Page 28-29 - 2013 FAI Annual Report

FAI Annual Report–2013 FAI Annual Report–2013 26 27 Table of Contents Table of Contents
Air Sports
The World
Games 2013
www.fai.org/events/iwga
→ PHOTOS
→ VIDEO
In 2013, for the first time in its history, the FAI had
3 sports present at the World Games: Parachuting
Canopy Piloting and Paragliding Accuracy featured
in the competitionprogramme, while Indoor AeroMusicals
(Aeromodelling) was included in the programme as a
demonstration sport.
The Games, which were organised and governed by
the International World Games Association (IWGA)
under the patronage of the International Olympic
Committee (IOC), took place in Cali, Colombia. The 32
official sports featuring in the programme all benefited
from a considerable worldwide media impact, the
Games being the biggest multi-sports event of the year.
The Parachuting and Paragliding competitions ran
concurrently on the same site, for maximum spectator
interest, from 1 to 4 August 2013. Some 65 competitors
(36 for Parachuting and 29 for Paragliding) gained entry
to the Games. In addition, 2 Indoor AeroMusicals pilots
made the trip to Cali to show the beauty of their sport.
Exciting events and popular success
On themorning of the kickoff of theair sports events, all the
tickets for the competitions were already sold out, which
means that in total, the two Paragliding and Parachuting
events welcomed 2,000 people every day.
The event areas were set out to be as entertaining as
pos­sible for the public, with the Paragliding Accuracy
landing mat and the pond, where the canopy pilots
swoop down, right in front of the grandstands. Two more
elements added to the interest of the competitions:
the packing of the parachutes and the paragliders a few
meters away from the crowds, and the comments
of English and Colombian presenters. As for Indoor
Aero­Musicals, the pilots showcased their sport inbetween
Wushu events.
All the athletes were clearly enjoying the effects of the
warmth of the Colombian spectators who cheered,
applauded and reacted very enthusiastically to the
air spor ts competitions and the AeroMusicals
demonstration, although it was the first time for many
of them to witness such events. Media interviewed
athletes, while children and grown-ups alike asked for
pictures and autographs.
“We felt like rock stars, this is really wonderful. I have
competed in many events before, but I never performed
in front of a crowd which was not only numerous but nice”
one of the Parachuting athletes commented.
InParagliding Accuracy, Matjas Feraric (SLO) stole the gold
and Jolanta Romanenko (LTU) finished victorious in the
female category. In Canopy Piloting, Curtis Bartholomew
(USA) reached the highest step of the podium.
“Air sports at The
World Games 2013
were a fantastic
popular success”