FAI Skydiving Commission (ISC)

The World Games 2022 took place in Birmingham, Alabama, USA in July 2022, and featured two air sports: Canopy Piloting, and for the first time ever, Drone Racing. Both competitions were mixed, with male and female pilots competing against one another.

France’s Cédric Viega Rios (pictured below) has won the canopy piloting competition at The World Games 2022, with top scores throughout the 12 rounds held at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Nick Batsch of the USA gained a silver, after several first places, despite two low scores in two of the speed rounds. UAE’s Abdulbari Qubaisi (pictured above) scored especially well in distance and freestyle rounds to gain a bronze medal.

Ten thrilling rounds have taken place so far in the Canopy Piloting competition at The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Cedric Viega Rios (FRA) is currently holding first place with Nicholas Batsch (USA) in second and Abdulbari Qubaisi from UAE in third. All three have had some excellent results but also some rounds which didn’t go as smoothly for them.

On Saturday 9 July at The World Games 2022, round 1 of the canopy piloting competition took place although the drone racing qualifications were unfortunately interrupted due to rain.

There are 34 athletes competing in the canopy piloting, representing 16 countries: Australia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, USA and Ukraine. 

The World Games 2022 has started! A magnificent opening ceremony in Birmingham, Alabama, USA on 7 July saw music, dancing and displays performed for sports fans at the sold out Protective Stadium. Athletes entered waving their flags and were warmly received by the audience.

The TWG2022 opening ceremony at Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama. Image: IWGA

With The World Games 2022 just days away, some of the female pilots who will be competing took a moment to share their story with us… Jeannie Bartholemew (USA) and Robin Jandle (USA) are both canopy pilots, and Ting Yu (TPE) and Ryan Lindsay Lessard (USA) are competing the drone racing. Although these two air sports are very different, the pride, passion and sense of sisterhood involved are felt by pilots from both disciplines.