The presidential election of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) will feature four candidates after the organization officially confirmed the list of contenders on October 14, 2026. The current president, Luciano Rossi of Italy, will seek to remain at the helm of the institution, facing Alexander Ratner, president of the European Shooting Confederation; Vessela Letcheva, president of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee; and Kostyantyn Pyvovarov, president of the Ukrainian Shotgun Shooting Federation. The vote will take place on December 13 and 14 in Rome, Italy.
The confirmation of the candidates marks a new stage in the electoral process, moving from potential nominations to an official contest between four figures with different institutional and regional backgrounds. Key issues for the ISSF’s future include governance reform and financial transparency, competition development and the protection of Olympic events. The campaign’s next milestone will be the December 6 deadline for declaring electoral expenses, while an examination of the candidates’ platforms and regional support will provide a clearer picture of their priorities.
Four candidates to lead international shooting sports
Luciano Rossi, representing Italy and the current president of the ISSF, is one of the four confirmed candidates. His participation places continuity in the current leadership among the central issues of the election, in which voters will decide who leads the organization during the next term.
Another contender is Alexander Ratner, president of the European Shooting Confederation and a candidate nominated by the Russian Shooting Union. His experience within the continental structure makes him one of the institutional figures in the race. His candidacy is also relevant to discussions about the international representation of the sport, although his eligibility to run for the ISSF presidency must be distinguished from the rules governing Russian athletes’ participation in competitions.
The list is completed by Vessela Letcheva, president of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee, and Kostyantyn Pyvovarov, president of the Ukrainian Shotgun Shooting Federation. Both come from national sports organizations and have leadership experience in their respective countries. The confirmation of all four candidates establishes a defined contest, although their platforms and support networks will need to be examined to identify the differences between their proposals.
Governance, transparency and sports development among the election’s key issues
The election is taking place in a context in which institutional governance and financial transparency are among the key issues shaping the ISSF’s future. The ability to strengthen oversight mechanisms and ensure transparent decision-making will be part of the debate surrounding the leadership of the international organization.
Another challenge is the development of competitions and the protection of events included in the Olympic programme. These issues are strategically important for a federation that must coordinate the growth of its disciplines while maintaining its presence within the Olympic Movement. Decisions made by the next president could influence institutional priorities, sports planning and relations with national organizations.
However, the available information about the list of candidates does not detail the individual proposals put forward by Rossi, Ratner, Letcheva and Pyvovarov. Identifying concrete differences between their platforms will therefore require reviewing their official statements, electoral commitments and positions on the federation’s priorities. Comparing these proposals will help clarify what changes each candidate intends to introduce and which aspects of the current administration they seek to maintain or modify.
Ratner’s candidacy and the context of international representation
Alexander Ratner’s nomination by the Russian Shooting Union adds an institutional dimension to the contest. His candidacy relates to the representation of national organizations within the ISSF structure and the role played by continental federations in the governance of international shooting sports.
This issue must be analyzed separately from the rules governing Russian athletes’ participation in competitions. A candidate’s eligibility to lead an international federation depends on the electoral and statutory requirements applicable to the position, whereas athletes’ participation is subject to the relevant sporting regulations. Ratner’s nomination therefore does not automatically establish anything about the competitive status of athletes from his country.
Following this candidacy will require examining Ratner’s own statements, the positions of member federations and any regional support he may receive. These elements will help clarify the scope of his proposals and his position in an election bringing together candidates with different leadership backgrounds.
Rome will host the vote on December 13 and 14
The presidential election will take place on December 13 and 14, 2026, in Rome, according to the ISSF’s official schedule. With the four candidates confirmed on October 14, the process is entering a stage focused on presenting platforms, securing support and preparing for the vote.
One of the next milestones will be December 6, the deadline established for declaring electoral expenses. Compliance with this requirement will be part of the campaign’s monitoring process, alongside a review of each candidate’s commitments and the support they may gather among participating federations.
The vote will determine who leads the ISSF during a period in which governance, financial transparency, competition development and shooting sports’ relationship with the Olympic programme will remain important issues. Until then, the four candidacies should be assessed based on the available official information, distinguishing each contender’s institutional background from the proposals they formally present.
Last related articles
