2014 ABG

4th Asian Beach Games 2014

Phuket, Thailand, 14-23 November 2014

Asian Beach Games occur every two years and are sanctioned by the OCA Olympic Council of Asia, the local organizer is known as PABGOC Phuket Asian Beach Games Organizing Committee. FAI is recognized by the IOC International Olympic Committee and hence OCA as the IF, International Federation responsible for Air sports. IFs form the third part of the organization of an ABG by providing the rules and technical officials for each participating sport.

In the case of this ABG, the participating Air Sports are Powered Paragliding (Paramotors) and Paragliding Accuracy. The technical delegates appointed by FAI for each sport are Richard Meredith-Hardy and Andika. The remainder of the technical staff is appointed by the Royal Aeronautic Sports Association of Thailand RASAT which is the FAI NAC.

The first Technical Delegates meeting was held in Phuket Nov 13-14 2013. The major work was to prepare the Technical Handbook for each sport and to check the suitability of the venue. In the case of Air Sports this is the same venue as used for the November 2013 Asia Oceania Paramotor Championships / ABG Test event.

The second Technical Delegates meeting was held on 8th September 2014. Planning for the event seems to be progressing quite well, presentations were made on [Sports|^2TD Meeting Presentation Sports.pdf], [Venues|^2TD Meeting Presentation Venues.pdf], [Accommodation and Transport|^2TD Meeting Presentation Accommodation and Transport.pdf], [IT and Timing|^2TD Meeting Presentation IT and Timing.pdf], [Medical and Doping|^2TD Meeting Presentation Medical and Doping.pdf], [Medals|^2TD Meeting Presentation Medals.pdf] and [Branding|^4ABG Branding guidelines.pdf] (see more on branding below as this is very important).

The two Airsports will be participating amongst 34 other sports, athletes will be competing for 4 medals in each air sport.

This is a very big event, overall, c. 2435 athletes will be competing for 169 medals in total.

Local Regulations and Task Catalogue

The [local regulations and Task catalogue|^ABG 2014 local regulations FINAL 1f.pdf] are the definitive rules of the event and this page is the definitive source of the current version.
They are very similar to the LR & TC used at ABG 2012 Haiyang and the test event.

Version changes

• Drafts: 1: 6 Jun 2014; 1b: 12 Jun 2014; 1c: 29 Jun 2014; 1d: 1 July 2014;
• Final 1e : 11 July 2014
• Final 1f : 17 Sep 2014
  • Addition of 1.11.7 and renumbering of the two following provisions.
  • Change of grid size in task P5 from 70.71m to 50m so it is the same as the standard one in S10 A4. It makes a Championship record more accessible.

Key deadlines

Entries can only be made by the 45 OCA member National Olympic Committees.

• Each participating NOC must submit Entry by Number Forms to PABGOC by 24.00hrs Thailand local time (GMT +7) by 15 July 2014
• Entry by Name Forms must be received by PABGOC no later than 31 August 2014 at 24.00hrs Thailand local time (GMT +7).

We are now past both deadlines.  As anticipated, the Entry by Name deadline was not flexible and PABGOC will not be accepting any late entries.  If your NOC failed to submit your entry in time, sorry, but you cannot compete.

Visas 

It was announced rather late, but the accreditation documents for both Athletes and International officials will act as a 30 day visa for entry into the Kingdom of Thailand (if it is required for your nationality).

The instruction to participants is as follows:

• PABGOC will include an invitation letter when they send Accreditation cards to your team address.
• On the travel day, you just show AD card and invitation letter to your airline.
• Then when you arrive in Thailand, Just show both document again to Thai Immigration Bureau.

The original authority for this procedure is below, [in Thai|^Visa Exemption by Immigration Bureau.pdf] and [English translation|^Visa Exemption for Foreign Participants - en.pdf].

Branding guidelines

These games incorporate ‘Olympic style’ branding rules. They are NOT NEGOTIABLE.

For details please see the [Branding Guidelines presentation|^4ABG Branding guidelines.pdf] made by PABGOC on 8 September 2014 to the Technical Delegates of all c.32 sports participating at 4 ABG.

If you have clothing, equipment or apparel which does not meet these rules then you will NOT be able to enter the ‘field of play’ until you have removed the illegal marks or changed it for something else which does meet the rules.

Please be aware this includes Paraglider canopies. You will NOT be able to fly in the ABG Powered Paraglider or Paragliding Accuracy competitions with a canopy which does not meet these branding guidelines.

Basically this means:

• Legally required marks such as aircraft registration numbers are OK.
• Games logo and/or your National flag are OK.
• Standard canopy manufacturer name and logos are OK, but if you have a particularly large one please send a photo to r.mh at flymicro.com who will check with the appropriate authority.
• No other commercial logos of any kind are permitted on your canopy.

You have been warned!

Note: Official ABG Logos and fonts for team T-Shirts Etc. are contained in [official_PABGOC_logo_and_fonts|^official_PABGOC_logo_and_fonts.zip] file.

Documents