FAI conference Incheon, Korea
The 103rd FAI (Federation Aeronautique Internationale) General Conference held in Incheon, Korea, in October was said to be a landmark event at a time when ‘the geopolitical and economic centre of gravity of the world is moving steadily to the East’.
The Conference was the first to be held in Asia for almost a quarter of a century (previously in 1985 – New Delhi) and attracted 23 Asian countries. Only 4 attended in 2008 and 2 in 2007, the improvement in numbers of delegates from Asia being attributed to its location.
The Conference delegates unanimously adopted the following “Incheon Declaration on the Development of International Air Sports” :
– In order to increase choices and opportunities, we pledge to increase support for air sports among developing countries, including those in East Asia.
– We encourage FAI Members to cooperate to enhance the growth of air sports and further have those adopted formally into the Asian Games and other major multi-sport events.
– We renew our global commitment to fulfilling the low carbon “green growth” initiative so that we can take our share of responsibility in the field of air sports to improve the global environment.
The FAI say that personal contacts made at the Incheon Conference, and the increased level of knowledge about Asia amongst delegates from other continents, should help give a boost to air sports in Asia – the area of the world where the potential for growth is greatest.
