Bir-Billing paragliding World Cup preparations on last leg

The Tourism Department and the Bir-Billing Paragliding Association (BPA) are giving the final touches to the preparation for the Paragliding World Cup Championship to be held from November 2. Senior officials of the Tourism Department have already reached Bir-Billing to inspect the arrangements for the international event.

Anurag Sharma, president of the BPA, said that a team of the Paragliding World Cup Association (PWCA) reached Bir-Billing yesterday. With its head office in Paris, the PWCA organises global adventurous events and selects best pilots for paragliding.

Sharma said that 135 pilots from 32 countries had applied online to participate in the global event. However, the PWCA had cleared the names of 75 pilots so far. It had denied entry to 60 pilots, whose documents and flying hours were not in accordance with the international standards and as per the guidelines laid down by the Federation Aeronautic International (FAI) and the PWCA, which would hold the selection process for local pilots at Bir on Tuesday.

He said that the PWCA and the FAI had already barred Russian and Nepalese pilots from the championship. Nepalese pilots were not allowed to take part in the championship as there was no flying club affiliated with the FAI in their country. However, no specific reason had been given for debarring the Russian pilots. It is stated that because of the Ukraine War, they were not allowed to take part in the event.

Hundreds of foreign and domestic pilots, who are busy in trial flying, have already arrived here. With the improvement in the local weather and better thermals in the sky, over 250 tandem and solo flights are taking off from Billing every day.

Sharma said that the BPA had laid special stress on the safety of pilots and tourists. Besides, no pilot would be allowed to fly in case of an inclement weather. He added that helicopters had also been kept on standby to evacuate pilots in case of any mishap.

The Public Works Department has repaired the road leading to Billing. To tackle the scarcity of potable water, a new pipeline has been laid in Billing.