2020 and 2024 Olympic equestrian plans
The International Olympic Committee has also approved the 2020 changes
EQUESTRIAN sport will keep its place in the Olympics for the 2024 Games, thanks to approval from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The IOC has also accepted the new formats for equestrian sport for Tokyo 2020. The changes include teams of three and no drop score across the disciplines of eventing, dressage and showjumping.
“The IOC’s confirmation of equestrian on the Olympic programme for the 2024
Games and approval of the new formats for Tokyo 2020 is a direct acknowledgment of our willingness to adapt and modernise our sport, so all the work to drive change and increase universality has been worthwhile”, said FEI president Ingmar De Vos.
“Approval of the formats for Tokyo means that we can now increase the number of flags in equestrian sport in line with the Agenda 2020 recommendations.”
Event rider Harry Meade welcomed the news.
“It’s great that eventing’s place in the Olympics is secure in the immediate future,” he told
H&H. “The Olympics requires a modified competition to showcase the sport.”
He noted it has not yet been specified how the proposed substitution system will work
[in eventing, travelling reserves can be substituted in during the competition] and added that he did not feel the format changes should be introduced outside the Olympic competition.
“Hopefully the World Equestrian Games will retain the characteristics of a traditional — and only remaining — top-level championships,” he said.
BEF chief executive Clare Salmon added that the new format is a “great opportunity for our sport to broaden its reach to a wider audience”.
“We’re moving on with confidence and poised to build on our recent medal success,” she told H&H.
In an unprecedented move, the IOC may name the locations for the 2024 and 2028 Games simultaneously.
The IOC has approved a recommendation that both Games be awarded this year. This will be voted on in July and, if passed, the Games will be allocated at an IOC session in September.
Paris and Los Angeles are the two candidate cities. Mr De Vos said he was “excited” by the prospect of these locations.