This forum is dedicated to discussions on how to grow the sport of hang gliding. We will take a methodical approach to collect data and come up with implementable ideas on how to increase our numbers. This includes effective marketing, lead generation, site access issues, improving regulations, lack of instructors, lack of sites, etc

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User avatar
By Flyking
#309689
Now that the worlds is over and USA took the Silver I still Dont understand why Hang Gliding isnt an Olympic Sport. :evil: Come on they have all these stupid sports that are not as half as interesting as hang gliding :roll: . Has the USHPA ever tryed to get hang gliding into the Olympics ? If not why have they not tried? What does it take to get a sport into the Olympics? It could be an excellent spectator sport for Aerobatics :wink:. It would spike intrest with a lot of people I think if it were an Olympic sport :popcorn:
User avatar
By tom emery
#309707
X Games. This sport? Is way too exciting for the Olympics.
User avatar
By Flyking
#309800
Thanks Fred :lol: It looks like there is a lot of apathy from Hang Glider pilots when it comes to Olympic Sports. There are a few of us who think it would be good for the sport. Those of us who do need to get together and focus on a goal to make it happen. Maybe one day my grandson will bring home the Gold for USA. :thumbsup:
User avatar
By Fred Wilson
#309802
As I said in earlier threads, the FAI is the Official, Recognized, Olympic Organization of Aviation.
- Set up by the Olympic committee. See the FAI Home page history.

Right now there are only two events involving our sports in the FAI Olympics - called World Air Games. http://www.fai.org/events/fai-world-air-games

Both are Paragliding Events and both are very spectator centric sports.

Paragliding Accuracy http://www.fai.org/civl-our-sport/paragliding-accuracy

and Paragliding Aerobatics. http://www.fai.org/civl-our-sport/aerobatics

So the obvious first steps are to heavily promote and support:
1. Hang Gliding Aerbatics to the point were enough nations generate champions to warrant an event.

2. Spot Landing /Accuracy Contests (So I suppose someone needs to come up with a better idea about how to go about this...)
See: http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=18006

Accuracy contests use an electronic measuring devise. Almost nothing is known about it outside of PG accuracy and sky diving.
(As far as I know there are only a handful in North America.)

If anyone knows anything about these electonic spot measuring instruments, it would be interesting to know.
Does each pilot have to wear a device?

I've always thought it would be fun to try out to see what is is all about - and see if there really is any future to it... :freddy:
Last edited by Fred Wilson on Mon Jan 28, 2013 10:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
By Hangskier
#309805
Golf will be back in the olympics in 2016 since being out since 1904.

And what's up with curling in the olympics....now that is a real mans sport!
User avatar
By Fred Wilson
#371899
Paragliding (only by the looks of it) may have made it.
- Probably Paragliding Accuracy (which Canada & the USA has yet to glom onto) ... and / or Paragliding Aerobatics.
____________________

From: "Steffan Malbos - CIVL"
To: "CIVL Info"
Cc: "CIVL Delegates"
Sent: Tuesday, 9 June, 2015 6:35:38 AM
Subject: Paragliding: an Olympic sport?

On request from the Organising Committee of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, FAI has selected Paragliding as a potential additional event.
FAI, CIVL, the Japan Aeronautic Association and the Japan Hang and Paragliding Federation have worked on a proposal.

By the end of September, we will know if our sport is in the “short list”.
The International Olympic Committee will then choose from it.