 Without doubt the success of the 1st World Air Games has exceeded expectations with regard to participation. We believe that the formula of joining the World Air Games concept with World Championships has been the main asset. We now have a "product" that with the necessary improvements and refinements can shape a new image of our Federation for the next century.
In looking back at the beginning of the World Air Games concept, you will notice that FAI has been taken in by the fact of implementing the World Air Games project through a process of change of its whole mentality. Only 15 years ago one would never have though it possible to simultaneously stage almost twenty competitions within one single event. Maybe this is the greatest achievement of the World Air Games.
 In terms of needed improvements, the greatest effort must be directed towards an extended exposure to the general public. In that respect the 1st World Air Games did not live up to what we had hoped. Besides being confronted with trying to sell a new and unknown product, the fact that most of our competitions are not conducted in media-friendly ways does account for the failure to make the event more visible and understandable "on the screen".
 Now that the Air Sport Commissions have learned to talk the same language, we can proceed our effort towards developing common procedures aimed at taking all air sport disciplines into the open and make them known and understandable to an excited general public and consequently to generous sponsors. Maybe this is the greatest challenge for the future of the World Air Games.
 Refinements have to be made especially in the selection and management of resources. One of the main lesson learned from the 1st World Air Games is that FAI expertise and especially the active involvement of FAI Air Sport Commissions experts are essential in order to achieve the required level of the single events, while coordination among the experts and integration of the FAI resources with the event organizer's counterparts can make the difference between failure and success of the "big event" as such.
If the "product" World Air Games has to be successfully brought on the market, a professionally structured resource management has to be created within FAI.
 Finally, some thoughts on the role of the FAI members. If we consider our members as some sort of sales agents, one would say that the FAI could not wish a better structured network. Like every system, the FAI agent's organization has strong as well as weak links. During the 1st World Air Games NACs have shown weakness in promoting the event as a whole but strength in supporting the single competitions as about two thirds of the NACs did send athletes to Turkey. A further weakness was left in form of a deficient information flow with many potential participants calling on the Organizer for information and trying to enter the WAG's competitions directly, which leads to the most important role of the FAI Members as the "National Sporting Authorities". We believe that a priority effort has to be made by all FAI Members to "de facto" become NACs and take active control over the sporting activities in their respective countries.
 There are many lessons that have been learned from the 1st World Air Games. To be able to assess them all, the Coordinating Committee has requested the Air Sport Coordinator to conduct debriefing sessions with all Air Sport Commissions involved. This effort is in addition to the wealth of information contained in the many reports received from the FAI Field Experts, the Event Directors, the Chairmen of the International Juries as well as from the Organizer. I can assure you that all remarks will be duly considered and will lead to amendments of the documents governing the future editions of the World Air Games.
