Preparations in full swing at Billing

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, October 3

Preparations for the World Cup Paragliding Championship to be held at Billing, 40 kilometres from here, are on in full swing. This event is being organised in India for the first time. The Pre World Cup Championship has been held at Bir Billing five times.

The state Tourism Department and Bir Billing Paragliding Association are hosting the championship. Over 300 foreign and domestic pilots are expected to participate in the event.

Sudhir Sharma, Urban Development Minister and president of the Bir Billing Paragliding Association, is taking personal interest in holding the international event at Billing with the objective of popularising the adventure sport in India and give a boost to tourism activities in the region.

Sources have said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has directed state departments to gear up to make the event successful. Officials of the Tourism Department have been giving final touches to preparations.

The Public Works Department has repaired roads leading to the takeoff and landing points. The Irrigation and Public Health Department has laid new pipelines to provide drinking water to visitors and tourists.

Virbhadra Singh will inaugurate the event on October 24 and preside over the closing ceremony on October 31. The Paragliding World Cup Association, the international agency which organises global adventure events and selects best pilots, has notified dates for the Pre World Cup Championship in its calendar.