20 June - World Air Games Opening Ceremony -
( published 23 June, 18:00 UTC )
The II World Air Games opened last night in front of a big crowd at the Cartuja Stadium in Seville with a colourful display and a parade of participating air athletes from over 40 countries all around the world.
The ceremony was presided over by the Prince of Asturias.
The moment of the opening of the Games was marked by a solemn flame-lighting ceremony, the flame having been brought to Seville from the Mediterranean island of Ikaria, site of Icarus' mythological flight.
FAI President Wolfgang Weinreich stressed in his opening speech that air sports are very special. They need extensive infrastructure on the ground. They need free airspace. And they need good weather. "Andalucia has all of these ingredients," he said "as well as a wonderful landscape and history."
He explained that it was the FAI's strategy to make air sports a popular television attraction: "They have everything to please the public: spectacular pictures, heroes, speed, grace and daring, a modern image,
fashionable accessories. The World Air Games 2001 will be a major step towards our goal."
The highlights of the World Air Games will be broadcast daily on prime time television in Spain until 30 June.
Following the Opening Ceremony, the World Air Games participants dispersed to the 9 different sites which will host the different air sports events. Contests begin today (24 June) on most sites, although some events already started a few days ago.
Amongst the top-level air athletes present at the World Air Games are World Champion Parachutists ......., Aerobatics Pilots Svetlana Kapanina.......; Hang Gliders......... and, local heroes Ramon Alonso (Aerobatic European Vice-Champion) and Ramon Morillas (powered paraglider pilot, winner of the 1st WAG Championship and world record holder)
Daily news reports will appear on the FAI web site (http://www.fai.org/). Full results and news will also appear daily on the web site of the WAG organisers at http://www.wag2001.org/.
