12 Countries Expected For Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2012

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- Twelve countries are expected to take part in the 4th Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2012 scheduled to be held from March 15 to 18 at the Millennium Monument here, Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Minister Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin said Friday. He said the countries included Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Poland and the United States. The fiesta, with the theme "1World, 1Malaysia and 1Fiesta", will see 25 hot air balloons adorn the sky over Putrajaya, he told reporters after the soft launch of the fiesta, here. Raja Nong Chik said Putrajaya's beautiful grounds have become home to this annual international sporting event for many reasons. "The wide open spaces, favourable flying weather, the scenic ambience and the general features and tourist amenities the grounds have to offer make an ideal venue," he said. Meanwhile, Khairudin Abdul Rani, chief executive officer of AKA Balloons Sdn Bhd, the main event organiser, said some of the newly introduced activities this year include a street touch rugby tournament for families, a bicycle fest, water sport activities and extreme sports. "In the 2012 fiesta, we will see the return of the ever highly anticipated "night glow" event where the hot air balloons will participate in a light and sound show on the night of March 17, culminating in a beautiful display of fireworks," he said. He said thousands of local and international visitors are expected to attend the four-day fiesta this year compared to about 250,000 visitors in 2011. (photoBERNAMA) MALAYSIA