Himachal to host India’s first paragliding World Cup in October
On Monday, Himachal Pradesh Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma, who is also President of the Billing Paragliding Association (BPA), directed to ban construction activities near the takeoff and landing sites.
While chairing a meeting of Tourism and other concerned departments to review the preparations for the world cup, which was also attended by the members of the BPA, Sudhir Sharma said matter would also be taken up with the concerned authorities to declare Mandi to Shahpur as non flying zone.
He said that live trekking system facility would be introduced during the event to ensure safety of the pilots and it would also help in rescue operations in case of any emergency. He said that a national championship would also be organized after the main event in the month of November.
He said that steps were afoot to develop infrastructure of international standard for the championship. “The work on developing take-off sites was almost in final stage and the Public Works Department had been directed to repair and maintain the roads leading to the paragliding sites besides installing street lights,” he added.
He said that paragliders from over 50 countries were expected to participate in the championship as 47 countries had already confirmed their participation in the event. The event would go a long way in promoting sports and tourism in the state, he added.
He said that after hosting Paragliding Pre-World Cup successfully, the Paragliding World Cup Association, France had given opportunity to the State to host world championship He said that it was a great achievement for the hill state to host the first ever paragliding world cup in the country.
He said this event would boost the sports and tourism activities in the state as international participants, pilots and others would visit the majestic Kangra valley during this championship. He said that different kinds of activities would be organised to add attraction to the competition including acrow show and hot ballooning.
