No less than 72 National Federations (NFs) have declared their intention to participate in the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy, meeting the 31 March deadline for entries in principle. The number is an all-time high and represents a 10% increase compared to the entries in principle for any of the previous editions of the FEI World Equestrian Games™.
At this initial stage, the NFs have indicated the disciplines in which they intend to be represented by a team or individual athletes. Although the final participation will be confirmed first by the nominated and ultimately by the definite entries, this is a significant first step in the Games entry process.
The disciplines that have attracted the greatest number of nations are Jumping with 57 NFs, followed by Endurance with competitors from 50 countries. Australia, Austria, host nation France, Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, and the United States have entered teams in all FEI disciplines – Jumping; Dressage and Para-Dressage; Eventing; Driving; Endurance; Vaulting; and Reining.
In total 12 countries will be making their FEI World Equestrian Games™ debut – Hong Kong, US Virgin Islands, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Morocco, Mauritius, Peru, Palestine, Romania, Thailand, and Tunisia – demonstrating the increased globalisation of the FEI’s flagship event.
With so many countries taking part we will all have to brush up on our 'flag' identification ...
The full list of entries in principle is now available on the official website of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy HERE
“We are delighted with the strong interest the National Federations are showing in this summer’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games,” FEI Secretary General Ingmar De Vos said. “It is very exciting to welcome new nations from all over the world to the FEI’s biggest event. The majority of the nations that will be participating for the first time have indicated their intention to send teams or individuals in more than one discipline, which shows how well our sport is developing all around the world. These are exciting times and I am looking forward to a successful record-breaking Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy.”
“The number of nations wishing to participate in the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy demonstrates how enthusiastic everyone is about this major event,” the Games’ Sports Director Laurent Cellier commented. “We are looking forward to welcoming all the nations here in Normandy. With only 144 days to go, the entire Organising Committee is hard at work to ensure all our guests enjoy their stay and to make them feel welcome.”
The next deadlines in the entry process for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy are as follows:
Nominated entries
24 June – Endurance
21 July – all other disciplines
Definite entries
14 August – Dressage, Para-Dressage, Eventing, Endurance, Reining
21 August – Jumping, Driving, Vaulting
Facts and figures
- 72 nations have declared their intention to participate in the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy;
- 9 nations will be represented by teams in all the disciplines; Australia, Austria, host France, Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, and USA;
- 12 countries will be competing at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ for the first time – Hong Kong, US Virgin Islands, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Morocco, Mauritius, Peru, Palestine, Romania, Thailand, and Tunisia.
- Breakdown by discipline:
Jumping: 57 NFs (41 teams; 16 NFs with one or two individual riders)
Endurance: 50 NFs (40 teams; 10 NFs with one or two individual riders)
Dressage: 39 NFs (28 teams; 11 NFs with one or two individual riders)
Para-Dressage: 34 NFs (24 teams; 10 NFs with three or four individual riders)
Eventing: 29 NFs (23 teams; 6 NFs with one or two individual riders)
Vaulting: 29 NFs (20 squads; 14 pas-de-deux; 23 NFs with one to three female vaulters; 15 NFs with one to three male vaulters)
Reining: 25 NFs (19 teams; 6 NFs with one or two individual riders)
Driving: 19 NFs (15 teams; 4 NFs with one individual driver)
Looking Ahead
The FEI has received signed host agreements from two of the Canadian and US cities bidding to host the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2018. The bid teams from Bromont/Montreal (CAN) and Lexington, Kentucky (USA) have both confirmed their continued interest in hosting the Games in 2018.
Will Lexington be the venue for WEG 2018?
Lexington, host city for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in 2010, returned the signed host agreement in advance of the deadline for receipt of the documentation, which expired at midnight CEST on 31 March 2014.
The Bromont/Montreal bid had previously submitted the required paperwork and did not need to resubmit, but Equine Canada’s new President, Al Patterson, has officially confirmed to the FEI that Bromont/Montreal will remain in the bid process.
Lexington, Bromont/Montreal, and Wellington, Florida (USA) had been declared as official candidate cities in December last year, and site visits of all three venues have recently been conducted by Tim Hadaway, FEI Director Games & Championships. However, Wellington withdrew from the bidding process just prior to the latest deadline in the bid process as Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) was unable to deliver the commercial requirements put in place by the FEI.
“It is unfortunate that Wellington is unable to deliver on the commercial requirements and has had to withdraw,” FEI Secretary General Ingmar De Vos said, “but we are confident that both Bromont/Montreal and Lexington have very strong bids.
“Both venues are very impressive and there is no question that either of them would offer an excellent location and quality infrastructure for a really wonderful FEI World Equestrian Games in 2018. We are looking forward to the next stage in the process when the two candidates present their detailed bids to the FEI Bureau in June.”
Following submissions by the FEI’s Evaluation Commission to the FEI Bureau, the candidates will present their final bids to the Bureau at its in-person meeting in June 2014. The host city for the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2018 will be announced after that meeting.
If you want to be in with a chance of winning a fantastic trip (including flights, accommodation, tickets) to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy join up as a 4* member NOW by clicking on the image below:
