FEI General Assembly Concludes In Puerto Rico

The final day of the FEI General Assembly 2015 took place in San Juan (PUR) today, and FEI President Ingmar De Vos opened the day’s proceedings with thanks to the Puerto Rican Equestrian Federation, its President Rosana Roig and her team for the wonderful welcome. This is the second time that the FEI General Assembly has been in Puerto Rico, which previously hosted the annual meeting 18 years ago.

“I believe also this might be the first time an FEI General Assembly has been held on a Friday the 13th, unless anyone else can remember such an occasion”, the FEI President said in his opening address, “but I am not superstitious so I can only assume all will go smoothly and according to plan!”

During the all-day meeting, member National Federations voted on a wide range of topics, which are detailed here. A total of 100 of the 134 member National Federations were represented, 75 in-person and 25 by proxy.

Rodrigo Garcia, Rio 2016 Sports Director, gave delegates an update on developments at the Deodoro Olympic Park, the second largest Rio 2016 Games cluster, and home to the Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Centre. Details included the proximity of the Equestrian Centre to the other sports at Deodoro, Games-time accommodation including the Athletes’ Village, the competition schedule and the success of the Test Event.

Martin Atock of Peden Bloodstock then updated National Federations on biosecurity measures in Rio and the equestrian freight manual.

Delegates were also given the latest information on progress with the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2018 in Bromont/Montreal (CAN), and heard a presentation from Roly Owers, Chief Executive of the equine charity World Horse Welfare, the FEI’s welfare advisor for more than 30 years.

FEI General Assembly 2015 in full session on 13 November 2015 in San Juan, Puerto Rico (PUR). FEI/Richard Juilliart

Once business had been concluded, the FEI President welcomed two new member Federations into the FEI Family by presenting the FEI flag to Angola and Bosnia & Herzegovina.

The President also made a special presentation to outgoing Chair of the Vaulting Committee, Emma Seely (USA), in recognition of her dedication to the discipline during her eight-year term in office. Sergey Buikevich (KAZ), outgoing Chair of FEI Regional Group III, was also honoured for his eight years on the FEI Bureau.

FEI Badges of Honour for National Federation representatives that have attended 15 or more FEI General Assemblies were then presented to six individuals by the FEI President. Recipients of FEI Badges of Honour were Michael Cherry (BER); Robert Fekar (SVK); Andrew Finding (GBR); Sadyr Mamytov (KGZ); Fred Sundwall (FIN) and Betty Wates (JAM).

Paris to host Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final and FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final 2018

The Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final and the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final 2018 will be held in Paris (FRA), marking the first occasion that the French capital has had the opportunity to stage equestrian sport’s most prestigious double indoor Finals.

The decision was taken today by the FEI Bureau at its in-person meeting held in San Juan (PUR) at this year’s FEI General Assembly.

Gothenburg (SWE) and Las Vegas (USA) had also submitted bids to host the double Finals.

“We are delighted that the FEI World Cup Finals will be taking place in the vibrant French capital,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez (previously Zeender) said. “This will be the first time the dual Finals have been held in Paris, although the Finals were held separately in 1987 for Jumping and 1991 for Dressage, so the time is right to return to this wonderful international city.

“Last year France hosted the largest Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to date, and we are confident that GL Events, the team that organised brilliant double Finals in Lyon in 2014, will take the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final and the FEI World Cup Dressage Final 2018 to a new level of excellence.”

The Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final and the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final 2018 will take place from 10 to 15 April at the AccorHotels Arena, formerly known as Paris Bercy Arena, located on the Boulevard de Bercy in central Paris.

The indoor arena, known for its pyramidal shape and walls covered with sloping lawn, is one of France’s biggest concert venue and has hosted global megastars such as Madonna, Céline Dion, Tina Turner, Kylie Minogue, and U2 among many others. Major sporting events, including the ATP Tour tennis tournament Paris Masters, have also been held at this venue.

