Press release: Before 31st FAI WGC with Jozef Šnirc

The 31st FAI World Gliding Championship 2010, taking place between July 3^rd and 18^th in Prievidza ,will be the most significant sport event in Slovakia this year. In the interview for AeroHobby journal we asked the championship’s director, Jozef Šnirc, how the preparations for 31^st FAI WGC World Gliding Championship are going. The preparations began last year and were officially announced on July 2, 2009. So, what is the state of the preparations now?

It was decided two years ago that the championships would take place Prievidza. Preparations are progressing according to the long-term plan. For now, the end of December, we have extended the aerodrome area, built the access road base, and have added parking lots and a camp site with newly-built showers and toilets. It was necessary to build up new electric and water hookups and to rebuild the supply network. The capacity of the Aerorest restaurant was extended and a modern kitchen added. We also extended accommodation capacity.

Organization of any sport event depends on the financial support from the public and private sectors in the form of sponsorship and advertising benefits. It is no surprise that our economic conditions under the current economic crisis has had an effect our search for support. A world contest means high expenses in the preparation and organization. This situation has forced us to take out a not insignificant bank loan. Of course, we are not working alone. The companies with regional, state and global activities gave us a helping hand and we would like to say big “Thank you” for this. We consider them as members of organizing team, without whom the preparation would be much more difficult. The premier partner of the 31^st FAI WGC 2010 is Aerospool company, famous producer of popular aircraft WT 9 Dynamic.

What does the preparation process indicate? In other words, what participation can we expect from which countries, which teams are expected to do well, and which kinds of gliders will we see?

Because the preliminary team and pilot registration is in progress, we do not have the exact information at this moment. We anticipate the participation of 24 countries with a total of 110 participants. Prievidza airfield will become “home” for approximately 400 people for two or three weeks.

Among the favourites is the German team, who will present a strong challenge, followed by the teams of Italy, France, Poland and Czech Republic. From the non-European countries we expect a strong team from Australia. Of course we would be very pleased if the Slovak team should be successful.

In standard class there will be gliders like LS 8 and Discus 2. These are today the best types in this class. In club class there will be gliders like those most often used in aero clubs. And in the world class there will be the monotype of the PW5.

The 52^nd Slovak International Gliding Championship together with pre- world competition of 31^st FAI WGC in standard, club and handicap class were held in Prievidza last year. What are the chances for Slovakia and for the Czech Republic in this championship?

As I said, the team from the Czech Republic belongs among the favourites of this championship but Slovakia will also have a strong team. In the last world championship in Italy Jozef Kožár was fifth in club class.

What can the participants expect, how do you want to take care of them and what do you prepare for their free days? Of course, if you have some surprise, we can talk about it off-record.

First of all, we want the pilots and their teams to feel at home. We believe that the weather will be great but in the case of non-flying days we will prepare alternative plans for participants, for example visiting cultural and social events.

It is our goal to attract spectators who are usually missed in these kinds of events. We are working hard to create an exciting atmosphere for them. They will see competing gliders not only on the ground but also in the air thanks to the online race projection in the airfield area. We cannot forget about the popularization of gliding and the championship as well.

Prievidza and gliding contests belong together like the lock and key. Try to open it and briefly summarize the gliding tradition in Prievidza.

Yes, Prievidza is a traditional organizer of the contests and not only gliding ones. Many regional gliding competitions and Slovak championships have been held and in 1997 Prievidza was the home of the European Women Gliding Championship. Prievidza has a great location and is well suited for gliding contests. Its position makes it possible to do beautiful long cross-country flights which begin with early departures to the hills and finish with late arrivals from the long-active thermal areas.

The airfield is strategically located to make effective use the airspace not only in Slovakia but also in surrounding countries – the Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary.

This year our aero club celebrates 60 years of activity. I think that 31^st FAI WGC will be the best way to celebrate this and to contribute to the promotion of the Prievidza airfield, the Horná Nitra region and Slovakia to the world.

Thanks for interview and we will meet on WGC! Information about the process of preparation and the contest you can find on the official web site of 31^st FAI WGC – www.wgc2010.sk.