History books report of shooting competitions in some European countries as early as the 11th Century, but the modern concept of the sport began in the 19th Century with the development of shooting equipment, and several of the present day national federations were formed. At the first Olympic Games of the modern times in the year 1896 in Athens, nine different sports were placed on the program by the International Olympic Committee, and the shooting sport had the highest number of participants in these first Olympic Games. The first world championship was organized in 1897 in France, only 25 shooters participated in the competition. But already in 2002 more than 2000 shooters from 90 countries arrived to the world championship in Lahti (Finland).