Bogor, W Java (Antara) -- Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs Imam Nahrowi officially inaugurated the 8th World Paragliding Accuracy Championship (WPAC) in Gunung Mas Puncak, Bogor, West Java province, on Monday.
The minister appreciated the organization of the WPAC as a pride of Indonesia, as it is the first Asian country to host the international tournament.
"This event is not a pride of the paragliding world alone but also of the people of Indonesia, as the country is the first in Asia to host the championship," Nahrowi said.
Moreover, he believes that the WPAC in Indonesia, which will have 125 athletes from 19 countries participating in it, can be a historic event as it will be held along with the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of Indonesia's independence.
The minister also pointed out that the implementation of the WPAC can encourage the government to include paragliding in the 2018 Asian Games.
Furthermore, the organizer of the 8th WPAC, Gendon Subandono, stated that the championship was being held outside Europe for the first time, and Indonesia was the first Asian country to host the event.
"It is an honor. In the history of the WPAC, it is for the first time that the number of participants has reached 125. Earlier, there were some 60 to 70 athletes," he remarked.
Subandono added that in this tournament, athletes compete for the world championship in landing accuracy in the men's, women's, and team categories.
Each athlete will fly three times to secure the highest points, he explained.
Minister Inaugurated The 8th World Paragliding Accuracy Championship
Senin, 10 Agustus 2015 19:15 WIB
Ilustrasi - Atlet paralayang beraksi pada Kejuaraan Dunia Paralayang nomor Ketepatan Mendarat (Paragliding Accuracy World Cup)di Puncak, Bogor, Jawa Barat. (Foto Antara/Puspa Perwitasari/Dok).
This event is not a pride of the paragliding world alone but also of the people of Indonesia, as the country is the first in Asia to host the championship.
