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And the winner is…?!

A bid to a continental or world championship is an important matter for any organizer or NACs. The stakes are high, as are the investments in time, energy and money. Just as important is the task, for the Plenary, to rightfully choose who will get the next championships.
But who really chooses who the winners are?
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Our Internal Regulation is very clear:
3.6. Bids for First Class events
“The Plenary meeting will award the competition to one of the applicants, if they are qualified.” In order to be qualified, the bidders must follow a certain number of rules, specified in 3.6.1.Three years before the competition and 3.6.2. Two years before the competition.
The last Plenary made significant changes, for safety reason.
The Plenary voted the Hang-Gliding and Paragliding Working Groups (HGWG and PGWG) reports and proposals, that say:

  • Bids for Cat 1 must be approved by the appropriate sub committee with regards to safety. (HGWG and PGWG).
  • The bidder must have organized an international PG meet before; an observer must report positively on the ability of the organisation to run a safe meet (PGWG).

  • Those changes means that, in some case, a single observer or the Working Group can veto any bid. If they do, it means that the Plenary does not make the decision anymore, which is in contradiction with our Internal Regulation.
So here we are, with big stakes, contradictory rules… and luckily no bid to give away yet!
The next Bureau meeting will put that matter on its agenda and make a proposal to the HGWG and PGWG, and to the next Plenary, so that everyone knows and understands the rules before the next championships are awarded.
The Bureau knows that safety was the priority of both Working Groups when they recommended the changes. The Bureau is in no way opposed to this priority. He just wants to sorts out possible misunderstanding.