FAI - Annual Report 2014

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FAI ANNUAL REPORT–2014 16
Air Sports
Gliding
Commission
IGC
The FAI Sailplane Grand Prix is undoubtedly the most
competitive, exciting and exhilarating form of sailplane
racing. Hence, the FAI Gliding Commission’s firm
commitment was to make the 2014 Final in Sisteron a
great success. This was achieved by using the latest
in available technology: large television screens with
live footage, live commentaries, live tracking, video
summaries including top-notch 3D images of the race
available online every day after the race, demonstration
flight by the Patrouille de France and daily air displays.
These were all part of the winning strategy put in place
to attract the media and crowds alike. Such success
can only be encouraging for the Commission which is
already engrossed in the next series which will lead
up to the 2015 Final in September at Calcinate Del
Pesce, Italy. Beside the FAI Sailplane Grand Prix, the
more traditional gliding formats including World and
Continental Gliding Championships, as well as the On-
Line Contest, continued on their ascending path.
CHAMPIONSHIPS & EVENTS
−− 5th FAI World Sailplane Grand Prix Championship
in Sisteron (FRA) →
−− 33rd FAI World Gliding Championships
in Räyskälä (FIN)
−− 33rd FAI World Gliding Championships
in Leszno (POL)
Beside these Championships, 55 FAI-sanctioned Gliding
events took place in 2014.
FAI SAILPLANE GRAND PRIX
After the successful unfolding of the 2014 Final in Sisteron,
the following qualifying events for the 2014-2015 FAI World
Sailplane Grand Prix series took place in 2014:
−− Rennes–Saint Sulpice (FRA)
−− Calcinate Del Pesce (ITA)
−− La Cerdenya (ESP)
−− Lake Keepit (AUS)
FAI sponsor Breitling was present with full branding and
support at the 2014 Final. It will also be the case at the
2015 Final, which will take place in Calcinate Del Pesce,
Italy, in September 2015.
ON-LINE CONTEST
The 2014 statistics of the run by
Segelflugszene gGmb, the world’s largest decentralised
soaring contest, are the following:
−− 14,935 participants (an increase of 752 pilots
from 2013)
−− 115,159 flights (an increase of 2,782 flights from 2013)
−− total distance flown of 32,221,609 kilometers
(an increase of 2,425,598 km from 2013)
OSTIV
Collaboration with OSTIV, the International Scientific and
Technical Soaring Organisation, continued. OSTIV held its
Conference in conjunction with the 33rd FAI World Gliding
Championships in Leszno, Poland, in July 2014.
MEETING
The Annual Meeting of the Commissionwas held in Varese,
Italy, on 7 to 8 March 2014.