General – 24th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship 2022

SLOVENIA: A NATURAL PLAYGROUND FOR AMAZING ACTIVE OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

Slovenia is the only country in Europe where 4 geographical worlds meet, which reflects in stunning natural beauties: we have the mountains, the rolling hills, the coastline, the lakes and even caves.

This astonishing diversity of terrains makes Slovenia a perfect natural playground for active holidays and experiences, 365 days a year. What is more, great outdoors is also the reason why this central European country is the homeland of so many world-renowned athletes, who amaze with their achievements on a global level. Did you know that Slovenia was among the top countries according to the number of the medals won per capita at the Games in Beijing? Or that world’s best cyclists call it home?

Honorary patronage of the President of the Republic of Slovenia Borut Pahor

Častno pokroviteljstvo predsednika Republike Slovenije Boruta Pahorja

We are proud to announce that 24th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship Murska Sobota 2022 is taking place under the honorary patronage of the President of the Republic of Slovenia Mr. Borut Pahor. Mr. President informed us in his letter that he wishes us successful World Championship.

The World Hot Air Balloon Championship, which will take place from September 16 to 23 in Murska Sobota, will be this year’s biggest international sports event in our country.

105 balloon teams from 34 countries and 40 festival balloons will take part in the World Championship. This means that we will be able to admire a total of 150 colorful balloons in the air above Pomurje.

Press conference Ljubljana 23. June 2022

Predstavitev svetovnega prvenstva v poletih s toplozračnimi baloni Murska Sobota 2022

On 23 June 2022, a press conference was held in Ljubljana, where we presented the 24th FAI World Hot Air Ballooning Championships Murska Sobota 2022 to the press.

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This year, between 16 and 23 September, Murska Sobota will host the largest aerial sports event in Slovenia, the 24th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship Murska Sobota 2022, where more than 150 balloons will be in the air. 105 competitive ballooning teams from 34 countries will compete over six days of competition. We are also preparing a rich accompanying programme for visitors; commercial flights will be available for anyone who would like to go ballooning during the Championships.

Štefan Pavlinjek, Chairman of the World Championships Organising Committee,

predicts another top-class sporting event: ‘This is truly the biggest sporting event on our soil this year, and we are very proud of it in Pomurje. This is a great recognition for Slovenian ballooning and a very responsible task for the organising committee. Here comes a new generation of young, ambitious and enthusiastic pilots who are pushing the boundaries of ballooning. This year’s World Hot Air Balloon Championship Murska Sobota 2022 will be even more challenging in terms of organisation, with 800 competing teams alone.”

“We have some excellent hot air balloon pilots in Slovenia, who have achieved outstanding results in international competitions. This year, Vito Rome, Dejan Buzeti and Jernej Bojanovič will represent our country at the World Championships. We will also host the current World Champion Dominic Bareford, the current Women’s World Champion Daria Dudkiewicz-Golawska and two Junior World Champions Roy Gommer and Jan Suchy,” said Goran Grgič, Deputy Director of the World Championships.

This will not only be an event for the highest ranking competitors, but a ballooning spectacle, promises Matjaž Pavlinjek, President of the ROTO Balloon Club and General Director of the World Hot Air Balloon Championship, “The multitude of colourful balloons in the air is definitely a feast for the eyes, which will surely attract a lot of hot air balloon enthusiasts from Slovenia and abroad to the Pomurje region. This type of sport competition is an enrichment of Pomurje’s tourist offer, together with the Expano exhibition pavilion and many other attractions, and at the same time it builds up Slovenia’s visibility in the world.”

This year, the organisers are preparing a rich accompanying programme for the general public. On the evening before the opening ceremony on 16 September, there will be a concert “Godba fest” with various brass bands, and once again we will enjoy the sight of magically illuminated gas balloons and their take-off. The main attractions of the opening event on 17 September, where up to 10,000 people are expected, will be the one-hour EXPANO AIROSHOW and KEY GRAB, an attractive discipline in which balloons compete to see who can pick up the key in the middle of Lake Soboško. Among the most photogenic moments will surely be the evening group take-offs (FLY-OUT) and morning group arrivals (FLY-IN) of more than 100 balloons in the surroundings of the Murska Sobota Airport and the NIGHT GLOW, at night 40 festival balloons will shine in a special glow, in all colours and shapes.

105 competitors from 34 countries registered for the World Championship

We are proud to announce that 105 competitors from 34 countries have entered the 24th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship Murska Sobota 2022.

Between 16. and 23. September 2022 Murska Sobota will host this year’s top aviation event: the 24th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship Murska Sobota 2022. 105 competitors have entered the World Championships in just two rounds. In addition to a colourful group of elite pilots from all over the world, visitors will also enjoy a rich accompanying programme with Airshow and have the opportunity to fly in a hot air balloon.

You can see the list of competitors and their balloons here.

