10 hot air balloons held in China on way to NM

Posted at: 10/06/2009 7:53 PM | Updated at: 10/06/2009 7:55 PM
By: The Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - Gov. Bill Richardson says 10 special shaped hot air balloons that were held for weeks in China are headed for Albuquerque.

Richardson said Tuesday the balloons should arrive at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico on Wednesday in time for a special shapes event the next day.

The 10 balloons are created in the shapes of animals, objects and characters. They make up a small part of the 550 balloons flying in the event.

Richardson says the Chinese Embassy, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and the federal Department Homeland Security were among those who helped expedite the balloons' delivery.

The balloons were among 13 balloons held in China after a dispute between a Chinese company and an American balloon event producer following a balloon event in Guyang, Inner Mongolia.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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