The following air sports events actually took place during the 1st World Air Games : 1997:
Parachuting| 1st World Parachuting Championships in Freestyle and Skysurfing | | 12st World Parachuting Championships in Formation Skydiving | | 9th World Cup of Parachuting Champions in Style and Accuracy |
General Aviation| 10th World Air Rally Flying Championships | | 1st World Air Games Long Range Air Race |
Gliding| 1st World Gliding Championship in World Class |
Aerobatics| 7th World Gliders Aerobatics Championships | | Europeans Unlimited Aerobatics Championships |
Aeromodelling| World Championship in Class F3B | | World Championship in Class F3C | | World Cup in Classes F1A, F1B, F1C for seniors | | European Aeromodelling Championships in Classes F1A, F1B, F1J for juniors | | European Aeromodelling Championships in Classes S1B, S3A, S5C, S6A, S7, S8E |
Microlights| 1st World Air Games Microlight Championships |
Hang Gliding| 1st World Air Games Hang gliding Championships |
Paragliding| 1st World Air Games Paragliding Championships |
Ballooning| 1st World Air Games Ballooning Championship |
Following countries participated at the 1st WAG 1997:
| 1 Argentina | 2 Australia | 3 Austria | | 4 Belarus | 5 Belgium | 6 Brazil | | 7 Bulgaria | 8 Canada | 9 Chile | | 10 China | 11 Chinese Taipei | 12 Croatia | | 13 Cyprus | 14 Czech Republic | 15 Denmark | | 16 Finland | 17 France | 18 Fyr of Macedonia | | 19 Germany | 20 Greece | 21 Guatemala | | 22 Hong Kong | 23 Hungary | 24 India | | 25 Indonesia | 26 Iran | 27 Ireland | | 28 Israel | 29 Italy | 30 Japan | | 31 Jordan | 32 Kazakhstan | 33 Korea | | 34 Latvia | 35 Lithuania | 36 Luxembourg | | 37 Mexico | 38 Moldova | 39 Mozambique | | 40 Netherlands | 41 New Zealand | 42 Norway | | 43 Poland | 44 Portugal | 45 Romania | | 46 Russia | 47 Slovak Republic | 48 Slovenia | | 49 South Africa | 50 Spain | 51 Sweden | | 52 Switzerland | 53 Thailand | 54 Turkey | | 55 UK | 56 Ukraine | 57 USA | | 58 Uzbekistan | 59 Venezuela | 60 Yugoslavia |
1st World Air Games Medals distribution
75 sets of medals were given for the 1st WAG 1997 events and 19 sets of the FAI medals were given out for the World and continental championships. In total and for each event following number of medal sets were given:
| | Event | WAG Medals | FAI Medals | | | 1. | Long Range Air Race | 4 sets | / | | | 2. | Air Rally Flying | 2 sets | 2 sets | | | 3. | Aerobatics
| 2 sets | 2 sets | Glider Aerobatics | | | | 4 sets | 4 sets | Power Aerobatics | | 4. | Parachuting | 2 sets | 2 sets | Formation Skydiving | | | | 4 sets | 4 sets | Freestyle and Skysurfing | | | | 12 sets | / | Style and Accuracy | | 5. | Microlights | 7 sets | / | | | 6. | Ballooing | 1 sets | / | | | 7. | Hang Gliding | 3 sets | / | | | 8. | Paragliding | 3 sets | / | | | 9. | Gliding | 1 set | 1 set | | | 10. | Aeromodelling | 12 sets | / | Free Flights | | | | 2 sets | 2 sets | F3B | | | | 2 sets | 2 sets | F3C |
| | | 14 sets | / | Space Models |
Results
 Out of the 80 active and associate FAI members (in good standing), 60 from all 5 continents took part in the 1st WAG 1997. In total 1714 athletes, 1168 other NAC delegation members and 301 ASC officials took part in 18 events and 9 airsports. Total number of all participants is 3183 persons (figures are based on participants' list, obtained from organizer). Participation figures may not be 100% accurate, due to the problems with events' administration. This participation is approx. 15% higher than was estimated. The combination of World and Continental Championships, World cups on one side and 1st WAG on the other side obviously attracted more participants than usual FAI category 1 Events.
