President’s Letter to Delegates and Committee Chairmen 2007-1

18th April 2007

NZ to Host the 2007 Sailplane Grand Prix Race Final

Following negotiations between the IGC and various potential hosts, the IGC is pleased to announce that the IGC Sailplane Grand Prix race Final will be held in New Zealand this December.

The event will be covered by all of the pioneering media features that marked the first qualifying event held at Omarama in January 2006.

This is the breakthrough we have been waiting for – the world’s best pilots have competed for a place in the Final through eight qualifying events around the world, and now the final battle, with the pilots racing head-to-head, will be seen globally using the latest innovative TV technologies.

Coverage of the Final, managed by Air Sports Ltd, will be broadcast via the internet and will involve live air to air shots, multiple on board cameras and live 3D graphics from Animation Research – who are currently providing the 2007 America’s Cup graphics from Valencia.

The event will be held at Omarama, recognised as one of the world’s best gliding locations, between the 19th and 24th of December 2007. Two additional days will be staged at Wanaka, on the 27th and 28th of December, as part of a new multisport event. Other FAI sports such as skydiving, hang gliding, paragliding, aerobatics and ballooning are expected to participate in the Wanaka event.

The glider pilots who have qualified for the World Series Gliding Final include an impressive array of World and European Champions. A total of 20 pilots will take part.

Apart from internet coverage, it is planned to feature both the Glider and multisport events on both New Zealand and global television. Confirmation of the event follows confirmation of major financial backing from Air Sports Ltd, the company which staged the initial competition at Omarama last year.

The events at Omarama and Wanaka are planned to be the first of a new global competition circuit designed to meet the needs of the media and sponsors.

The pilots who have qualified are:

Bob Henderson
President, IGC
April 18th, 2007