International Kite Festival

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26 h - 28 I .0

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t i a o n n r a v e l Ł 6 i e t 1 ba t 0 K n 8.2 s Po ite Fe lan d

fot. Wiesław Wiesław Gwizdała Gwizdała fot.

i n d w – a a b Łweww.facebook.com/latawcowalnebad k i t es

fot. Wiesław Gwizdała

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Łeba - wind and kites

XIII International Kite Festival in Łeba The XIII International Kite Festival in Łeba was held on May 18-22, 2013. The event drew attention of the kitefliers as well as the Polish media. Hans Peter Boehme, the Vice President of the International Kite Federation and his wife Caren Boehme, were among the participants which was a great honor for the organizers of the festival.

During the event and even a few days after, the sky above Łeba was full of various kites: single-line kites, dual-line kites, four-line kites, kites flying independently and those lined up by other kites, huge wind-inflated balls, colorful turbines, rokkaku kites, acrobatic kites and many more.

Kitefliers arrived from all over Poland, from Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and Austria.

All hoping for windy and sunny weather.

Within the festival's program many attractions were held.

Together with Łeba's Mayor, Andrzej Strzechminski, participants had opportunity to view a slideshow of pictures taken in Iceland – the slideshow was prepared by the President of Polish Kite Association and his wife, Przemyslaw and Agnieszka Lasecki.

In the very spectacular Rokkaku Kites Contest for the Nocowanie.pl Cup, after a fierce competition, the first place went to Mariola Cembik, second place to Anna Chojnowska and the third place to Elzbieta Wiezba – congratulations!

Another exciting competition that took place was a Polish Acrobatic Kite Championship. In that competition the best kiteflier was Jakub Lasecki, followed by Andrzej Cembik and Pawel Abramowicz.

An additional attraction was a “Łeba and its surroundings aerial view” kite photography show.

Like every year, the organizers ensured interesting sightseeing of Łeba and surrounding areas. Thanks to the sponsors' support kitefliers had opportunity to visit breathtaking Moving Dunes, a Sea Park in Sarbsk and Przystan Łeba – a place located at the yacht harbor, where one can taste Polish cuisine and relax in a pleasant atmosphere.

fot. uczestnicy festiwalu

Łeba - wind and kites

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A resident of Łeba at the XXX International Kite Festival in Weifang, China In April 2013, Wieslaw Gwizdala, as the only Polish representative, traveled to Weifang in China to participate in the XXX International Kite Festival.

The traditional event was attended by kitefliers from all over the world. Kite lovers from Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, United States, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Austria, Ukraine, Romania, Germany, Poland and more, took part in various kite competitions prepared by the organizers.

The most significant attractions were: a Chinese traditional kite show, an acrobatic kite show and a very spectacular night show.

Wieslaw Gwizdala fot. uczestnicy festiwalu

Wieslaw Gwizdala, who participated in a XXX International Kite Festival in Weifang, China, presented a film, slideshow and souvenirs from the Chinese festival. The event was held in Zdrowotel Łeba hotel on Nadmorska street. Among brought from China souvenirs there were: Chinese kites made of parchment, starter badges of various competitions and many more – soon everyone will be able to see the exhibits in the Tourist Information Center in Łeba.

Once again, we would like to thank all sponsors, who contributed to the organization of this year's Festival in Łeba.

Marta Stankiewicz & Wieslaw Gwizdala The organizers of the XIII International Kite Festival in Łeba 4

fot. Wiesław Gwizdała

Łeba - wind and kites

Magical Kite Festival

fot. Latawcowa Ĺ eba

Ĺ eba - wind and kites

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Partnership with the South Korean city of Ansan

fot. Aleksandra Rabka

Łeba enters into partnership with the city of Ansan in South Korea as a result of the Magical Kite Festival.

