The opening qualifier is due to be held in the French commune of Volmerange-Les-Mines from July 10 until 14, 2015, as shooters battle for a coveted spot at the Paralympic Games.

The next opportunity will come from September 15 to 19 when the world's top Para-shooters are scheduled to travel to Sydney

This is then followed by the final qualifying event, set to take place in Fort Benning, United States, from November 3 to 7.

"We hope that the locations of the qualification opportunities for Rio 2016, in Europe, the Americas and Oceania, should give athletes from around the world the chance to secure their place at the Paralympic Games," said IPC Shooting sport manager Sarah Bond.

"The calendar sets out the next steps on the road to Rio 2016, which began at the 2014 World Championships with 63 athletes obtaining the first quota places for the Games.

"It will be a particularly exciting season as this is the first Paralympic Games under the new qualification system where 95 per cent of the quota is given out as direct slots."

The opening IPC Shooting qualifier for Rio 2016 took place at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium in March ©Getty Images


As well as naming the qualifying events, IPC Shooting also announced the full calendar for next year's shooting events.

The season is due start on February 19 with a World Cup by new hosts in Stjoerdal, Norway.

Athletes will then return to the spiritual home of the Paralympic Movement, Stoke Mandeville, Great Britain, from March 30 until April 1, as they have routinely done in recent years.

Similarly, Szczecin, Poland, remains a firm fixture on the calendar between April 18 and 21, alongside Antalya, Turkey, from May 12 to 15.

An International Shooting Competition of Hannover will also be held once again from April 28 to May 3.

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