World Military Parachuting Championship kicks off

A member of the Bayi Parachute Team of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force performs during the opening ceremony of the 37th World Military Parachuting Championship in Qionglai, Sichuan province, Oct 15, 2013. [Photo by Hao Fei/Asianewsphoto]

Mohamed Al Nuaimi was excited to watch the performance at the opening ceremony of the 37th World Military Parachuting Championship held in Qionglai, Sichuan province, on Tuesday.

"I have visited China many times and have participated in World Military Parachuting Championships before. But it is the first time the championship has been held in China," said the 45-year-old administrator of a 15-member team from the United Arab Emirates.

Al Nuaimi, who served in the army for 25 years, said he loves the Chinese because they are so friendly.

Organized by the People's Liberation Army air force and co-sponsored by Sichuan local governments, the 37th World Military Parachuting Championship runs from Oct 14 to 25.

"A total of 370 competitors from 31 countries such as China, United Arab Emirates, France, Indonesia, Pakistan, Netherlands, Russia, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Chad, Czech Republic, Zimbabwe and Australia will compete in events such as skydiving from Oct 16 to 23," said Shen Jinke, an information officer with the PLA air force.

"It is the first time the World Military Parachuting Championship, which is one of the 26 sporting events of the International Military Sports Council, is being held in China," he said.

The annual World Military Parachuting Championship had been held exclusively in Europe and the United States until this year.

The International Military Sports Council, founded in 1948, is one of the largest multi-disciplinary organizations in the world. It organizes various sporting events for the armed forces of its 133 member countries.

Its motto is friendship through sport, aiming at promoting various military sports and developing friendship among armed forces of member countries. Its ultimate goal is to contribute to world peace by uniting armed forces through sports.

It has 26 sporting events: basketball, parachuting, aeronautical pentathlon, boxing, sailing, military pentathlon, cycling, shooting, naval pentathlon, equestrian, skiing, fencing, swimming, track and field, football, taekwondo, cross-country, marathon, golf, triathlon, handball, volleyball, judo, wrestling, beach volleyball, modern pentathlon and orienteering.

The parachuting event is judged on accuracy, style and formation skydiving. Men's and women's teams are each composed of five competitors.