Above: Adam Plummer flies the U.S. flag during a July 4 event at Crystal Coast Skydiving in Beaufort, North Carolina, the chosen site for the 2024 FAI World Championships of Artistic Events, Formation Skydiving, Wingsuiting and Speed Skydiving. Photo by Nathan Plummer.
Israel—the original host country of the 2024 Féderátion Aéronautique Internationale World Championships of Artistic Events, Formation Skydiving, Wingsuiting and Speed Skydiving—was unable to follow through with holding these events due to the ongoing crisis there. The International Skydiving Commission opened up a bidding process to all potential host countries, and given the difficulties associated with pulling together such a challenging event in such a tight time frame, the U.S. was the only country to submit a bid.
On December 1, the ISC Bureau announced that Crystal Coast Skydiving at Michael J. Smith Field, a public airport in Beaufort, North Carolina, will be the site of the championships. The events, which Skydive Chicago and Skydive Paraclete XP will organize jointly at the Beaufort location, will take place October 4-12, 2024.
USPA Executive Director Albert Berchtold said, "Holding the world championships here in the United States is a great honor. We are fortunate to have wonderful drop zones here that have the capacity and desire to support and host our world community. This event, to be held in a beautiful costal community and organized collaboratively with two of our largest skydiving operators, is a testament to the skydiving community coming together to create a unique and memorable 2024 FAI World Championships.