The History of Saga International Balloon Fiesta
The position of Saga International Balloon Fiesta in other domestic and overseas competitions
World Championship, World Air Games, European Hot Air Balloon Championship, and so on are authorized competitions by FAI (The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, - The World Air Sports Federation), and they are held according to FAI rules in countries all over the world once every year. FAI designates those championships as the 'Category 1' competition. They sometimes authenticate other championships as 'Category 1', too.
Saga International Balloon Fiesta had been authorized as 'Category 1' competitions by FAI every year. However, after the opening of Saga Airport in 1998, it was held without their official approval. We aimed to explore the possibility of the international competition in the limited area then. In 2001, it was held as FAI official competition after several years. And again, it has been carried out without FAI authorization.
Since 1980, Saga International Balloon Fiesta has been held with the games as the main purpose. After 1989 World Championship in Saga, it has been carried out the same quality and volume as other world championships. These efforts are estimated internationally, so that each time champions and top-ranking balloonists from all over the world participate every year.
In Japan, there are about 20 competitions, in which 20 to 40 hot-air-balloons entry, every year. The Pacific Cup, the main title of Saga International Balloon Fiesta, has been held with about 85 hot-air-balloons, and about 50 are Japanese pilots among them.
Saga International Balloon Fiesta attracts world's attention because of the largest sky sports event in Asia, even in numbers of entrants, and also the contents of administrations for games and events rate as the world-class level.
The History of Saga International Balloon Fiesta
The beginning of our history was a small balloon meeting 'Balloon Fiesta in Kyushu" held in Amagi City, Fukuoka, in 1978. Since 1980, it has been moved to Saga Plain and holding competitions.
Transitions of 'Saga International Balloon Fiesta'
| Time | Year | Balloons | Tasks | Spectators | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 5 balloons | No Game Flight | Balloon Fiesta in Kyushu (at Amagi City, Fukuoka） |
||
| 1979 | 8 balloons | 2 tasks | Balloon Fiesta in Kyushu (at Amagi City, Fukuoka） |
||
| 1st | 1980 | 14 balloons | 2 tasks | 30,000 | Balloon Fiesta in Kyushu |
| 2nd | 1981 | 18 balloons | 4 tasks | 50,000 | Balloon Fiesta in Saga |
| 3rd | 1982 | 24 balloons | 80,000 | Balloon Fiesta in Saga | |
| 4th | 1983 | 34 balloons | 8 tasks | 100,000 | Balloon Fiesta in Saga |
| 5th | 1984 | 49 balloons | 7 tasks | 120,000 | |
| 6th | 1985 | 50 balloons | 8 tasks | 150,000 | |
| 7th | 1986 | 83 balloons | 8 tasks | 200,000 | |
| 8th | 1987 | 76 balloons | 8 tasks | 250,000 | |
| 9th | 1988 | 92 balloons | 11 tasks | 350,000 | |
| 10th | 1989 | 132 balloons | 18 tasks in World Championship 10 tasks (Fiesta) |
1,170,000 | 9th FAI World Hot Air Baloon Championship |
| 11th | 1990 | 85 balloons | 12 tasks | 800,000 | |
| 12th | 1991 | 110 balloons | 14 tasks | 890,000 | |
| 13th | 1992 | 136 balloons 19 countries |
11 tasks | 880,000 | |
| 14th | 1993 | 136 balloons 17 countries |
13 tasks | 630,000 | |
| 15th | 1994 | 119 balloons 16 coutries |
17 tasks | 980,000 | |
| 16th | 1995 | 121 balloons 16 countries |
10 tasks | 810,000 | |
| 17th | 1996 | 128 balloons 17 countries |
10 tasks | 880,000 | |
| 18th | 1997 | 170 balloons 38 countries |
21 tasks | 1071,000 | 13th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship |
| 19th | 1998 | 128 balloons 17 countries |
10 tasks | 720,000 | |
| 20th | 1999 | 123 balloons 17 countries |
10 tasks | 681,000 | |
| 21st | 2000 | 110 balloons 13 countries |
10 tasks | 76,5000 | |
| 22nd | 2001 | 120 balloons 18 countries |
11 tasks | 718,000 | |
| 23rd | 2002 | 110 balloons 14 countries |
10 tasks | 595,000 | |
| 24th | 2003 | 112 balloons 15 countries |
11 tasks | 894,000 | |
| 25th | 2004 | 116 balloons 14 countries |
13 tasks | 997,000 | |
| 26th | 2005 | 113 balloons 14 countries |
10 tasks | 798,000 | |
| 27th | 2006 | 114 balloons 14 countries |
16 tasks | 877,000 | |
| 28th | 2007 | 110 balloons 13 countries |
14 tasks | 787,000 | |
| 29th | 2008 | 103 balloons 14 countries |
11 tasks | 943,000 | |
| 30th | 2009 | 112 balloons 15 countries |
10 tasks | 864,000 | |
| 31st | 2010 | 106 balloons 14 countries |
15 tasks | 921,000 | |
| 32nd | 2011 | 98 balloons 14 countries |
11 tasks | 640,000 | |
| 33rd | 2012< | 100 balloons 15 countries |
14 tasks | 803,000 | |
| 34th | 2013 | 101 balloons 14 countries |
13 tasks | 814,000 | |
| 35th | 2014 | 113 balloons 16 countries |
15 tasks | 850,000 | |
| 36th | 2015 | 127 balloons 20 countries |
19 tasks | 925,000 | |
| 37th | 2016 | 186 balloons 33 countries |
31 tasks in World Championship 7 tasks in Honda GP |
1,310,000 | 22nd FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship |
| 38th | 2017 | 111 balloons 18 countries |
15 tasks | 886,000 | |
| 39th | 2018 | 109 balloons 17 countries |
18 tasks | 821,000 | |
| 40th | 2019 | 121 balloons 16 countries |
19 tasks | 928,000 | |
| 41th | 2020 | |
Canceled for COVID-19 | ||
| 42th | 2021 | 68 balloons Japanese Only |
5 tasks | 0 | |
| 43th | 2022 | 95 balloons 2 countries |
12 tasks | 849,000 | |
| 44th | 2023 | 125 balloons 16 countries |
20 tasks | 907,000 |
Japanese site
Last Modified: 2024.09.09
Special Sponsor