Winners of 1st WORLD AIR GAMES Medals
| SNo. | COUNTARY | GOLD | SILVER | BRONZE | TOTAL | | 1. | RUSSIA | 17 | 12 | 9 | 38 | | 2 | FRANCE | 8 | 9 | 8 | 25 | | 3. | USA | 8 | 7 | 4 | 19 | | 4. | GERMANY | 8 | 6 | 3 | 17 | | 5. | POLAND | 5 | 4 | 5 | 14 | | 6. | UK | 5 | 3 | 5 | 13 | | 7. | SLOVAK REPUBLIC | 4 | 3 | 5 | 12 | | 8. | TURKEY | 4 | 2 | | 6 | | 9. | UKRAINE | 3 | 10 | 5 | 18 | | 10. | SWITZERLAND | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | | 11. | SPAIN | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | | 12. | JAPAN | 2 | | 2 | 4 | | 13. | CZECH REPUBLIC | 1 | 5 | 3 | 9 | | 14. | HUNGARY | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | | 15. | SWEDEN | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | | 16. | FINLAND | 1 | 1 | | 2 | | 17. | LATVIA | 1 | | 1 | 2 | | 18. | SLOVENIA | | 3 | 2 | 5 | | 19. | CHINA | | 1 | 3 | 4 | | 20. | AUSTRIA | | 1 | 2 | 3 | | 21. | ITALY | | 1 | 2 | 3 | | 22. | BRAZIL | | 1 | 1 | 2 | | 23. | CANADA | | 1 | 1 | 2 | | 24. | KAZAKHSTAN | | 1 | | 1 | | 25 | LITHUANIA | | | 4 | 4 | | 26. | FYR of MACEDONIA | | | 2 | 2 | | 27. | ISRAEL | | | 2 | 2 | | 28. | KOREA | | | 1 | 1 | | 29 | ROMANIA | | | 1 | 1 | | 30. | SOUTH AFRICA | | | 1 | 1 |
Award of Medals to Participants
MICROLIGHT
WTS Category
| 1. | Bodil - Boultby (UK) | GOLD | | 2. | Suszter - Bodnar (Hungary) | SILVER | | 3. | Plassart - Bisiaux (France) | BRONZE |
WSC Category
| 1. | Thuroczy (Hungary) | GOLD | | 2. | Rawes (UK) | SILVER | | 3. | Keene (UK) | BRONZE |
FSC
| 1. | Dewhurst (UK) | GOLD | | 2. | Bezdek (Czech Republic) | SILVER | | 3. | Sainer (Czech Republic) | BRONZE |
FTS
| 1. | Korella Altenkirch (Germany) | GOLD | | 2. | Iakovlev Pugach (UK) | SILVER | | 3. | Clapham Moody (UK) | BRONZE |
PPG
| 1. | Spain | GOLD | | 2. | France | SILVER | | 3. | Italy | BRONZE |
Team Results
| 1. | UK | GOLD | | 2. | Hungary | SILVER | | 3. | Czech Republic | BRONZE |
PARAGLIDING
Individual Results
| 1. | Hugh Miller (UK) | GOLD | | 2. | Raul Fernandez (Spain) | SILVER | | 3. | Martin Brunn (Austria) | BRONZE |
Women Results
| 1. | Kaz Harland (UK) | GOLD | | 2. | Agnes Fouilleux (France) | SILVER | | 3. | Ju Su Ok (Korea) | BRONZE |
Team Results
| 1. | France | GOLD | | 2. | Spain | SILVER | | 3. | UK | BRONZE |
BALLOONING
Individual Results
| 1. | Uwe Scheider (Germany) | GOLD | | 2. | Lindsay Muir (UK) | SILVER | | 3. | David Bareford (UK) | BRONZE |
GLIDING
Individual Results
| 1. | Frederic Hoyeau (France) | GOLD | | 2. | Julien Henry (France) | SILVER | | 3. | Jesper Engstrom (Sweden) | BRONZE |
1st World Air Games and European Aerobatics Championships (Unlimited)
Men
| 1. | Patrick Paris (France) | GOLD | | 2. | Nikolai Timofeiev (Russia) | SILVER | | 3. | Eddy Dussau (France) | BRONZE |
Women
| 1. | Svetlana Kapanina (Russia) | GOLD | | 2. | Elena Kalimovich (Russia) | SILVER | | 3. | Svetlana Lupanova (Russia) | BRONZE |
1st WAG and 7th World Glider Aerobatics Championship
Glider Aerobatics
| 1. | Mihail Mamistov (Russia) | GOLD | | 2. | Sergei Krikariov (Russia) | SILVER | | 3. | Georgi Kaminski (Russia) | BRONZE |
