FAI fortifies Chinese relations at key meeting in Beijing
The relationship between FAI and its Member Federation in China, the Aero Sports Federation of China (ASFC), is stronger than ever following an important meeting that took place in Beijing in May.
FAI President Frits Brink and FAI Secretary General Susanne Schödel were honoured to attend, alongside Chinese Olympic Committee Vice President and State General Administration of Sports Vice Minister Zhao Yong and ASFC representatives including Executive Vice President Jia Bing.
Topics discussed included the Wuhan Fly-in Expo, the World Air Games 2020, and the next edition of the Asian Games in Indonesia, as well as FAI World Drone Racing Championships due to be held at the Universiade Shenzhen stadium in Shenzhen, China from 1-4 November 2018.
Brink said: “This highly successful meeting demonstrates the FAI’s commitment to reinforcing its relationship with National Federations in Asia – a huge growth area for air sports such as drone racing.
“Our discussions took in key elements of organisation and preparation for the 1st FAI World Drone Racing Championships in November, the launch of the FAI Drone Racing Masters series in 2019, the FAI World Air Games in Turkey in 2020 and the World Games in 2012 in Alabama.
“That is the journey we are looking at – an era of four years of intensive focus on air and drone sports on a global scale.”
Brink added that preparations for the Drone Racing Championships in Shenzhen, a drone powerhouse that is home to some 70% of the world’s drone manufacturing industry, are well underway.
“We were really impressed to see how far the plans have developed,” he said.
“There are lots of exciting ideas being put into action, including live-streaming via China’s online streaming specialist Tencent.”
Photo (l-r): FAI Secretary General Susanne Schödel, FAI Executive Director Jean-Claude Weber, FAI President Frits Brink, Chinese Olympic Committee Vice President Zhao Yong, ASFC Executive Vice President Jia Bing, National Winter Sports Administration Chief Ren Hongguo, Andy Chau of the Airsport Federation of Asia (AFA)
