Minister Opens FAI Parachuting Commission Meeting

The Portuguese Secretary of State for Sport made the journey from Lisbon to Vilamoura in the Algarve to open the annual plenary session of the FAI's International Parachuting Commission (IPC) on 7 February 1998.

In his opening remarks, the Minister stressed that skydiving was emerging, both in Portugal and internationally, as an adventurous activity that was gaining interest with significant groups of the population. He pledged his Government's willingness to collaborate with and support those responsible for promoting parachuting.

Only two years after its foundation,the Minister pointed out, the Portuguese Parachuting Federation was not only hosting a meeting of the International Parachuting Commission of FAI, but also organising the European Championships in Formation Skydiving, Freestyle and Skysurfing at Evora in September. The Minister described parachuting as "a spectacular and high-emotion sport that draws the attention of millions all over the world."

Following these remarks, the IPC committed itself to the promotion of sky-diving on television, in pursuit in particular of the goal of achieving a place on the Olympic programme.

No doubt with this aim in mind, the IPC meeting awarded the 1999 World Formation Skydiving Championships to Australia, and decided to hold the year 2000 IPC meeting in Canberra, shortly before the Sydney Olympic Games.

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