The Championship will take place from 6 to 9 October 2023 at the Chunhyangol Stadium in Namwon, Jeollabuk-do, about two hours south of Seoul. It will include prize money of USD 100,000.
Chunhyangol Stadium
KAMA, one of the sport’s most experienced organisers worldwide, is teaming up with the Federation of Korea Aeronautics and the city of Namwon to deliver the Championship, with the aim of organising a top-level event for competitors and spectators alike. Aside from the Drone Racing competition, an FAI Drone Soccer competition, a Drone Conference and other side events will familiarise spectators with the infinite world of drones. Music concerts and an array of cultural activities will complete the picture in the field of entertainment, while experts will debate and discuss drones at a conference.
Drone Soccer
Antonis Papadopoulos, President of the FAI Aeromodelling Commission, said: “We are delighted with the 2023 FAI World Drone Racing Championship being held in Korea, knowing this exciting competition has been entrusted to the hands of highly competent and experienced organisers. Their ambitious plans to showcase drones in all their variety, competition and otherwise, is promising to be a hit with everyone. And I must say, after two years of interruption, we are all impatient to see the world’s best of the best pilots fight for victory. This event cannot come soon enough!”
The two first editions of the FAI Drone Racing World Championship happened in Shenzhen (2018) and Ningbo (2019), China, before a three-year gap caused by the pandemic.
A special feature on tomorrow’s athletes by creative, events and technology entrepreneur, Jasmine Low.
Two years ago, I had a dream of starting a vocational school to upskill the youth. I have come across many talented young people around the world who may not have the opportunity to go into college or university, but highly capable and adept with their hands and have technical expertise in fixing electronic gadgets, devices etc. When you’re in Kuala Lumpur, take a walk into any of the malls and approach a mobile phone counter. You’ll find these boys. And there are girls too! So the question is, if only we could train and upskill these youngsters in the doing and making of STEM, as opposed to the academic study in STEM. I’ve been researching and still am and the dream is getting close to fruition but not yet.
In 2008, my partners and I founded by accident, the GO INTERNATIONAL youth empowerment program when we took on the license to promote eSports with ESWC in 2008 then DreamHack in 2009, Global Battle of the Bands and most recently the FAI Drone Racing World Championship in Shenzhen this year.
Q. What’s your background and why drone racing?
It was a Miss World Malaysia competition that I worked on during my days as a PR Consultant for DDB PR that inspired me on to working on international competitions. In 2008, my partners and I brought the Electronic Sports World Cup (ESWC) from Paris to KL. From eSports, music, beatboxing, rubiks cubes to drone racing, we’ve just kept our ears close to the ground and listened to what young Malaysians like and we’re so happy 68 young Malaysians have been able to pursue their dreams and push their personal goals at international festivals around the world.
All our programs so far have been funded by corporate and government agencies – kudos and mentions to the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Intel, DiGi, Cyberview, Yokohama Batteries, Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines, AirAsiaX, Gary of PLAY Interactive, Jack of DOJO KL, Nikki Yeo and my team at Go InternationalGroup.com.
Q. Why are you championing drone racing as a sport?
It promotes athleticism, and just drives kids towards excellence while doing something they love. Ya… remember Nintendo? Ya, same thing, using fingers to control la.
I’ve also been inspired into this journey by the sheer passion for airsports by the people like Tengku Abdillah of AFA, Aerolomba Magazine and Capt. Arif, Paraglider and President of the Malaysian Sport Aviation Federation. Meetings with them are fascinating and jaw dropping as they show you their latest antics in the sport they love so much.
Q. First you ask us to admit eSports as sport because it’s physically challenging (it is!!!), now you’re asking to admit dSports? What’s next? Paper plane flying?
Uhm… yes. This was a question posed by an official and I’m asked this quite often too by sponsors. Happy to report eSports is officially in 2019 Southeast Asian Games Philippines. In fact, paper plane flying or free flight was one of the earliest in “Aeromodelling”, as with drone sports and are sanctioned under FAI – World Air Sports Federation (doing the teeheehee dance)
Q. Alright. And all this leads to an increase of STEM uptake by our kids?
Absolutely! I’m in the media/publishing/events industry because as a Gen X-er, I was inspired by TV3’s Majalah 3, ABC’s 60 Minutes, MacGyver, Moonlighting and rainbow socks in Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids. So media and content was my game! I loved it! But yes, with eSports, dSports and VRsports around the bend, we’ll definitely see an upswing of STEM uptake in schools.
The trip was made possible by the collaborative efforts by Malaysia Sport Aviation Federation, MDEC, DOJO KL and Go International Group Dotcom. It also made it possible for two Malaysian pilots – Amir Rijal Haziq and Saw Zhi Ying to make a historical leap into the FAI world rankings because of the support given.
Thank you, everyone! Blue skies ahead, as they say in airsports!
