E-Paper
Bir-Billing readies to bid for paragliding World Cup tour
Sheltered by the mighty Dhauladhar ranges and surrounded by sprawling tea gardens, the Bir-Billing valley, considered one of the finest aero-sports sites, is readying to bid for hosting the Paragliding World Cup Tour, 2015.
Sheltered by the mighty Dhauladhar ranges and surrounded by sprawling tea gardens, the Bir-Billing valley, considered one of the finest aero-sports sites, is readying to bid for hosting the Paragliding World Cup Tour, 2015.
Having successfully hosted the pre-world cup in October this year, the valley has been given a green signal by the Paraglidiing World Cup Association (PWCA).
However, the Bir-Billing valley will have to wait till 2015 to host the event as the schedule for 2014 world cup tour has already been finalised.
“We recently received a communication from the PWCA that Bir-Billing site has been among the possible venues for the Pargaliding World Cup Tour in 2015,” said Anurag Sharma, director of the Billing Paragliding Association (BPA).
Headed by urban development minister Sudhir Sharma, the BPA had organised pre-world cup championship this year.
Anurag said the PWCA approval came following a report submitted to the apex body by expert Ulric Jessop recommending Bir-Billing site for the world cup event. Jessop was PWCA observer during the pre-world cup held here in October.
Meanwhile, BPA vice-president Suresh Thakur said: “To fulfill PWCA norms, the world sports body has suggested some modification which will be done at the earliest,” said Thakur.
Each year, the tour visits over six different locations worldwide.
The 2013 Paragliding World Cup Tour included five venues, South Africa, Brazil, France, Serbia and Turkey.
Many pre-world cup championships have been organised at Billing. However, the lack of basic amenities such as accommodation facilities and back-up rescue system were main bottlenecks.