Gliding Aerobatic Team
| 1. | Russia | GOLD | | 2. | Poland | SILVER | | 3. | France | BRONZE |
HANG GLIDING
Individual Results
| 1. | Tastet Serge (France) | GOLD | | 2. | Oleg Bandarchuk (Ukraine) | SILVER | | 3. | Mario Alonzi (France) | BRONZE |
Team Results
| 1. | France | GOLD | | 2. | Germany | SILVER | | 3. | Ukraine | BRONZE |
Women Results
| 1. | Mario Jo Ruffat (France) | GOLD | | 2. | Natalia Khamlova (Russia) | SILVER | | 3. | Monique Werner (Germany) | BRONZE |
AIR RALLY
Team Results
| 1. | W Wieczorek- K Wieczorek-J Oarocha- Z Chrzaszcz (Poland) | GOLD | | 2. | J Jakes-L Stovicek-F Cihlar- P Touzimsky (Czech Republic) | SILVER | | 3. | H Huber- J Cserveny- J Gutmann- C Landerl (Austria) | BRONZE |
Individual Results
| 1. | W Wieczorek- K Wieczorek (Poland) | GOLD | | 2. | J Oarocha- Z Chraszcz (Poland) | SILVER | | 3. | W Skalik- R Michalski (Poland) | BRONZE |
PARACHUTING
WPC Freestyle-Women Results
| 1. | Manni Hold & Duff (Switzerland) | GOLD | | 2. | Schwab & Dieck (Switzerland) | SILVER | | 3. | Sakakibara & Mizoi (Japan) | BRONZE |
WPC Freestyle-Men Results
| 1. | Alhegelan & King (USA) | GOLD | | 2. | Simith & Raymond (USA) | SILVER | | 3. | Zipser & Nicholas (USA) | BRONZE |
WPC Skysurfing Women Results
| 1. | Wegrath & Haggli (Switzerland) | GOLD | | 2. | Hoffmann & Ritter (Austria & Germany) | SILVER | | 3. | Ryabikova & Knyazhev (Russia) | BRONZE |
WPC Skysurfing Men Results
| 1. | Furrer & Schmidt (Switzerland) | GOLD | | 2. | Claus & Pacheco (Austria & Germany) | SILVER | | 3. | Choford & Padua (Brazil) | BRONZE |
4-WAY
| 1. | USA | GOLD | | 2. | France | SILVER | | 3. | South Africa | BRONZE |
8-WAY
| 1. | USA | GOLD | | 2. | Russia | SILVER | | 3. | France | BRONZE |
WAG Style Women Senior
| 1. | D Bär (Germany) | GOLD | | 2. | C Stearns (USA) | SILVER | | 3. | C Sterbik (France) | BRONZE |
WAG Style Women Junior
| 1. | Ohunakinci (Turkey) | GOLD | | 2. | N Khatyavya (Kazakhstan) | SILVER | | 3. | A Hocquatrix (France) | BRONZE |
WAG Style Men Senior
| 1. | M Pelueger (Germany) | GOLD | | 2. | F Bernachot (France) | SILVER | | 3. | J He (China) | BRONZE |
WAG Style Men Junior
| 1. | T Kunke (Germany) | GOLD | | 2. | H Kircaalic (Turkey) | SILVER | | 3. | P Valois (France) | BRONZE |
Women Overall-Senior
| 1. | Stearns Cheryl A (USA) | GOLD | | 2. | Avbelj Irina (Slovenia) | SILVER | | 3. | Iarmoltcuk Elena (Russia) | BRONZE |
Women Overall Junior
| 1. | Hunakinci Ozlem (Turkey) | GOLD | | 2. | Filipowska Mionika (Poland) | SILVER | | 3. | Song Yanwei (China) | BRONZE |
Men Overall Junior
| 1. | Valois Philippe (France) | GOLD | | 2. | Smith Brian R (USA) | SILVER | | 3. | Kunke Torsten (Germany) | BRONZE |
Men Overall Senior
| 1. | Pflueger Marco (Germany) | GOLD | | 2. | Fiodorov Vladimir (Russia) | SILVER | | 3. | Jug Bogdan (Slovenia) | BRONZE |
Individual Accuracy Men Junior
| 1. | Smith Brian R (USA) | GOLD | | 2. | Valois Philippe (France) | SILVER | | 3. | Stryjak Tomasz (Poland) | BRONZE |
Individual Accuracy Men Senior
