AWARD OF OLYMPIC ORDER
TO BERTRAND PICCARD AND BRIAN JONES
OLYMPIC MUSEUM - 19 APRIL 1999 -
SPEECH OF MAX BISHOP,
SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION AERONAUTIQUE INTERNATIONALE (FAI)
Mr President, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are here today to honour two great aviators, two outstanding sportsmen and two remarkable human beings. Bertrand Piccard, Brian Jones, we are all proud of you. We feel that we too have taken part in your adventure. We were with you in spirit when you soared up from your Alpine Valley in Château D'Oex, not far from here, when you tip-toed through the narrow Chinese Corridor, when you floundered over the Pacific and when you finally sped over the Sahara to touch down in your balloon, a symbol of late 20th century technology, in Egypt, the cradle of an ancient civilisation that fascinates you, and so many others. We all shared emotions with you: joy and fear, optimism and frustration, doubt, gratitude and the final elation that you described so eloquently. Your balloon, on its three-week voyage round our fragile planet, was a beacon of hope for all the world's peoples, and particularly for its children.
In your characteristically modest and unassuming way, you reminded us that hard work and perseverance pay - that not everything can be obtained instantaneously. You taught us that what some thought impossible could be achieved with patience, skill, courage and dedication. You showed us that, in this last year of a sometimes dark and turbulent century, incredible adventures are still possible, and that these strike a chord in the hearts of people around the world of all ages, inspiring us all to cast aside empty cynicism and set ourselves higher goals.
Your flight was an example of all that is best in the spirit of the Olympic movement, an ideal that we in the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) share. By drifting unobstructed over so many national frontiers you showed these to be insubstantial barriers, dividing people who in reality share common causes and aspirations. By competing with your fellow round-the-world balloon contenders in an open and friendly fashion, you demonstrated fair-play and respect for other competitors. By dedicating your flight to the world's children and establishing your charitable fund "Wings of Hope", you have shown that great sporting achievements should not be selfish acts, but dedicated to others.
This last great aeronautical exploit of the 20th century ranks with the greatest in the archives of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, which was founded in 1905 and which, by a happy coincidence, moved its headquarters from Paris to the Olympic Capital, Lausanne, just a few months ago.
Among the records that the FAI has had the honour of ratifying we find :
Jean Blériot who, in 1909, crossed the Channel from Calais to Dover for the first time.
In 1910 George Chavez made the first crossing of the Alps.
In 1927 Charles Lindbergh succeeded in crossing the Atlantic, solo.
In 1931 a certain Auguste Piccard achieved the absolute ballooning altitude record.
Then, Chuck Yeager beat the sound barrier in 1947.
Yuri Gagarin first flew in space in 1961 and Neil Armstrong walked on the moon in 1969.
The first non-stop unrefuelled circumnavigation of the earth in an aeroplane was Dick Rutan's in 1986...
And now we can add two new names to the FAI's scroll of honour , to our cavalcade of heroes - round-the-world balloonists Piccard and Jones.
But these are no ordinary heroes. Even in the company of the distinguished names I have mentioned, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones stand out for their humility and generosity of spirit, their ability to communicate their feelings to ordinary people, and their determination to help others. The men that you, Mr President, are honouring today, are not only great aviators and great athletes. More importantly they are distinguished ambassadors for our air sports and for the Olympic ideal. Most important of all they are excellent examples for the children of the world to look up to.
On behalf of all air sportsmen and women the world over, I salute you Betrand Piccard and Brian Jones. This is an honour you richly deserve. We wish you well in the important work of education, encouragement and support of others that lies ahead of you.
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