FAI Active Members' Presidents meet for the first time in Asia

On Saturday 8 June, 22 Executive Representatives of 17 FAI Members organisations (NACs) and the FAI Executive Board gathered in Hong Kong, China, for the 2013 FAI Active Members' Presidents meeting. Held for the first time in Asia, this meeting was part of the FAI’s desire to encourage and ease the participation of its Asian Members, to give the opportunity to all its other Members to meet with them, and to acknowledge the dynamism of this part of the world in all air sports matters.

Amongst the main topics were reports on the FAI Strategy, Anti-Doping, the FAI sporting licence database, Breitling, FAME and the next FAI General Conference in Kuala Lumpur. The presentation by Bert Wijnands from the Netherlands on the way the Dutch Aero Club is organised and its answer to the continuing marginalisation of air sports gave way to an interesting discussion on the future of the FAI.

Speaking on his return, FAI Secretary General Jean-Marc Badan said, “The FAI is constantly striving to offer better services to our Members, and meeting in person with NAC Active Executive Representatives once a year is essential to stay in touch with their concerns and respond to their requests and needs. Beside the meeting itself, it allows us to personally get to know each other, have face-to-face discussions and share experiences in informal conversations, which has a positive impact during the year.”

For the first time this year, the meeting was broadcast live on the internet for all the FAI Active Members Presidents who could not come to Hong Kong. “Although a summary of discussions will be soon released on the FAI website, we wanted to give to all the Presidents who could not make the trip the opportunity to follow the discussions via live streaming ”, Badan added.

The meeting was organised by the Hong Kong Aviation Club (FAI Member in Hong Kong), as well as the Hong Kong Balloon & Airship Club. Badan said, "I would like to thank our Hong Kong Member for hosting this meeting. We appreciate their efforts in making it a pleasant experience for all the attendees, in particular Saturday's dinner at the Hong Kong Aviation Club office in presence of NAC Hong Kong Vice President Andy Chau and Hong Kong Balloon & Airship Club President Nigel Black.The Aviation Club being located at the former Kai Tak Airport, this evening provided an excellent opportunity to have a look at the long aviation history in Hong Kong.”

The next FAI Active Members' Presidents meeting will take place in Spring 2014. The exact location and date are still to be determined.

Photos

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