posted Aug 5th, 2006 - The NSL News found the Fun Flag last year at the Malevsky Cup 2005 when a secret meeting with the Canadian team Stratosfear was successfully arranged. The NSL News story on July 11, 2005, provided the confidential insider information. NSL-TV was even able to present a video of the official rising of the Fun Flag, which is still available for viewings (click here).

The NSL News had the Fun Flag on its agenda for the World Meet 2006, and the story begins early. The search for the Fun Flag was already successful, and it has still been in possession of the Canadians ever since the Malevsky Cup. Stratosfear handed the Fun Flag over to the new Canadian national team Evolution.

The Evolution members are well aware of the precious flag in their hands and hide it very carefully. However, the NSL News was once again able to arrange a secret meeting with the Canadian team. The Lemay family even gave permission to take photos, and the NSL News is proud to present the first picture of the Fun Flag in 2006.

Solly Williams reviewed yesterday's interview with the NSL News, which took place on the competition site in Gera. He added later that he felt uncomfortable not mentioning the Russian Ladybirds in the race for 4-way medals in the female category: "I do believe that if they produce their best they will no doubt be medal contenders too."

The Ladybirds arrived in Gera yesterday and began with the warm-up jumps. The judges officially evaluated training jumps yesterday afternoon already, and the training jumps continue today. The Ladybirds were on the first load this morning, while the judges got ready for today's work.

The NSL scoreboard includes a team "000 Test Team". Obviously, this team does not compete for any nation, it has signed up only for the internet and has its own technical function. NSL-TV still prepares a new program that will allow a much improved presentation of the competition jumps, and the "000 Test Team" is a part of the final preparations.

Today's schedule includes training jumps thoughout the whole day. The opening ceremony will begin at 7:00 pm. Dinner for the participants and officials will be served at 8:00 pm, and the competition draw is scheduled for 9:00 pm. The official jump order for round one will be added later.

Jump Order for Round 1

Jump Order	TeamID	Team Name	Team ID	Team Name	Team ID	Team Name
1	401	Australia	301	Netherlands	801	Belgium
2	402	Austria	302	Switzerland	802	Great Britain
3	403	Ireland	303	Norway	803	South Africa
4	404	Brazil	304	Australia	804	Australia
5	405	Japan	305	Ukraine	805	Italy
6	406	South Africa	306	Spain	806	Germany
7	407	Great Britain	307	South Africa	807	Russia
8	408	Netherlands	308	Great Britain	808	France
9	409	Kazakhstan	309	Germany	809	USA
10	410	New Zealand	310	Russia	-	-
11	411	Czech Republic	311	France	-	-
12	412	Cypres	312	USA	-	-
13	413	Canada	-	-	-	-
14	414	Lithuania	-	-	-	-
15	415	Sweden	-	-	-	-
16	416	Estonia	-	-	-	-
17	417	Spain	-	-	-	-
18	418	Denmark	-	-	-	-
19	419	Norway	-	-	-	-
20	420	Belgium	-	-	-	-
21	421	Germany	-	-	-	-
22	422	Italy	-	-	-	-
23	423	Russia	-	-	-	-
24	424	France	-	-	-	-
25	425	USA	-	-	-	-

Little chances for a sweep this time

The jump order reminds on the last FAI World Championship of Formation Skydiving in Croatia 2004 since the ranking of the teams is according to their final placements at the last world meet. The US teams are last in the jump order for round one after winning all three sets of gold medals in 2004.

France won all silver medals in the Formation Skydiving events, and Russia took home all bronze medals. The three power houses of Formation Skydiving competition did not leave any room for other nations on the podium.

The situation seems to be very different this time, and there is only a very little chance that any nation might sweep the three events. In fact, it will be a great challenge for the US delegation to defend each set of gold medals. There will be tough competition in each event.

It is also quite unlikely that all medals will remain in the possession of the three dominating nations. Italy's team in the 4-way Open Class, Sinapsi PD, is expected to compete for the gold medals, which would push either USA, France or Russia off the medal positions. Belgium's team Spa Hayabusa has the eyes on a medal position, as well.

The 4-way competition in the female category has a new medal contender in the field, as well. Great Britain's team Airkix will probably break into the USA/France/Russia phalanx and steal one of the three sets of medals. The defending gold medal nation, USA, is not expected to be in the run for the first place.

Only the 8-way competition does not seem to be any different compared to Croatia 2004. USA and France will repeat the fierce battle for the first place, and Russia might even join this competition for the gold medals. No other nation has a chance to get close to the medal positions. Germany and Italy will probably repeat their battle for the 4th place.

The order of the medal positions will also be different, as it looks at the moment. USA - France - Russia is the current order, but it will most likely be different after the completion of round one tomorrow morning.