GREAT BALLOON RACE FOR NEW MILLENNIUM ?

This winter will see another series of attempts by top balloonists to be the first to circumnavigate the globe. But, once that feat has been achieved, pilots will be seeking a new challenge for their sport. Therefore the Ballooning Commission of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the world governing body for air sports, is to study the feasibility of a regular round the world balloon race to be known as "The Great Balloon Race".

"Consultations will take place between our ballooning commission, and pilots, manufacturers, sponsors and broadcasters", says Max Bishop, secretary general of the FAI. "We have teamed up with the international PR consultancy Fleishman-Hillard to assess the potential for the event and are all very motivated by the idea. It would probably take place every four years and we would anticipate a magnificent trophy and a substantial cash prize for the winner."

Bertrand Piccard, pilot of the Breitling Orbiter and grandson of Auguste Piccard who was famed for his inventions which include the stratospheric balloon and pressurised cabin, says "Naturally I want to make the first circumnavigation, but a race round the world, once we see that it is feasible, fills me with tremendous excitement, and I would be the first to sign up. It would be a nice way to carry forward the story of round-the-world adventure."

Don Cameron the world's largest manufacturer of balloons responded enthusiastically to the news, too, "The great balloon race could become to balloonists what the Whitbread is to yachtsmen. It would certainly be a magnificent spectacle."

FAI : Max Bishop, Secretary General, (France)
Email : info@fai.org
Tel : +33 (0)1 49 54 38 92
Fax : +33 (0)1 49 54 38 88

Fleishman-Hillard : Caroline Gillies, Vice-President (UK)
Tel : +44 (0)1628 627613
Fax : +44 (0)1628 625524