World Air Games Dubai begins today

Nearly all the participating athletes for the FAI World Air Games (WAG) Dubai 2015 have landed for the first-ever competition of its kind to be held in the region.

More than 1,200 athletes participating in 23 different sporting disciplines had landed by Monday evening setting the stage for the opening day of competition at the Skydive Dubai dropzone on Tuesday morning.

Held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, the FAI World Air Games (WAG) Dubai 2015 will take place at various locations in Dubai starting on December 1 and run till December 12.

The international event will get underway with the Aerostats Hot Air Airships from 4 pm to 7 pm at the Skydive Dubai dropzone.

On December 2 (Wednesday), the competition will continue from 5 am with the Aerostats Hot Air Balloons and Hot Air Arships followed by the Parachuting Canopy Piloting from 7.30 am.

The official opening ceremony has been set at the Skydive Dubai dropzone to coincide with the 44th UAE National Day celebrations on December 3.

The organising committee headed by Saeed Hareb, Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee, have been laid out the schedule in such a way that there is maximum participation from the general public and visitors to the UAE.

“This event is for the people of the UAE. We want people to make use of this long weekend and come out in numbers and attend the World Air Games. This event is truly world-class. It is not just the competitions taking place, but also an involvement between the participating athletes and inventors and dreamers from the sport,” Saeed Hareb told media on the eve of the competition.

Over a period of 12 days, competitions will be held in Aerobatics, Aeromodelling, Aerostats (Balloons and Airships), Amateur-built and Experimental Aircraft, Gliding, Parachuting, Paragliding, Rotorcraft, Paramotor and Microlights such as Weightshifts and Gyrocopters.

Besides the Skydive Dubai Palm Dropzone at The Palm Jumeirah, the Skydive Dubai Desert Dropzone in Margham, Al Sufouh Beach Dropzone, Jebel Ali Horse Race Dropzone and the RC Airfield in Al Lisali will be utilised during the course of the competitions.

Also during the course of the Games, a one of its kind Para-Medical Symposium from December 3 to 5 will take place at the Meydan Hotel in Nad Al Sheba.