Is the 20th FAI World Hang Gliding Class 2 Championships a real
World Championship?

I note that the results of the competition show that only three
countries are represented:

https://www.mondialdepul2017.com/en/pages/pilots-corner/results.html

Australia, Switzerland, and France.

The CIVL Sporting Code, http://www.fai.org/downloads/civl/SC7, states:

2. 5.5 Minimum Representation

For World Championships a minimum of four countries with a total of eight
competitors available to fly during the Championship is required for the title
of Champion to be awarded;

I asked both the organizer and the CIVL President about this discrepancy. Stef
wrote back:

You have sharp eyes.

There was a late cancellation from a Belgian pilot. That would have made four
countries.

The CIVL Bureau had anticipated and when we saw that the number would be not as
high as expected, with no US pilots, we decided to validate it if only three
nations were present. Not to do so would have been a last-minute disaster for
the organisers, for the pilots, for the sport.

We had two precedents: an Asian PG XC were there were only seven girls after a
late defection. The Dubai World Air Game where in dirigible balloon they gave
medals with only 3 or 4 contestants.

We feel that the Class 2 has to be supported as much as we can, even though it
concerns very few people. This was a way to do it, as was sending only one jury
president and choosing among people there other jurors. No protest yet, so it is
working well!

But CIVL did not seem to feel that the Women's Worlds in Brasilia
merited the same consideration. Nor did they make an effort to allow women
flying in the Worlds in Brasilia to vie for the Women's World Championship.

Everyone was aware of the fact that putting on two World Championships at the
same time would present a terrible dilemma for women already on national teams.
This consideration alone should have brought forth some flexibility from the
Bureau, but it was not to be (and Stef was very very adamant about this).
Wouldn't want to disappoint Manfred. But throwing the women under the bus, not a
problem.