Lido Lake skies gear up for parachuting c'ships

JAKARTA (JP): Organizers of the Sixth World Parachuting Championships at Lido Lake in Bogor, West Java said all participants would be ready for the competition by Monday, four days before the opening ceremony on June 14.

"Most of the listed participants are already here. We are expecting more entrants within the next two or three days," Dody Trianto, the general secretary of the organizing committee, told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

The organizers will hold an official rehearsal on June 12, but Dody said some of the early arrivals had adjusted themselves to the venue.

Lido, a recreational resort 70 kilometers south of the capital, lies at an altitude of 500 meters above sea level.

The United States, Russia, Canada, England, France, China, Malaysia, South Africa, Finland, the Netherlands, Australia, France, Germany, China, Switzerland, Italy, Singapore, Malaysia and host Indonesia have all confirmed their participation.

"Thailand revealed interest in taking part in the championships, but has not registered its parachutists," Dody said.

About 150 parachutists will compete in the 10-day canopy rotation championships, a prelude to the Indonesian Air Show. Thirteen foreign judges will help in the competition.

Indonesia will take part in all the three categories: four-way rotation, four-way sequential and eight-way formation. The participants will jump from Pilatus aircraft owned by the Indonesian Air Force.

A team made up of members of the Army's Special Force and a civilian team selected from Bandung-based club Aves, will represent Indonesia in the championships.

The country's military team is geared up for the world event after recently winning the Malaysia Open canopy formation championships.

Their civilian counterparts have just returned from a stint in the United States.

Shortly after the championships, a bogey jump extravaganza will be held above the Prambanan and Borobudur temples in Central Java. (yan)