Being Held In The Canton Of Fribourg, It’s A World Cup And Festival For All The Family

From September 7 through the 16th, 2017, Gruyères will host the 61st Gordon Bennett Aeronautical World Cup, the oldest and most prestigious gas balloon race in the world. In the idyllic setting of the Fribourg Pre-Alps, visitors will have the chance not only to witness the start of an internationally renowned competition but also enjoy a public festival celebrating aerial sports.

Organized by the Gordon Bennett Fribourg 2017 association, this unique event will put the canton of Fribourg in the international spotlight, showcasing the idyllic Gruyère countryside, the canton's fast-paced economy and the vibrant traditions of the Fribourg region.

The event will be held at the airfield in Gruyères and will open with the gas balloon competition. The organizers are expecting to attract some 20 teams from around ten different countries. After the opening ceremony on the Thursday, the balloons will take off on the evening of Friday, 8th September followed by a sound and light show.

Over the weekend, the airfield will be home to a large festival celebrating aerial sports. Exhibitions and entertainment for young and old will enable visitors to learn about the different aerial sports, in particular gas and hot air balloons, airplanes, helicopters, gliders, and even aeromodelling. Another highlight will be the Swiss skydiving championships, which will be held at the site on September 7-10.

The people behind Fribourg’s famous "Bénichon" festival will also be part of the event as a Catering partner, taking care of the food stalls and bars and allowing guests to sample local produce in a friendly and festive atmosphere. A range of musical entertainment will round off the event.

The Gordon Bennett Cup 2017 will finish on Saturday, September 16th with the return of the teams to Gruyères and a gala ball. A jury including members from the U.S., Japan, and Luxembourg will award the prizes to the winners.

The winning team is the one which travels the greatest distance in the air, without a time limit. The distance is calculated as the crow flies between the take-off and landing points. For the past two years, the SUI-1 team, piloted by Kurt Frieden and Pascal Witprächtiger from Thurgau have been victorious, giving Switzerland and the canton of Fribourg the opportunity to organize the Gordon Bennett 2017.

To give a taste of this legendary race, the Espace Ballon Museum in Château-d’Oex is putting on a temporary exhibition entitled, "The Gordon Bennett Aeronautical Cup 1906 – 2017." Open to the public from December 6 this year until March 13, 2018, it will allow visitors to discover the fascinating world of gas ballooning.

(Original source and image from Gordon Bennett Cup press release)

FMI: www.gordonbennett2017.ch/?lang=en