During the Magical Kite Festival in Łeba, on August 28, 2014, a partnership agreement between Łeba and the city of Ansan was signed. Łeba's Mayor – Andrzej Strzechminski, festival's organizer – Wieslaw Gwizdala and two representatives from South Korea, President of Korean Kite Association – Kunsoo Shin and Cho Byong Ook of JEJU World Kite Museum, all expressed willingness to cooperate in the fields of cultural exchange and local schools partnership.

signing. Cho Byong Ook intends to create a separate room dedicated to Łeba's Magical Kite Festival in the JEJU World Kite Museum and the signed documents will become part of the exhibition. Łeba's Mayor received a very significant gift from the Korean guests – a Korean flag, which traveled for a long time visiting kite festivals around the world, and a traditional Korean kite inscribed with best wishes related to shared goals and dreams of the two cities.

Aleksandra Rabka Translator and guardian of the festival's foreign guests

The agreement was prepared in three languages: Polish, Korean and English; one set for each person 6

Łeba - wind and kites

Kites of Hope on the Łeba's beach On March 11, 2011, a magnitude-9 earthquake shook northeastern Japan, Honshu, unleashing a savage tsunami. The number of confirmed deaths caused by the earthquake is 15,891 according to Japan's National Police Agency. More than 2,000 people were considered missing.

On a third anniversary of the tragic event, students from gymnasium in Łeba took part in a kite-flying campaign initiated by Mr Akihiko Nara in memory of the victims. Mr Nara touched by the tragedy which met his compatriots, decided to call children and youth from all over the world to fly the “Kites of Hope” on March 11th, as a token of solidarity with the victims.

As part of the event, a local tourist organization “Łeba – Błękitna Kraina” (“Łeba – Blue Land”) organized meetings in the school's building. On March 11, 2014 youth flew kites prepared specially

for the event on the Łeba's eastern beach, near Neptun Hotel.

Setting kites in motion and keeping them in the air was quite tricky and challenging that day. The whole event was a very interesting experience for the youth, especially for those, who built and flew kites for the first time.

The final stage was to write a letter for Mr Nara and send it with photographs from the event attached.

Mr Nara's idea was supported in many countries and Łeba is one of the first Polish locations that joined the great action.

It is worth mentioning that in Japan kite-flying is considered a prayer for love and peace.

Aleksandra Chwil Gymnasium in Łeba

fot. Agnieszka Pałac

Łeba - wind and kites

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V International Kite Festival Łeba 2015

For the fifth time, the blue skies above Łeba were covered with lots of amazing colourful kites.

The V International Kite Festival in Łeba took place on August 28-30, 2015.

Kite enthusiasts from around the world together created a wonderful event. The organizers and the town of Łeba were honoured by a presence of kite lovers from United Kingdom, Republic of South Africa, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Russia, Ukraine and Poland, who, for start, took part in a colourful parade which was the official opening of the Festival.

For the youngest organizers planned exciting kite workshops that taught them to make and fly one of those humble yet amazing constructions.

On the last day of the festival, apart from the kites related attractions, participants had a great opportunity to visit the beautiful moving dunes of Łeba or take a trip with a fast motorboat on the waters of Baltic sea.

At the end of the festival, participants were invited to a delicious dinner in the harbour tavern. Łeba and its citizens are very looking forward to the next year’s event!

Participants flew their kites on the Golden beaches of Łeba not only during the day, but also at night. The kites lighted up the dark sky with numerous lights accompanied by ambient music.

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Łeba - wind and kites

Ĺ eba - wind and kites

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Ĺ eba - wind and kites

VI International Kite Festival 26-28.08.2016 Łeba Poland

We are happy to announce that for the sixth time kites from around the world will cover the blue skies above Łeba's beach.

Kite enthusiasts, professionals and amateurs, are very welcome to take part in the VI International Kite Festival in Łeba.

Kites will adorn the sky during the day and at night – spectacular night show, accompanied by music is becoming now a tradition.

fik w. ww

le ba.pl

Łeba - wind and kites

For the youngest we planned exciting kite workshops and many other attractions for the active participants of the festival.

Lets fill the sky above Łeba's beach with phenomenal designs and colors together!

All kite lovers wishing to actively participate in the Festival, please contact us at: leba.kite.festival@gmail.com See you soon!

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www.ikf-leba.pl

fot. Wiesław Gwizdała