本映像は、2016佐賀インターナショナルバルーンフェスタにて熱気球世界選手権を開催するために作られた誘致プロモーション映像です。
［2016熱気球世界選手権誘致にむけて］
熱気球には、人々を笑顔にし、子どもたち夢を育て、人々との絆をつくる力があります。私たちはこれまでに２回の世界選手権を含む、２９回の熱気球の国際大会を開催してきました。
世界中からパイロットや競技関係者、ボランティアスタッフそしてたくさんの観光客が集まりました。私たちはもてなしの心をもって、宿泊や食事、輸送、案全対策にとりくみ、高い評価を得ています。
また、子どもの頃にこの大会を見に来た人が親となり、今度は自分の子供を連れて見に来るようになりました。このような循環を繰り返し、佐賀の熱気球は時代を超えて残るものに育ってきました。
ここで再び２０１６年に、熱気球の世界最大のイベントである熱気球世界選手権を、佐賀市で開催することで、佐賀の存在感、素晴らしさを世界に伝え、そして熱気球世界選手権がつくりだすたくさんの感動から、次の世代を担う子どもたちが、夢や希望を見出し、活力溢れる佐賀を実現したいと考えます。
---------------
Saga is located in western Japan on the island of Kyushu, about 1,000 kilometers west of Tokyo.
Our city has been holding hot air balloon competitions since 1980 and international competitions since 1984.
Twice we have hosted the World Championships in 1989 and 1997.
The 1997 World Championship was highly evaluated, with 112 balloons from 38 different countries competing, and a total of 170 balloons participating.
There have been big changes in Saga City since the last time we hosted a World Championship. In 2005 and 2007, Saga City merged with 6 surrounding towns and one village to form a brand new Saga City.
The year 2016 will mark the 10th anniversary of the birth of our new city, and what better way to commemorate this special occasion than by hosting the World Hot Air Balloon Championship.
Every year pilots, officials, and observers from all over the globe, including Europe, the US and Asia participate in the Saga International Balloon Fiesta.
The people of Saga love balloons. They also love balloonists.
The whole city comes alive in an effort to welcome the balloonists with parades and parties, and some citizens actually welcome them into their homes through our homestay program.
The competition venue attracts nearly 1 million visitors during the course of the event.
To accommodate the large number of visitors, a temporary train station is set up at the venue.
Balloons are a part of life for the people of Saga.
And Saga has much to offer visitors. You can still find traditional Japanese scenery here, and its abundance of tasty rice and clean water make for delicious sake. In winter, I highly recommend the open-air oyster bars.
Our theme for the World Championship is "Emotion and Smiles". Together with you, we hope to stir emotions and spread smiles to people all over the world from Saga.
We sincerely hope that you will grant our wish to host the 2016 World Hot Air Balloon Championship in Saga.
