Czech Nationals championship witness hot-air balloons

Some 20 crews from as far away as Australia as well as from neighbouring countries such as Austria will test their skills against the wind.

Pilots from around the world fired up their hot-air balloons on Friday and floated above the Czech countryside as they competed in the annual Czech Nationals championship.

Some 20 crews from as far away as Australia as well as from neighbouring countries such as Austria will test their skills against the wind and against other participants in Uherske Hradiste, some 280 kilometres (174 miles) south-east of Prague.

The balloons compete in several disciplines, mostly attempting to hit a target with a marker, the organisers said.

"For me ballooning people are my treasure... I am very happy every time I can fly with balloonists," said pilot Sue Akari who came to the race from Nagasaki, Japan.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)