FEI Sports Forum turns focus to non-Olympic sports
28 April 2015, Lausanne (SUI)
1. Driving four-in-hand: shorter dressage test for individuals; for teams (all in one day)
2. Dressage, pas-de-deux and cones relay, or combined marathon; pure cone event for individual drivers
3. Endurance: change from one-day 160km format to a two-day 100km-per-day format, with a controlled start on the second day; maximum of four combinations per National Federation, and only highest placed three to count for team classification; countries starting with less than three combinations only eligible for individual classifications
4.Vaulting: introduce “Nations Format” team classification (composition – one Individual Female, one Individual Male and one Squad); recreating the atmosphere of Vaulting at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 by consulting with event organisers on lighting, music and spectator engagement
5.Reining: maximum number of athletes at Championships: 100; individuals in the Final to choose own music
National Federations flagged the need to safeguard horse welfare and respect rest periods, following the proposal of the two-day, 100km-per-day Endurance format. There was also support from National Federations to introduce the Nations Format in Vaulting and several of the innovations proposed for Driving were backed by delegates.
A full report on Endurance can be found under Session 6 – Presentation by Brian Sheahan, FEI at:
http://www.fei.org/fei-sports-forum/supporting-docs-2015
FEI President closes Sports Forum 2015
FEI President Ingmar De Vos brought the 2015 edition of the FEI Sports Forum to a close, thanking all participants, including the International Olympic Committee, National Federations, FEI stakeholders including athletes and Organisers, and the FEI Technical Committees for all their work in preparing the proposals.
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“We know the World Equestrian Games should be shorter and we absolutely need to control the costs and the number of athletes, so that Organising Committees can establish a realistic budget. And we know that we need to be very clear on the more detailed requirements. But one of the most important conclusions from the Forum is that there is a future for the World Equestrian Games and it’s a bright future, as long as we address the issues that have been brought to the table.”
“I am confident about the place of equestrian in the Olympic programme. All International Federations need to understand they will be judged on different parameters than in the past. We are living in a more competitive world than ever before and all sports are trying to get the best out of that world. We need to take our responsibility seriously. We will continue to work very closely with the IOC and go to them with our proposals within the set deadlines.”
Photo: Ingmar De Vos, FEI President, closed the FEI Sports Forum 2015 today at the IMD in Lausanne (SUI) thanking all participants, including the International Olympic Committee, National Federations, FEI stakeholders, Organisers and athletes, and the FEI Technical Committees for all their work in preparing the proposals that were heard over the two-day session. (FEI/Germain Arias-Schreiber)
~ends