History
There were nine shooting events on the first modern Olympic program in 1896, drawing more participants than for any other sport. The following year, the first "world championships" were held in France, though only European countries were represented.
In 1907, a group of eight national organizations founded the Union Internationale des Federations et Associations Nationales de Tir (International Union of National Shooting Federations and Associations) to develop standard rules and conducted international competition.
The union broke up because of World War I. It was replaced in 1921 by the Union Internationale de Tir (UIT). UIT activities were suspended during World War II and that union was reorganized as the International Shooting Union in 1947. Although it used the English name, the organization stuck with the initials for its French title to avoid confusion with the International Skating Union (ISU).
In 1998, the UIT became the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF). The ISSF is is the international governing body for all shooting sports, including rifle, pistol, and shotgun. It has more than 130 member countries.
World championships in rifle and pistol shooting are now held every four years, in non-Olympic, even-numbered years. Championships in the shotgun sports are held annually, except in Olympic years.