| 1. | Fiodorov Vladimir (Russia) | GOLD | | 2. | Aysel Tankut (Turkey) | SILVER | | 3. | Banszki Tamas (Hungary) | BRONZE |
Individual Accuracy Women Senior
| 1. | Stearns Cheryl A (USA) | GOLD | | 2. | Avbelj Irena (Slovenia) | SILVER | | 3. | Sheng Jun (China) | BRONZE |
Individual Accuracy Women Junior
| 1. | Filipowska Mionika (Poland) | GOLD | | 2. | Song Yanwei (China) | SILVER | | 3. | Papp Margareta (Romania) | BRONZE |
Long Range Air Rally
Non Turbo Charged Pistons
| 1. | Germany - Rectimo (Bonanza V35 D-EGUW) | GOLD | | 2. | France - Canada - Little Speedy II N80DS (France-Kanada) | SILVER | | 3. | Spain - Spirit of Freixenet (Twin Comanche EC-BSO) | BRONZE |
Turbo Charged Pistons
| 1. | USA - (PA-46) Ramblin' Reck | GOLD | | 2. | Italy - (M 20 K) Hope of Italy | SILVER | | 3. | Canada - (C-421) Kona Wind | BRONZE |
Turbo Props
| 1. | Turkey - Sabia Gökcen C-3A TC-THK | GOLD | | 2. | USA - Dash TEN (Turbo Commander N-67FE) | SILVER | | 3. | USA - TBM Knight Flight (TBM 700 N-575L) | BRONZE |
Jets
| 1. | Turkey - (Citationjet) Young Turks | GOLD | | 2. | USA - (Citationjet) Dream Machine | SILVER |
Aeromodelling & Spacemodelling Championships
Free Flight World Cup
F1A Individual Results
| 1. | Sergey Kakarov (Russia) | GOLD | | 2. | Alexe Riazantsev (Russia) | SILVER | | 3. | Eyal Galor (Israel) | BRONZE |
F1A Team Results
| 1. | Russia | GOLD | | 2. | Germany | SILVER | | 3. | Ukraine | BRONZE |
F1B Individual Results
| 1. | Viktor Rosonoks (Latvia) | GOLD | | 2. | Andrej Burdov (Russia) | SILVER | | 3. | Evgenlisz Cofalik (Poland) | BRONZE |
F1B Team Results
| 1. | Ukraine | GOLD | | 2. | Poland | SILVER | | 3. | Israel | BRONZE |
F1C Individual Results
| 1. | Alex Mikhailenko (Russia) | GOLD | | 2. | Eugeny Verbitsky (Ukraine) | SILVER | | 3. | Danas Babenskas (Lithuania) | BRONZE |
F1C Team Results
| 1. | Poland | GOLD | | 2. | Ukraine | SILVER | | 3. | Russia | BRONZE |
Free Flight Open European Championships (Juniors)
F1A Individual Results
| 1. | Matti Mölsa (Finland) | GOLD | | 2. | Daniel Neumann (Germany) | SILVER | | 3. | Steffen Reuss (Germany) | BRONZE |
F1A Team Results
| 1. | Germany | GOLD | | 2. | Finland | SILVER | | 3. | Czech Republic | BRONZE |
F1B Individual Results
| 1. | Pavel Fejt (Germany) | GOLD | | 2. | Pavel Vetlugin (Germany) | SILVER | | 3. | Rafal Krutof (Germany) | BRONZE |
F1B Team Results
| 1. | Poland | GOLD | | 2. | Ukraine | SILVER | | 3. | Russia | BRONZE |
F1J Individual Results
| 1. | Alexandr Kontorovich (Russia) | GOLD | | 2. | Vitaly Mironov (Ukraine) | SILVER | | 3. | Egor Kanachin (Russia) | BRONZE |
F1J Team Results
| 1. | Russia | GOLD | | 2. | Ukraine | SILVER | | 3. | Poland | BRONZE |
F3C World Championship
Individual Results
| 1. | Manabu Hashimoto (Japan) | GOLD | | 2. | Curtis Youngblood (USA) | SILVER | | 3. | Kazuyuki Sensui (Japan) | BRONZE |
Team Results
| 1. | Japan | GOLD | | 2. | USA | SILVER | | 3. | Switzerland | BRONZE |
F3B World Championship
Individual Results
| 1. | Darry1 Perking (USA) | GOLD | | 2. | Pasi Vaisanen (Sweden) | SILVER | | 3. | Joakim Stahl (Sweden) | BRONZE |
Team Results
