First medals won at the FAI World Air Games in Dubai

The FAI World Air Games, conducted under the rules of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), has commenced in Dubai.

It is the premier international multi-discipline air sports event fielding the world’s top Air Sports athletes. 

The multi-discipline event was organised by the Emirates Aerosports Federation under the patronage of the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and will take place up to December 12,  2015. 

Donatas Pauzuolis from Lithuania took the first Gold medal of the FAI World Air Games last night, when he won the F3P Aerobatics Modelling at the Dubai Mall. 

The 31-year-old competitor wowed the judges with a series of almost flawless performances – winning every heat and establishing a clear lead from the start. 

“It is a dream,” he said, “I’ve spent half a year of my life training for this, and everything paid off.” 

More than 1,000 parachute jumps were made at the Skydive Dubai Desert Campus yesterday as competitors prepared for the event. 

The paraglider acro fiends were also practising, jumping out of helicopters before spiralling and looping down to the raft in the Palm Dropzone bay. 

They will be competing in the Aerobatics Synchro event today at the Palm, where the crowd will see first round of the Powered Aerobatics competition and a an Airshow featuring multiple air sports. 

Ten air sports are programmed: Aerobatics, Aeromodelling, Aerostats, Amateur-Built Aircraft, General Aviation, Gliding, Microlights & Paramotors, Parachuting, Paragliding and Rotorcraft. 

The FAI said its primary goals for this event is to determine “FAI World Air Games Champions”; to showcase air sports to the general public and promote public participation in air sports by attracting new participants to air sports disciplines; to promote FAI events to other sports organisations and to create an attractive platform for TV, media and other external stakeholders.