Michael Jung, team gold and individual silver winner at the 2019 European Championships
Michael Jung is calling for the FEI to re-consider the cancellation of the Senior European Eventing Championships in 2021
Following the postponement of this year’s Tokyo Games to 2021, the FEI Board had previously ruled that European Championships in the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines should not be held next year to allow the focus to be on Tokyo. However, the EEF and a number of European National Federations urged the FEI Board to review its decision, resulting in the allocation of Championships for show jumping and dressage
In October the FEI Board has confirmed allocation of the FEI Jumping European Championships 2021 to Riesenbeck in Germany, home-base of Barcelona 1992 Olympic champion Ludger Beerbaum, to take place from 30 August to 4 September 2021.
Allocation of the FEI Dressage Championships 2021 was confirmed to Hagen, Germany from 7-12 September 2021.
However, it was decided there would be no FEI European Eventing Championships in 2021 as the organisers that had put in expressions of interest to host the Championships subsequently withdrew from the process. The Championships were originally scheduled to take place at Le Haras Du Pin, the location for the dressage and cross country during the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy, from 11th – 15th August 2021
Michael Jung has called for a re-think as he says that there is a venue at Avenches in Switzerland which is willing to run the event from 22nd – 26th September 2021
A copy of Michael’s suggestion posted on social media is re-produced below;
“Dear followers, friends, and eventing fans,
I believe most of you have meanwhile recognized that the FEI has cancelled the European Eventing Championships 2021 allegedly because of the Olympic Games.
Although a few weeks ago the FEI has also published that the European Championships in dressage and show-jumping will take place in 2021.
So I do ask myself ‘Why can there not be European Championships in eventing as well’ ?
There is a motivated and experienced team in Switzerland at Avenches around the organizer Jean-Pierre Kratzer which has shown in 2020 that they have everything what is needed to host a Championship: very good facilities, experience, financial strength and more essential key criteria you need to host an event like this.
Also the date possible date is known: 22.-26.09.2021
I don’t understand why we should not take this amazing chance to have a great event next year and to have equal rights in our discipline like the other disciplines.
It is so necessary that the eventing sport has an event like the Europeans (especially due to the fact that there will only be three riders representing each nation at the OG) for all parties involved: riders, owners, grooms, breeders, fans and families and all our sponsors.
This little statement is just an information for all of you because this morning, after having talked to friends like Joseph Murphy or Maxime Livio, I realized that no one knows that there actually is an organizer who is highly motivated to give us the chance to have European Championships next year.
Maybe we can all work together and find a solution?
Please share and talk about this situation.
Thank you
Michi
