From Kentucky 2010 to Normandy 2014.......... Photo: Kit Houghton/FEI
With less than two years to go to the FEI Alltech World Equestrian Games in Normandy there is welcome news from the 2014 Organising Committee. After the high cost of the tickets at the London 2012 Olympic Games, the latest news from Normandy is that they have developed an affordable pricing policy to suit all budgets.
“Equestrian sports fans are very eager to book their places at the event. The Organising Committee has developed an affordable pricing policy in the interest of attracting as many people as possible to the competitions. The average ticket price will be fixed at 25 euros, with different competitive options such as special “event passes” or “one-day passes”. This will guarantee that the event remains accessible and as far-reaching as possible” says Fabien Grobon, managing director of the Organising Committee
The ticket prices and reservation details will begin in the second quarter of 2013 with the opening of the ticket office. 2013 will also see a test events being held at the competition venues: endurance, eventing, driving, reining in the summer of 2013 and at the d’Ornano stadium for jumping and dressage in June 2014. These real-life rehearsals will enable the Organising Committee’s teams, the Fédération Equestre Internationale and the National Federations to take a good look at the different sites and check the resources made available to them.
One area of particular interest will be the equestrian surfaces. Contracts have now been signed with specialist equestrian surface suppliers and course upgrade work has begun at Le Pin National Stud to get the Eventing cross-country track up to standard. The company, Eiffage, along with co-contractors Toubin Clément and Normandie Drainage, will be in charge of the footing for five of the disciplines: Jumping, Eventing (excluding Cross Country), Dressage, Vaulting and Para Dressage. Sparfel, in a joint contracting agreement with Eurovia and Bordsol, will take care of show grounds footings. A call for tenders is to be renewed in the autumn, as no suitable offers were made for Reining floors first time round.
British and Australian delegations have already been over to Normandy for an initial view and they will be followed shortly by the U.S. delegation.
