The 2011 Paragliding World Championships has been cancelled after two tasks.
The two tragic deaths of Argentinian pilot Francisco Vargas and Chilean pilot Eitel von Muhlenbrock plus four other reserve deployments all on Task 2 brought the event to a halt forcing CIVL to stop and take stock of a competition where 95% of the field are flying two-line gliders.
After careful reflection CIVL and their governing body the FAI have withdrawn all support for Open Class competition gliders in a statement released through the 2011 World Championships website.
12th FAI World Paragliding Championships come to a close.
As a result of the tragic events in the second task of this FAI event, and after due consideration of all the information available, the CIVL Bureau has decided, under its executive powers, and with the full support of the FAI Executive Board, to suspend the certification of Competition Class Paragliders, with immediate effect.
As a result, the organisers have decided that it is not possible to continue with further tasks that meet the aims of World and Continental championships, as set out in the FAI Sporting Code. The two tasks flown to date are both valid under the rules and are therefore sufficient to meet the minimum requirements set out in Section 7B.
The 12th FAI World Paragliding Championship is therefore considered to have been validated.
The closing ceremony and prize-giving will be held tomorrow, Saturday, 8th July at 1pm in the main square.
The CIVL President has thanked the safety working group formed by the pilots and team leaders for all their work on developing ideas to improve safety. He believes there are some very useful ideas there that we hope the relevant CIVL subcommittees will follow up.
The Jury President, Vitor Pinto, and other CIVL Officials present have stated that, the organising team has made every effort to comply with the FAI Sporting Code which covers all aspects of competition rules and safety considerations for FAI 1st Category events. These include the new and complex rules introduced this year for Competition Class paragliders. “We greatly appreciate the excellent work of the organisers and we are all deeply disappointed that, through no fault of the organising team, that this competition has resulted in such a sad outcome, ”Mr Pinto commented. Competition Director, Steve Ham, also announced that the organising team is preparing a bid to run the first FAI World Paragliding XC Championship in Serial Class , here in Piedrahita at this time next year, “The CIVL President has told us that he welcomes the proposed bid and that the CIVL Bureau will be favourably disposed towards it,” he said.
Jose Luis Diaz Iraeta – Event Director
Steve Ham – Competition Director
More information and comment tomorrow.
