Finland loses 2027 European shooting championships as Ruutikangas venue deemed unfinished

The 2027 European Shooting Championships will not be held at the Ruutikangas shooting range near Oulu after the European Shooting Confederation (ESC) withdrew Finland’s hosting rights due to unfinished facilities and unclear preparations, Yle reports.

The decision follows an October 2025 ESC general assembly where the evaluation committee, led by Gislaine Briez, determined that neither Finland nor the Ruutikangas site met the agreed readiness standards. Briez’s on-site inspection found the range incomplete and organisational plans ambiguous, prompting the ESC to reopen the bid process for the rifle, pistol, moving target, and shotgun competitions.

Anne Laurila, executive director of the Finnish Shooting Sport Federation, confirmed the setbacks, noting that ESC board members unanimously viewed the timeline as unrealistic. “For example, the shotgun ranges were still very unfinished last summer during the inspection,” she said. “They concluded the remaining time wouldn’t suffice to bring the venue up to standard.”

The cancellation comes amid a separate dispute between the Ruutikangas shooting centre and its operator, the Oulu Region Shooting Sport Centre Association, over lease terms. The facility had previously hosted the 2024 IPSC Rifle World Shoot while still under construction.