The organisers of the Mondial du Lion have announced that the 2020 FEI WBFSH World Breeding Championships in Eventing for 6- and 7-year-old horses, scheduled to take place from October 15th - 18th will be run without spectators due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In June 2020, the association was still optimistic that the usual crowds may be able to attend with health protocols having been prepared by an infectious disease doctor at Angers University Hospital, acting as a volunteer for the event.
“However, everyone's safety being the priority, there remain too many uncertainties linked to the evolution of the health situation, especially for the day of cross country, which is a real popular celebration” says the Board of Directors who made the unanimous decision
Spectators who have already purchased their tickets will be contacted by the ticket office and all tickets purchased for this year will be valid for the event in 2021.
“This 35th edition of the Mondial du Lion will have a rather special flavor. This is inevitably a blow, because we wanted to find a solution to welcome our audience. We are aware of the consequences of this decision but we believe that it is, at this time, the most realistic, both for the safety of all and for the financial aspect” says Jean-François Arthuis, president of Lion Equestre - Mondial du Lion
“We want to support the equestrian sector; riders, owners, breeders who will perhaps defend France’s title at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
This is why we are maintaining the organization of this World Championship. To succeed in this major challenge, we would like to thank our private and institutional partners who support us”
The event aims to provide a livestream so that eventing fans around the world can follow the action in France in October
