AIR SPORTS INTERNATIONAL

   A WATERSHED ?
   We are rapidly approaching our annual meeting of the FAI Council, due in May 28th and 29th in Paris - this time around, a meeting of monumental importance for the future of FAI.

   The FAI Council, what is that? What is its importance to you, as a practicing air sports enthusiast? A group of stuffy old men, out of touch with reality? Hardly.

   First : the FAI Council is the Executive body of FAI, consisting of FAI Vice Presidents from our leading member Aeroclubs (usually about 30) and the 10 FAI Air Sport Commission Presidents (YOUR commission president among them!). The Council meets every year in May, approves the decisions made by FAI Officers and decides on matters referred to Council by the General Conference.

   Second : FAI Council decisions normally do not touch you personally, except if you belong to an FAI Member which has not filled its obligations and gets suspended by Council - in that case, you lose your rights to take part in FAI competitions. It does touch you if you are a World Games Competitor, because Council decides who gets to organize the next World Air Games!

   The coming Council meeting in Paris will make no less that three major, historical decisions, referred to it by the FAI General Conference:

	Deciding who will organize the Second World Air Games in 2001.
	Deciding on the general principles of FAI's future business strategy, i.e. from which sources we will get income to finance our future activities, and how we shall get it.
	Deciding on the future location of FAI Headquarters: offers from four cities in three countries bidding to host FAI's headquarters.

   Each of these decisions will have profound effect on FAI's future regardless of what decision that is made (remembering that NOT making a decision is also a decision).

   The selection of the next World Air Games host, between Austria, Spain and Turkey, will influence air sport competitions for the next four years.

   FAI's future business strategy may sound dull to you, but it affects you directly: commercial power and success for FAI means better financial conditions for YOU. Higher recognition from media, higher sponsor value, a place in the sun for YOUR sport - these do not come floating by themselves, it takes action and initiative, and financing - you need to sow before you can reap.

   Ever since the birth of FAI in 1905, our headquarters have been in Paris. Today, after 93 years, Paris' operating conditions for FAI and its secretariat are no longer tenable. We have investigated alternative locations for many years. Now, on the Council's table in Paris are offers from Geneva, Lausanne, Monaco and Vienna to be home to FAI's headquarters, all of them with the solid support of their respective authorities. Obviously, this decision will be one of the forces shaping the FAI of the future.

   No little burden on the FAI Council - the handful of people who represent YOU! I will do my best to guide the Council through a proper decision making process. It concerns YOUR future!

Eilif J Ness
President FAI


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