By Gary Anderson

The 2015 World Air Games will take place in Dubai ©FAIThe World Air Sports Federation (FAI) has announced the 2015 World Air Games will take place in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

The 12-day event is scheduled to take place from December 1 to 12 next year at Skydive Dubai and will be organised by the Emirates Aerosports Federation after its head, Nasser Al Neyadi, signed a Memorandum of Agreement with FAI President Dr John Grubbström, in Lausanne today.

Dubai already hosts the annual Dubai International Parachuting Championships which have been running since 2010 and in 2012 staged the FAI World Championships which saw 1,440 participants from 57 countries participating in 13 different disciplines.

The World Air Games are billed as the premier international multi-discipline air sports event and will see competitors competing across a number of disciplines including skydiving, glider aerobatics, ballooning, gyrocopters, hang gliding, helicopters, micro-lights, experimental aircraft and para-motors.

This will be the third edition of the Games which first took place in Selçuk, Turkey in 1997 followed by events in Seville, Spain in 2001 and Turin, Italy in 2009.

Dubai will provide a spectacular backdrop for athletes as they compete at next year's World Air Games ©FAIDubai will provide a spectacular backdrop for athletes as they compete at next year's World Air Games ©FAI




"It is a pleasure to announce that the FAI World Games 2015 will be held in Dubai, hosted by the Emirates Aerosports Federation," said Grubbström.

"Air sports are growing rapidly in this part of the world and we are confident that with their successful experience in event hosting and air sport competition organisation, Dubai will bring the FAI World Air Games to a new level.

"The FAI World Air Games is an absolutely thrilling competition which showcases the best of air sports.

"Every single detail of each event will be thought through to communicate the excitement and joy of air sports to the spectators on-site and to the television viewers.

"I also know how much it means for an athlete to participate in what is the "Olympiad" of air sports, as I had the privilege to compete as a ballooning pilot in this event before.

"I cannot wait for next year to attend the Games in Dubai, in front of the spectacular skyline."

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