Tourism Dept comes to rescue after main sponsor of Paragliding World Cup backs out
The state Tourism Department has come to the aid of the Bir Paragliding Association (BPA) after the main sponsor of the Paragliding World Cup backed out. Sources said that ‘Being Creative’, which was the main sponsor of the Paragliding World Cup, backed out about three days before the start of the event.
BPA president Anurag Sharma told The Tribune that their main sponsor ‘Being Creative’ had backed out from sponsoring the paragliding event. He said, “When we requested Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Chairman RS Bali, they helped us. The BPA requires at least Rs 1.5 crore to organise the Paragliding World Cup. The main expenditure of Rs 40 lakh is spent on keeping a helicopter on standby during the entire World Cup. Besides, pilots participating in the event and the organising committee are to be provided boarding, lodging and other facilities.”
Sharma said, “On the intervention of RS Bali, the Tourism Department helped us in arranging logistics for the paragliders, who will be participating in the event. Now, we will be able to host the international event successfully.”
He said, “We have requested the state government to finance at least international-level paragliding events in Bir-Billing. The BPA finds it difficult to get sponsors for such events, which require a huge investment. The association’s role should be limited to technical jobs for organising international events.”
Bali said that the Tourism Department was always ready to provide support for events that promote tourism in the state. It was a matter of pride that Himachal Pradesh, especially Kangra district, was hosting the Paragliding World Cup in which paragliders from 38 countries were participating, he added.
He said that the government would consider the proposal of the BPA to take over the responsibility of funding events like the Paragliding World Cup in future. “The government intends to increase the level of participation in such events in Himachal so as to attract more national and international tourists,” he added.
On the first day of the Paragliding World Cup today, the participants were given the task of covering an aerial distance of 68 km (93 km on the ground). The participants covered an aerial distance of 5 km from Billing to Sansal, 11 km from Sansal to Ghatasani, 26 km from Ghatasani to Kandwari, 25 km from Kandwari to Chena Pass, 5 km from Chena Pass to Ahju and 3 km from Ahju to the landing site.
Seventy-two participants from 23 countries competed in the event. Amid majestic and panoramic scenery, the paragliders took off from Billing, hovered in the sky and then landed at the Bir site. They drew huge crowds of locals and tourists. Most restaurants and cafes in the region did a brisk business due to the Paragliding World Cup in Bir.
- Austin Cox of the USA won by scoring 1,000 points
- Dominic Kapica of Poland remained at second position with 861.4 points
- Bence Halasz of Hungry came third with 858.5 points
- Joana Kocat of Poland bagged first position with 724.8 points
- Marina Olexina of Brazil came second by scoring 372.6 points
- Daria Eltekove of Germany was placed at third spot with 370.5 points
