The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) - the world governing body of all air sports - has signed an exclusive contract with Trans World International to distribute the Federation's first-ever televised series of World Championships. The six programmes (four half hours and two one hours) cover gliding, paragliding, hang gliding, hot air ballooning, aerobatics and parachuting. The FAI itself is funding and supervising the specialist coverage, which will be produced mainly by the Barcelona-based company Intervideo.

«We are delighted to be forging this new partnership with the FAI just at a time when new channels, as well as established ones, are looking at the opportunities provided by exciting sports new to television», says Bill Sinrich, Managing Director of TWI, Europe, Africa & the Middle East.

«With the rapid development of micro camera technology, it is the perfect opportunity to transport viewers into a whole new sports experience. We are genuinely excited by the possibilities and confident about the interest the series will create».

Michel Masquelier, the Sales Executive responsible for the series, believes the exciting coverage with minicams on competitors and equipment as well as inside cockpits showing the G-force effects on pilots' faces, will stimulate a whole new awareness of air sports. «We will have the first three shows completed before Mipcom and that's when broadcasters will realise just how powerful and new it all is», he said. «Our job then will be to carry over that interest into the World Air Games, taking place in two years' time in Spain".

Max Bishop, FAI Secretary General, said that the TWI contract represented a breakthrough for air sports. "We have been planning a major TV launch for our World Championship events for some time now, and are delighted to have reached agreement with TWI, the leading name in television sport. We are sure that new, increased levels of coverage will foster new perceptions of our different sports, which are exciting to watch as well as take part in."

The FAI expects the World Air Games in Andalucia (June 2001) to achieve world-wide television coverage. Top level skydiving, aerobatics, ballooning and aeromodelling contests will take place alongside soaring championships (gliders,hang gliders, paragliders), and precision events for microlights, helicopters and light aircraft. Ivo Mazzola, FAI's chief planner commented: " With over 4 000 participants, this is going to be the biggest event ever in the air. We are going to make sure it will be "on the air" too, for all to share the thrill of top competitive flying."

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