The 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games will be held in Normandy in France, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has announced today.
FEI President HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein said: “The allocation of the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games to Normandy is an important development for the future of our sport.
“The bid committee, in cooperation with the French Equestrian Federation, has worked for eight years and presented a project of outstanding quality and vision which enjoys the support of the French government and regional authorities, and presents us as a sport with an exceptional platform in the very heart of a region that shares our passion for horses.”
The FEI World Equestrian Games are the combination of the world championships of all eight FEI disciplines — jumping, dressage, eventing, driving, endurance, vaulting, reining, and para-equestrian — held concurrently at the same place. They take place every four years.
Nine hundred horses, 800 riders and drivers from 60 nations and 300 000 spectators are expected to gather for two weeks of competition in August 2014.
The FEI World Equestrian Games will be broadcast widely.
Vice-president of the French Equestrian Federation, Christian Paillot, said: “The French Equestrian Federation — the third largest national federation with 600,000 members — is proud that France has obtained the organization of the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games.
“Thank you to all of those who have worked for a successful bid and to the FEI for this mark of confidence.”
Laurent Beauvais, president of the organizing committee for Normandy 2014, added: “Normandy is the first region in France for horse breeding and champions and has a true legitimacy to host the most prestigious equestrian competition.”
