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Paragliding pre-world cup kick-starts in Himachal Shimla: Nestled in the Himalayas, the mountainous picturesque state of Himachal Pradesh played host to the four-day paragliding pre-world cup competition. Hosted at Bir Billing in the state's Kangra valley, the event featured as many as seventy-five pilots from seventeen countries like Italy, France, Turkey, Mexico and Korea including 20 from India. The competition that flagged off yesterday will continue till November 9. Some of the world's best paragliders like Scotty Marion, Ameico Sousa, Norman Lausch and Stephane Andre are taking part in the event. The unique topography, complemented by right weather and active thermals brings out the best in the competitors. The warm thermal current from April to the middle of November makes it ideal for paragliding in the valley. "This is one of the
best sites I have flown at around the world. It's very spectacular,
very nice place. Facilities are very good. And this is why so many people
are coming here as one can even launch cross-country flights," said
Bruce Mills, an American paraglider. The competition will also feature
dare-devil paragliding tasks like out-and-return distance, gain of height
and distance over a triangular course. The organisers have even facilitated
separated set of tasks for hobby pilots to test their skills as amateurs
in comparison with the professionals. Following the enthusiasm the event
has generated among the public, the State's department of Tourism and
Civil Aviation has planned to organise more competitive tasks for amateur
and professionals as well in the future. "Over the three years, the
government has been committed to developing Bir Billing. Today as we
host the event for the third time, there is a sense of satisfaction
as seeing the infrastructure. The quality of roads has improved. The
14-kms stretch has been fantastically developed," said Rubeena, the
organiser. Asian art set to take London by
storm (Go
To Top) London: The month of November will see the seventh annual Asian Art in London spectacular. There is to be a whole week of exhibitions, auctions and talks all dedicated to the various arts from across the continent. The event will kick off with a champagne launch party for some five hundred people at the Victoria and Albert museum in South Kensington. That little shindig will cost the great and the good a mere 50 pound per head for the privilege of attending. Some might call that a bargain, others might have a different opinion. Be that as it may, this year the enormous range, diversity and quality of the Asian art on display, and for sale at prices anywhere between 500 pounds and 500,000 pounds, is testament to how seriously London is now seen as the centre for the arts of Asia, both antique and modern. Throughout the weeklong event, dealers' galleries will hold special open evenings for both serious collectors and the merely curious or interested, while major institutions like the British Library and the School for Oriental and African Studies - SOAS - will host a variety of lectures by leading experts in their relevant fields; anything from the naturalness of Chinese bird and flower painting to" The Jesuits and the Great Mughal: Renaissance at the Imperial Court of India". And, despite the title of this week of wonders, there are to be major exhibitions elsewhere in the country. For example, in Edinburgh, The Royal Museum is hosting an exhibition of Chinese revolutionary art:" Mao - Art for the Masses", while the Burrell Collection in Glasgow offers an exhibition illustrating 4000 years of Chinese history and culture. Back in London, one of the highlights of the week is likely to be an exhibition called" Mughal and Deccan Indian Jewelled Arts from the 17th - 19th centuries". Lets just hope the organisers have got their security arrangements sorted out. And, finally,
this event is no exception to the general rule these days that just
about everything has to have an awards ceremony of some kind attached
to it. And so it is that The Antiques Trade Gazette has sponsored an
"Award for an Outstanding Work of Art", to be judged by a panel of four
judges including a member of Britain's royal family, Viscount Linley.
He may well even be an acknowledged expert on all things appertaining
to the world of Asian arts. Whatever, to have an award like this, with
so varied a choice, is just ever so slightly bizarre. Still, it wont
do any one any harm, so why not? Several rare dogs take part in Goa kennel show (Go To Top) Panaji: Dog
lovers in Panjim were given a rare treat on Monday through dog show
authenticated by the International Council of Kennel Clubs. A unique
feature of the event was that the dogs were judged for their pedigree
and not performance. CV Sudarshan, one of the judges of the show, said
that though it was difficult to judge the various breeds, the winner
would be the one closest to their standards. "Each breed has got its
own standard and accordingly you go through the dogs. And once you have
chosen the best of breeds of each breed, then you have different breeds
to chose from. Then they become incomparable.You are judging a Chuahua
with a Great Dane. What you apply is how the dog shows and which is
the dog which fits closest with the standards," he said. A number of
species including ones like Neopolitan, Mastiff, Bull Terrier, Dalmation,
Lhasa Apso and Poodle Miniature paraded their skills at the show. |
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