| 1. | Sweden | GOLD | | 2. | UK | SILVER | | 3. | USA | BRONZE |
Open European Spacemodelling Championships
S1B Individual Results
| 1. | Oleg Voronov (Russia) | GOLD | | 2. | Alexey Koriapin (Russia) | SILVER | | 3. | Marjan Cuden (Slovania) | BRONZE |
S1B Team Results
| 1. | Russia | GOLD | | 2. | Slovenia
| SILVER | | 3. | FYR of Macedonia
| BRONZE |
S3A Individual Results
| 1. | Albert Roura Misse (Spain) | GOLD | | 2. | Vasil Pavljuk (Slovakia) | SILVER | | 3. | Peter Hornak (Slovakia) | BRONZE |
S3A Team Results
| 1. | Slovakia | GOLD | | 2. | Switzerland | SILVER | | 3. | FYR of Macedonia | BRONZE |
S4B Individual Results
| 1. | Igor Volkanov (Ukraine) | GOLD | | 2. | Sascha Steinbeck (Germany) | SILVER | | 3. | Michal Zitnan (Slovakia) | BRONZE |
S4B Team Results
| 1. | Ukraine | GOLD | | 2. | Czech Republic | SILVER | | 3. | Slovakia | BRONZE |
S5B Individual Results
| 1. | Maxim Staponov (Russia) | GOLD | | 2. | Oleg Voronov (Russia) | SILVER | | 3. | Michal Zitnan (Slovakia) | BRONZE |
S5B Team Results
| 1. | Russia | GOLD | | 2. | Slovakia | SILVER | | 3. | Ukraine | BRONZE |
S6A Individual Results
| 1. | Nikolay Tchiganko (Russia) | GOLD | | 2. | Peter Hornak (Slovakia) | SILVER | | 3. | Jurgis Strazdas (Lithuania) | BRONZE |
S6A Team Results
| 1. | Slovakia | GOLD | | 2. | Ukraine | SILVER | | 3. | Russia | BRONZE |
S7 Individual Results
| 1. | Alexander Levikh (Russia) | GOLD | | 2. | Mikhail Potoupchik (Russia) | SILVER | | 3. | Arnis Baca (Lithuania) | BRONZE |
S7 Team Results
| 1. | Russia | GOLD | | 2. | Ukraine | SILVER | | 3. | Lithuania | BRONZE |
S8E Individual Results
| 1. | Alojz Pajdlhauser (Slovakia) | GOLD | | 2. | Jaromir Chalupa (Czech Republic) | SILVER | | 3. | Josef Jasso (Slovakia) | BRONZE |
S8E Team Results
| 1. | Slovakia | GOLD | | 2. | Czech Republic | SILVER | | 3. | Russia | BRONZE |
Some Interesting Facts
For the first time more than 3000 participants from 60 countries in 16 different class championships at 7 different locations were held at the same time.
Some facts and figures concerning the World Air Games competitions are as follows: - A total of 10408 jumps were accomplished in Efes; with 707 sorties, of which 320 sorties were done with CASA and 387 sorties with THK aircraft.
- A total of 775 hours flight time was performed in Aydin of which 22 hours were flown with ultralights, 53 hours with powered hang gliders and 28 hours with powered paragliders.
- A total of 868 hours balloon flight was realised in Cappadocia with 62 balloons and 7 hours flight time.
- In Denizli - Pamukkale a total of 699 flights were completed in hang gliding and 1040 flights in paragliding competitions.
- In Antalya - Karain airport 228 sorties were flown in aerobatics competitions and 260 sorties with gliders.
- A total of 1640 hours flight was flown in air rally with 42 aircraft and a total of 513 sorties.
- In Inonu region a total of 319 flights were flown by gliders. The aircraft made 268 sorties of retrieval; with a total flight time of 83 hours.
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