JEDDAH, 30 March 2007 — The Bahrain national team, new to the sport, turned in a superb performance to place third in the accuracy landing competition of the 5th Jeddah International Skydiving Championship in Durrat Al-Arus, 40 kilometers north of Jeddah.
“We are very proud to achieve this placing in our first international championship that has many experienced teams,” said Mohamad Ahmad Melelle Al-Sabt, director of the Bahraini skydiving team, adding, “We consider this position as first place and not third.” Al-Sabt said the team was indebted to Maj. Gen. Sheikh Ahmad ibn Khalifa Al-Khalifa for their sterling showing. “Members of the team have also done a great job and worked very hard,” he said.
“I hoped we will be able to represent Bahrain in all events, and are looking forward to participating in different skydiving competitions,” he said, adding, “In the next championship, Bahrain will have two teams in the aerial formation and two teams in the accuracy landing.”
Bahrain will form another team after a month’s gap and they will be trained in Spain. Before this championship, the team trained during three two-week training camps in the Aviation Club of Um Al-Quwain in UAE. This is in addition to the local training in Bahrain.
He lauded Maj. Mubarak Al-Suwailem, deputy president of the Arab Federation for Aerial Sports and director of the championship, for making the event a great success. “Jeddah was a wonderful location and the weather was great. Maj. Mubarak put in great efforts to make us comfortable with fine accommodation, transportation and other facilities,” he said.
Sheikh Ahmed Khalifa Al-Khalifa, president of the Bahrain Royal Skydiving team, said in an exclusive interview that being here means a lot to their team. “With the help of Maj. Al-Suwailem our team’s improved and succeeded in placing third despite the fact that aerial sports is at its infancy in Bahrain,” he said. He added that participation itself was a motivation, and “we all, as Gulf and Arab countries, have to be there for each other to develop our sports. We are already collaborating with the Saudis in equestrian and now in skydiving, and it is going well, Thank God.”
Morocco, meanwhile, clinched first place in the accuracy landing team event, while second place went to Jordon A, third to Bahrain, fourth to Malaysia, fifth to Saudi Arabia, sixth to Egypt, seventh to Brunei A, eighth to Jordon B, and ninth to Brunei B.
In the accuracy landing individual events Morocco skydivers placed 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, and Jordan skydivers placed 2nd, 5th, 6th, and a Saudi placed 8th.
Australia’s Faye Cox, chief judge and one of the training judges, said it was one of the best international skydiving championships held. Things have really improved.
Her husband Jim Cox, assistant to chief judge and to the championship director, agreed. “It is a great resort and would attract many tourists,” he added.
“The level of judging is improving and to some extent Saudi Arabia would have one of the best judges,” said Canadian Barry Mcauley, another judging trainer, adding, “Bahrain’s performance was a surprise indeed.”
Raymond Williams, event judge for the formation skydiving event and trainer in the judging course for formation skydivers, believes improvement comes from exposure. “More exposure, more experience, lead to better results as always,” he said.
Teams from Egypt, Jordon, Morocco, Bahrain, Brunei, Malaysia, and hosts Saudi Arabia participated in both aerial formation event from a distance of 10,000 feet and accuracy landing event from a distance of 5,000 feet. The skydivers competed for the Prince Abdul Majeed ibn Abdul Aziz Cup and the championship was titled, “Championship of Sincerity” in honor of the prince who came back home after undergoing medical treatment abroad, and for his support to aerial sports through the years.
Al-Suwailem said the weather throughout was excellent during the competition except for Tuesday. We picked March especially for this reason, and “we hope to run the championship in this month from now on.”
He said many things, such as the level of judging that has improved and the performance of the skydivers that was skillful, contributed to the event’s success.
Many families who attended showed keen interest, and “this was encouraging for us to see that the sport is attracting more people.”
He also announced that the team would start training in Rabigh Airport area. “Time has come to train more people and spread skydiving around the Kingdom,” he said, adding that they already have 130 applicants seeking skydiving license in Riyadh but their training was stopped due to the weather.
Maj. Al-Suwailem hoped that many would be trained from Jeddah too during this year. While the Riyadh center has four trainers, Rabigh has six trainers. Things have improved and airplanes are now refueling here without having to send them to King Abdul Aziz Airport. “Our thanks to Prince Abdul Majeed for his support.”
The Arab Aerial Federation (AAF) held its general assembly meeting for the first time here for two days and passed recommendations.
The first recommendation was to issue aerial sports licenses divided into four groups according to the ability of skydivers because Gen. Ismael Darweesh of AAF, said “it is just like in athletics.”
From now on, he said, this license would be fit to be used in Arab or international countries and candidates cannot participate in any championships without it. The second recommendation was to secure a life insurance for all who apply for these licenses automatically. The third, to set an aerial sports code of ethics in Arabic based on the international code.
The fourth, to host the first Arab Skydiving in Egypt in 2007, and the second and third events have been tentatively set for Morocco in 2008 and Jordon in 2009. Yet he said, “I am very happy three countries welcomed hosting it even if it was not for sure yet.”
For further information on skydiving please visit www.skydiving-ksa.com and www.sak.com.sa
