The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale's new offices in the Olympic capital of Lausanne, Switzerland were officially inaugurated on 21 January 1999 with a reception attended by IOC Senior Representatives and leading authorities from the Lausanne municipality and Swiss aviation circles.

A special guest was Lausanne resident Bertrand Piccard, pilot of the Breitling Orbiter 3, who hopes to be the first to fly non-stop round the world in a balloon. He was presented with a first edition 2nd World Air Games special commemorative medal depicting his balloon.

FAI 1st Vice President, Wolfgang Weinreich, told guests that the move to Lausanne was the start of a new era for FAI, in which air sports would find their rightful place on TV, and perhaps one day on the Olympic programme. The 2nd World Air Games, in Andalucia (June 2001) would be given wide media coverage throughout the world.

The FAI has taken on three new staff members in Lausanne, in addition to the three who moved from Paris. The offices will provide facilities for small meetings as well as normal office functions, and this meeting room will sometimes be available to air sport groups who wish to meet in the Olympic capital.