Dubai: More than 1,000 masters of the air are expected to descend on Dubai when the emirate hosts the fourth FAI World Air Games from December 1 to 12 this year.
The multi-discipline event will see competitors take to the skies above Dubai to show their skills in 11 activities, including parachuting, aerobatics, ballooning and paragliding.
The full list of disciplines was announced by the World Air Sports Federation (FAI) in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Monday, while the competition’s logo was unveiled in Dubai the same day.
The ‘Olympics of Air Games’ will be organised by the Emirates Aerosports Federation (EAF) under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council.
Showcasing air sports in different parts of the world is among the FAI’s goals by organising the World Air Games once every four years. First launched in Turkey in 1997, subsequent editions were held in Spain (2001) and Italy (2009).
“If one wants to have pure, clean fun then air sports is the way forward. There are no handicaps, no doping, no hooliganism and no match-fixing. It’s all about having fun and staying healthy,” FAI President Dr John Grubbstorm told Gulf News after unveiling the logo alongside Saeed Hareb, Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee, and DSC General Secretary Nasser Al Neyadi, EAF President, and Yousuf Al Hammadi, EASF Vice-President and Tournament Director.
“The younger generations want a rush, they want adrenaline, they want action, and air sports offer all this and more. I am confident that this is the way forward for us all.
Hareb hailed Dubai’s willingness to “explore and experiment” in its bid to be the sporting capital of the world.
“Dubai plays host to some of the top sporting events in the world, be it golf or tennis. And we are also willing to step into the unknown world of sport by staging events like this World Air Games,” he said.
“There is a deliberate shift in the way Dubai is thinking now. Our aim is to project Dubai at every stage and we are always looking at fresh avenues to put Dubai on the world map.”
