degun

July 16 - The Opening Ceremony for the 2010 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Shooting World Championships was held today in Zagreb with Croatia's Prime Minister of Croatia Jadranka Kosor in attendance.


The hour-long event began with the National Anthem of Croatia performed by the Croatian Army Orchestra.

Kosar gave a welcoming speech to all of the athletes while other speakers at the Opening Ceremony included IPC President Sir Philip Craven, the Mayor of Zagreb Milan Bandic and the President of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) of Croatia Ratko Kovačic.

Kosor said: "The choice of Croatia by the IPC is truly a huge honour and recognition of both NPC Croatia and all men and women with a disability in the country.

"I am sure that the IPC Shooting World Championships will confirm the peak of readiness for many sportsmen and women, but also produce new hopes and future champions who will appear at the London 2012 Paralympic Games."

After the oaths were taken at the Opening Ceremony from both the referee and athlete representative, the vocal singing group Klapa sung "Sveti Juraj" and "Dobro mi došel prijatelj", followed by marching music from the Croatian Army Orchestra.

A reception followed the ceremony, with guests celebrating the start of the Championships.

The 2010 IPC Shooting World Championships are the first World Championships in a sport for athletes with a disability to be held in the country.

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