RIYADH, 12 February 2006 — The first International Skydiving Center will be opened tomorrow in the capital city after the closing ceremony of the Second Arab Skydiving Championship in Al-Thumamah.
The center will be opened under the patronage of Prince Khalid ibn Sultan, assistant minister of Defense and Aviation and inspector general for Military Affairs.
“This center will enable skydiving fans to participate and show their skills following all the safety rules,” said Maj. Mubarak Al-Suwailem, instructor and director at the Second Skydiving Championship technical committee.
Furthermore, with the opening of this center, skydiving will be the first adventure hobby in the Kingdom that will be practiced and taught by professionals, who will teach beginner-level, skydiving photography, TANDEM, AFF, solo jumping, general safety and equipment maintenance. The Saudi Aviation Club is supervising the center along with the Saudi Skydiving Association.
The courses will take seven to 10 days, after which the parachutists will internationally accredited for jumps. The only-male courses are open for people over 18.
Czechs and South Africans, as well as three Saudi nationals, are among the instructors, said Al-Suwailem.
“This center is the first step to encourage people to adapt the hobby. Plans are under way to open another office in Jeddah in eight months,” he said.
Meanwhile, Moroccan jumpers are currently leading the Second Skydiving Championships. Around 200 skydivers resumed the contests yesterday after taking Friday off.
Meanwhile, the president of the Bahrain National Skydiving team Lt. Hassan Zayed also expressed his happiness in participating the contest and said though it is considered their first participation, this had been an interesting experience for the team.
