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"Multi-sport events" are proliferating around the world. There seems to be scarcely a continent or a grouping of sports that does not have its own event, with extensive media coverage. FAI has the "World Air Games", the great gathering of air sports, due to take place this June in Spain. Less known in the air sport community, but very important for the future, are the "World Games" , the quadrennial gathering of the sports that are recognised by the International Olympic Committee, but are not (yet) on the programme for the Olympic Games. Included in these Games are such disciplines as water-ski-ing, roller-skating, rhythmic gymnastics - and parachuting. The skydivers first featured on the programme in 1997, in Lahti, Finland, and the world's best jumpers are there again this year in Akita, Japan. After many years of hesitation, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has just given its formal support to the World Games, promising to help the Games financially and logistically, so that they can develop into a genuinely respected and well-known alternatiive to the Olympic Games. Mr Samaranch, the soon-to-retire IOC President, has also requested the National Olympic Committees to give support to teams going to the World Games. This is an important boost for parachuting and was discussed at some length at the FAI Parachuting Commission (IPC) meeting in San Diego in late January. Some delegates reported that their national sports authorities ahd already reacted to Mr Samaranch's request. Soon, other recognised air sports (gliding, hang gliding) will no doubt be vying to join the World Games, perhaps for the 2005 edition in Duisburg, Germany. There are at least 6 major cities bidding for the 2009 event, so watch this space... Speaking of multi-disciplinary events, the IPC decided to approve France's plans to run a "Mondial" parachuting championships at Gap in the Maritime Alps in 2003. The concept is that all the skydiving disciplines will compete for titles simultaneously. To improve interest for the public, a freefall style and accuracy lander might be followed by a canopy formation team, and this by an 8-way freefall formation team or a by a skysurfer, freestyler or freeflyer. The integration of all these very different parachuting disciplines will make for complex logistical problems, but should provide a great spectacle for the public - and added interest for the jumpers themselves. The IPC meeting was organised to coincide with the symposium of the
Parachute Industry Association in San Diego - a trade fair for all forms
of parachute equipment. Delegates had the opportunity to rub shoulders
with the manufacturers of the equipment that assures them of safe landings,
and many of whom have given financial support to the World Air Games.
This cooperation between sporting goods manufacturers and sports governing
bodies is very common in other sports, but only just beginning in air
sports. It needs to be developed further, to the mutual advantage of
all who jump and fly.
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