The Association was established in 2011 under the name Institut Europèen pour la recherche et l’Ecologie du Tir Sportif (IERETS), and in March 2019 we extended the scope of the Association’s activities and changed the name to ESSPA
Pierre de Coubertin , the founder of the modern Olympic Movement, was a former French national pistol champion and possibly helped ensure the sport was part of the first Olympic Games in 1896.
At the 1896 Summer Olympics, five sport shooting events were contested. These events took place at the newly constructed shooting range at Kallithea. They were organized and prepared by the Sub-Committee for Shooting. Sixty-one shooters from seven nations competed.