PH BIDS TO HOST 2015 WORLD CUP Press Release
Manila, Philippines – “It will be an exciting challenge for the Philippines to host the World Cup in 2015,” said Randell “Buko” Raymundo, in a statement released earlier this week, on the progress of air adventure sports in the country.
Much credit to this privileged invitation from the organizers of the Paragliding Accuracy World Cup (PGAWC) may be attributed to the successful run of the 1st International Paragliding Accuracy Championship (IPAC 2014), held earlier this year in Sarangani Province. Attended by pilots from more than 10 countries, the event was a collaborative effort between both private and public sectors.
“The international delegates who competed at the IPAC 2014 were among the best in the world. The presentation of paragliding in the Philippines with the DOT in Region 12, along with the other agencies, created this window of opportunity of bringing the World […Cup] into the country. Their support has been invaluable.”
The Chief of Philippine Paragliding and IPAC 2014 Event Director, Air Sports Specialist Raymundo is the first pilot-athlete to represent the country at the 4th Asian Beach Games happening on November 14-22, in Phuket, Thailand. “This year has been very good for Philippine Paragliding and we are again deeply honored for this chance. Milestone after milestone, the developments humbles us to carry on with our vision of institutionalizing paragliding in the country.”
Due to the amount of support that air adventure sports continue to gather from diverse sectors and industries, pilot-athletes have become more motivated and encouraged to elevate their skills in free-flying and safety paragliding. Air Sports Adventure Philippines (ASAP), as the only provider of technical skills training programs in paragliding, powered paragliding and speed-flying, will continue to conduct pilot rating and certification courses over the months leading towards the 2015 Series, to prepare the athletes for the upcoming competition season.
The bid submitted to the PGAWC stakeholders earlier this month has valid claims to mark the beginning of next year’s series in May 2015, at the Safi Paragliding Site in Maasim, Sarangani Province. The location, with 300 days flyable weather offers the best conditions for paragliding accuracy discipline and for the level of competition that PGAWC will potentially bring. At least 80 high-ranking pilots from all corners of the globe will be expected to compete at the event.
“If and when the country’s’ bid to host PGAWC 2015 is approved, we are very optimistic that it will again make Philippine air sports history,” continued Raymundo.