Registered Pilots – Slovenian Open Nationals 2020

Registered Pilots Slovenian Open National Hot Air Balloon Championship Murska Sobota 2020

Dear pilots, we kindly ask you to check if you are on the list of registered pilots for the Slovenian Open Hot Air Balloon Championship Murska Sobota 2020. If you are not on the list, please let us know via email: office@hotairballoons2020.com

COUNTRY	PILOT
SLOVAKIA	Marián Hraňo
SLOVENIA	Aleš Švagelj
CROATIA	Marija Petrić Mikloušić
CROATIA	Igor Mikloušić
SLOVENIA	Igor Divjak
SLOVENIA	Jernej Bojanovič
SLOVENIA	Dejan Buzeti
AUSTRIA	Helmut Pöttler
AUSTRIA	Daniel Kusternigg
HUNGARY	Peter Molnar
SLOVENIA	Branko Ambrožič
AUSTRIA	Werner Schrank
LITHUANIA	Vytautas Junevičius
AUSTRIA	Christoph Fraisl
SLOVENIA	Vito Rome
AUSTRIA	Thomas Kindermann-Schön

Registered for FIESTA 2020

Country	PILOT
SLOVENIA	Štefan Bertalanič
SLOVENIA	Igor Centrih
SLOVENIA	Andrej Senekovič
SLOVENIA	Radoš Švagelj
AUSTRIA	Hans Pravda
SLOVENIA	Tamara Divjak

First official flight of Slovenian special shape hot air balloon “ROTO wastewater treatment plant”

At the airport in Murska Sobota, Slovenian balloonists performed the “first ceremonial flight” of a new Slovenian special shape hot air balloon “ROTO wastewater treatment plant”.

Although the new ROTO special shape hot air balloon was already shown to the public for the first time in Kranjska Gora, it was necessary to prepare an official first ceremonial flight for it and wish it many safe flights and soft landings.

The special shape hot air balloon “ROTO wastewater treatment plant” was created for the purpose of promoting products from the WATER program of the renowned Slovenian company ROTO. Before the balloon rose above the Murska Sobota plain, it was christened with sparkling wine and addressed by the director of ROTO company mr. Štefan Pavlinjek, who wished the balloonists many safe flights. After ceremony new hot air balloon ROTO wastewater treatment plant rose into the air in the company of numerous balloons from all over the Slovenia and colored the sky over Murska Sobota.

Authors of photographs: Nina Lepoša, Simon Ravnič in Matjaž Pavlinjek

HAB2020 postponed to 2022

Dear all!

We would like to inform you that organization team of 24th World Hot air balloon Championship in Slovenia has decided to postpone competition from 2020 to the year 2022.

The reason for decision, is unpredictable epidemic situation, duration of the restrictions, as well taking into consideration the risk of teams, organizers and audience’s health.

Please understand that it was a hard decision, but it was coordinated between everybody involved, including the FAI/CIA, LZS and the mayor of Murska Sobota municipality.

The final dates for the 2022 World Championship have not yet been decided, but will be known by the end of the year. We will inform you about the new dates and details.

The registration fee will be refunded to all of you, who have already paid it. For refund request please fill out this form:

In the sporting spirit of the competition, please continue to follow us. Everybody registered will be invited to the Slovenian Hot Air Balloon Open Nationals. Further information will be known soon.

Thank you for your understanding
ORG Team

Extension of 2nd round deadline

Dear Pilots!

Due to the actual pandemic situation, it is difficult to foresee the duration of the actual restrictions.

Because of that we decided to postpone the 2nd round deadline to June 25th, instead of June 1st 2020.

Final decision GO / No-Go about the event will be published on 18th of June.

After two month of lockdown Slovenia already eases coronavirus restrictions. Now we entered “phase 2” of its lockdown, as companies reopen with social distancing measures in place.

Slovenians must wear face masks on public transportation and in public spaces. Pubs and restaurant are open and can accept the guest in open and closed space now.

Thank you for your understanding.

Best regards,
ORG Team

New Slovenian special shape hot air balloon “ROTO wastewater treatment plant”

Slovenian balloonists proudly welcomes a new member in their hot air balloon fleet. ROTO a worldwide rotomoulding company from Pomurje region, invested into a new special shape hot air balloon – ROTO wastewater treatment plant.

The special shape hot air balloon was presented to public in Kranjska Gora at the Golden Fox slalom event by the organizers of 24th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship.

The balloon was made by the Czech company Kubicek Balloons, which is one of the leading manufacturer of hot air balloons in the world.

24th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship Murska Sobota 2020, which will take place from 19 to 26 September 2020 in Murska Sobota will host the best hot air balloon pilots from all over the world. The organizer expects 145 hot air balloons, and more than 800 visitors to experience this amazing event at Pomurje Region.

Nominations for HAB2020 are closed

Pilots from 39 Countries will participate at 24th FAI World Hot Air Balloon Championship Murska Sobota 2020

On 31. 1. we have reached the deadline for NACs acceptance. So far 39 contries have confirmed their participation and have nominated their entrants. On 15. 2. the first round of invitations will be sent out to the nominated pilots.

After the closing date for Round 1, additional invitations will be sent out to the pilots whose NACs responded until 31. 1. and the pilots from their country have already taken two invitations. The FAI Ranking Method will be used to determine invitations for the second round up to the maximum 100 allowed for the event. 5 medal holders will be invited directly by the organiser.

In September 2020, Murska Sobota will host pilots from:

Australia
Austria
Belgium
Brasil
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Great Britain
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
India
Italy
Japan
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Netherlands
New Zeland
North Macedonia
Poland
Russian Federation
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States of America

Dear pilots. Registration invitations will be sent to your e-mail adress with which you have been nominated by your organization. Please expect an invitation untill February 15, 2020. After that date, you will be able to log in to our system and submit the necessary documentation to enter the 24th FAI Hot Air Balloon Championship Murska Sobota 2020.