No Maltese shooter will take part in double trap shoot at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics because the world ruling body has opted for a mixed-gender competition. The decision left this country with practically no hope of medal glory at the next Olympics.
As expected, the decision was very disconcerting to the Maltese Shooting Sport Federation, which, for several years now, has invested in and worked hard to raise the standards of Malta’s top double trap contenders William Chetcuti and Nathan Lee Xuereb. The decision resulted following recommendations made by the International Olympic Committee in its Agenda 2020 road map, which mainly promotes the Olympic values and gender equality in sport.
All 40 recommendations incorporated in Agenda 2020 were unanimously app-roved by delegates at the 127th IOC session held in Monaco in December 2014.
Changes to strengthen sport in society had to be applied and the International Shooting Sport Federation was forced to amend its Olympic sports programme to boost female participation at the Games. This meant that the men’s double trap shoot, which does not rank among the most popular disciplines within the ISSF, had to make way for a mixed gender trap event for Tokyo 2020.
Two indoor shoots – the 50-metre rifle prone and the 50-metre pistol – will also be omitted from the next Games and replaced by mixed events for 10-metre air rifle and 10-metre air pistol.
While the IOC stance on gender equality should be commended as a bold and forward-looking move, fingers should be pointed at this country’s sports authorities for failing so miserably when faced with this latest development. Indeed, they were caught unawares and failed to react while the issue was still unfolding.
Clearly, neither Sports Malta nor the Maltese Olympic Committee or the MSSF had given enough weight to that December 2014 vote in Monaco and to what the IOC move really entailed.
Other national shooting organisations around the world, notably the Italians, had been airing their disapproval at the changes forced upon the ISSF. But they also did something about it, introducing a mixed double trap competition in their calendar in the hope that the event will one day gain Olympic status.
Some of the top double trap competitors around the world, including Russian champion Vasily Mosin, also embarked on personal initiatives to raise awareness and obtain support for the cause. In Malta, however, the issue only came to light in January. Strangely, the authorities concerned never raised the issue about double trap facing the axe from the Olympics in their meetings with the media.
Maltese athletes have been involved in the Olympics since 1928 and participated in different disciplines but the country’s best chance of a medal only came in 2008 when Mr Chetcuti was classified eighth overall in the Beijing Games. He also went close to a place in the final in Athens 2004 and London 2012.
It is clear that a different strategy has to be adopted. Both Mr Chetcuti and Mr Xuereb took several years to reach the international standard they boast but other avenues have to be found for the country to unearth fresh talent and rekindle hopes of a breakthrough in the Olympics.
Agenda 2020 delivers a clear message on gender equality. National Olympic committees have to give more space for women to showcase their talents and afford them the same benefits and opportunities as their male counterparts.
Hopefully, the message will be understood and acted upon in this country too.