FÉDÉRATION AÉRONAUTIQUE INTERNATIONALE

FAI BALLOONING COMMISSION (CIA)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FAI BALLOONING COMMISSION CONFERENCE

Thirty countries were represented at the 1999 International Ballooning Commision Conference held in Lausanne Switzerland from 3 to 6 March. This remarkable diversity of committment to Sport Ballooning was symbolised by the two Round the World Balloon Teams who were flying during the Conference.

The Conference recognised the efforts of all the Round the World (RTW) Teams for stretching human scientific, technical, physical and emotional boundaries in a way not seen since the successful journies to the top of Mount Everest and to the North and South Poles. The journey around the world non stop in a balloon will be a remarkable achievement, ranking along side the other great journies of human history. The Ballooning Commission of the FAI wishes all the teams, safe and successfull flights in 1999 and hopes to congratulate the winning team in 2000.

In recognition of the importance of these flights the Conference voted to establish a new "Great Balloon Race" RTW Competition. This event would only staged every four years involving a single flight round the world. A small group of eminent balloonists including Don Cameron and CIA President John Claude Weber has been tasked to develop this concept for discussion at next years Conference.

The Conference also recognised the importance of the 2nd World Air Games, sanctioning Hot Air Balloon, Air Ship, and Gas Balloon Championships to be staged in Spain in 2001. There will also be a Hot Air Balloon Fiesta event. The WAG also focussed the Conference's attention on the need to promote sport ballooning and encourage new participants in our sport. One of the key outcomes of the Conference was the re-organisation of the Public Relations and Development Committee, and the establishment of a new Working Group for Media Affairs.

The Conference also enhanced the ability of the Event Planning and Advisory Service. This committee is now able to assist any event organiser to stage a safe, fair and enjoyable competition or fiesta event. The new EPAS would welcome communications with organisers and pilots from around the world who would like assistance.

All communications within the Commission are now fully integrated into the FAI Home Page on the Internet. www.fai.org/ballooning/. Using this internet site the Ballooning Commission has made all organisers sanctions, rules and safety documents available free of charge. Email is now the official method of communicating within the Ballooning Commission of the FAI. Please visit the site and look around.

Some other important issues arising at the Conference are:

• A World Ranking List for AX (Hot Air Balloon) Pilots is to be created for discussion in 2000.
• The sanction for 15th World Hot Air Balloon Championship was awarded to France in 2002.
• The 42nd Coupe Gordon Bennett was awarded to Albuquerque USA from Sept 30 to Oct 9 1999
• The Commission has recognised the outstanding success of the World Ballooning Youth Camp held in 1998 and pledged to provide assistance to future camps.
• The Montgolfier Award for Contribution to the Sport was awarded to Josef Starkbaum from Austria.

With the committment and effort of the elected Bureau and delegates from around the world, the Ballooning Commission of the FAI looks forward to the challenges of the new millenium.

Darryl Stuart
Chairman
Public Relations and Development Committee
darryl.stuart@bigpond.com.au

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