Outline
Greeting from President of Saga International Balloon Fiesta Organization (SIBFO)
It is my great pleasure to tell you the 2008 Saga International Balloon Fiesta will be held at the Kase River launch between October 30 and November 4. Biggest aerial event in Asia, it takes place mainly at the Kase River launch site and nearby over the rice fields.
Last year Nemeth Zoltan, Hungary, won for the first time in the Pacific Cup by blocking Takao Mizukami, Japan, in his fourth victory in a row. We are really excited who will win this year. Will Takao Mizukami win back the title or Nemeth Zoltan win again? How about Yoshihiro Masumoto, last year's winner in the Japanese championships, or Yudai Fujita, Japan, who was awarded as 'Rookie of the Year' for being the runner-up in the event?
Either pilot may make inroads on the Pacific Cup and win. Who knows? We hope their hot competitions will make the 2008 Saga International Balloon Fiesta even more interesting.
Saga Balloon Masters' Cup is also held this year. Started in 2003, it invites pilots over 50 years old alone. We hope it will add another charm to the fiesta. And the grand premiums offered every year are popular among the participants. We have also prepared plenty of local presents, to say nothing of the best sky conditions of Saga.
We aim to hold this year’s events with such an intention that all the participants including volunteers and spectators will feel satisfied by the spectacular sky events.
Here in Saga we held two international championships, by which Saga International Balloon Fiesta is recognized as one of the most famous sky events in the world. We think it our duty to hold events safe, spectacular and pleasant.
Our deepest gratitude goes to HONDA for supporting this event since 1990. Thanks to HONDA we can hold the fourth event of the 2008 Hot Air Balloon HONDA Gr and Prix in Saga.
We wish this fiesta will impress all the participants, volunteers, and the spectators for its competitions earnest, colorful and pleasant.
Hiroshi Mizumachi,
Chairman of Saga International Balloon Fiesta Organization