The Bureau also allocated 14 FEI Championships and Finals in 12 countries for 2016-2017:

2016
FEI Balkan Jumping Championship, Adunatii Copaceni (ROU), 1-4 September
FEI South America Jumping Championship for Young Riders, Juniors, Pre-Juniors & Children, Sao Paulo (BRA), 7-11 September
FEI World Jumping Challenge Final, Rabat (MOR), dates to be confirmed
FEI Balkan Dressage Championship, Thessaloniki (GRE), dates to be confirmed
FEI Balkan Driving Championship, Floresti (ROU), 30 September – 2 October *subject to the signature of the Host Agreement
FEI European Endurance Championship for Young Riders and Juniors, Rio Frio (POR), 2-4 September
FEI Balkan Endurance Championship, Kukavica (CRO), 6-9 October
FEI European Reining Championship, Givrins (SUI), 11-13 August
FEI European Championship for Ponies (Jumping, Dressage & Eventing), Vilhelmsborg (DEN), 17-21 August

Germany’s Daniel Deusser and Cornet d’Amour, winners of the Longines FEI World Cup™Jumping Final 2014 in Lyon, organised by GL Events, the company that will be organising the dual FEI World Cup™ Finals 2018 in Paris following today’s allocation by the FEI Bureau. (FEI/Dirk Caremans)

2017
FEI European Endurance Championship, Brussels (BEL), 20 August
FEI World Breeding Endurance Championship for Young Horses, Brussels (BEL), 21 August
FEI Pan American Endurance Championship for Senior & Young Riders, Costa Azul, Canelones (URU), April (exact dates to be confirmed
FEI World Driving Championship for Ponies, Four in Hand/Pairs/Singles, Minden-Kutenhausen (GER), 24-27 August
FEI World Cup™ Driving Final, Gothenburg (SWE), 22-26 February *subject to the signature of the Host Agreement

The Bureau re-opened the bid for the FEI World Breeding Endurance Championship for Young Horses 2018.

FEI Bureau Agrees Unanimously To Take Strong Stance On GCL Case

The FEI Bureau has today agreed unanimously to continue to fight the case between the FEI and the Global Champions League with all legal means, following an update at the FEI Bureau’s in-person meeting at the FEI General Assembly in the Puerto Rican capital of San Juan.

The Global Champions League lodged a complaint with the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) in June of this year alleging that the FEI’s unsanctioned events rule was in breach of competition law. The BCA granted interim measures on 28 July requiring the FEI to suspend its unsanctioned events rule against athletes and horses for the GCL events. Under the rule, athletes, horses or officials are ineligible to compete in an FEI or national event if they have participated in an unsanctioned event in the previous six months. An unsanctioned event is an event and/or a competition that is neither published in the official FEI calendar nor authorised by a National Federation.

The FEI appealed the interim measures decision to the Brussels Court of Appeal, requesting suspension of the decision. The suspension was rejected without any review of the merits of the case, however the FEI’s view is that the BCA decision should not be applicable outside Belgium and is therefore seeking a full annulment of the decision.

No dates have been set for the annulment process, which will go before the Brussels Court of Appeal, or for the eventual hearing on the full merits of the case, which will be heard by the Belgian Competition Authority.

Ingmar De Vos, FEI President (FEI/Germain Arias-Schreiber)

The FEI is not the only International Federation undergoing legal proceedings on unsanctioned events. The European Commission recently opened a formal anti-trust investigation into International Skating Union (ISU) rules that impose a lifetime ban from competitions, including the Olympic Games and the ISU World and European Championships, on athletes that take part in events not approved by the ISU.

The European Commission has confirmed to the FEI that it will ensure the coherent application of EU anti-trust rules in the FEI and ISU proceedings. It has also clearly indicated that the results of its investigation would set a precedent for similar issues in other sports and provide guidance for national competition authorities and/or national courts for dealing with future cases.

The FEI is to put in a request to the European Commission to be an interested party in the ISU case, and the FEI President has also written to the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) Council and all ASOIF Members proposing that they should put in a similar request. Additionally, the FEI has asked ASOIF to represent the interests of its members on unsanctioned event rules.

“We simply want justice”, FEI President Ingmar De Vos said. “We do not want our athletes to be the victims of this ongoing legal case, so we will abide by the Belgian Competition Authority ruling and not sanction them or their horses for competing in GCL events, but it is very important that they are aware that there has been no ruling on the merits of the case and that these interim measures guarantee nothing on the future of unsanctioned events.

“We welcome the European Commission’s formal investigation into the ISU case and await the outcome of that investigation with interest as it will establish the principle on unsanctioned events that will be implemented across the European Union for all sports. The unsanctioned events rule is applied in other sports and we are confident that the principle will be accepted by the European Commission.

“Many International Federations are confronted with similar issues, but while our athletes have the right to decide what events they will compete in, the FEI also has a non-decision making participant, the horse, and it is our duty to protect its welfare and to ensure the integrity of the events that both our equine and human athletes compete in.

“Horse welfare and sporting integrity are the two key principles of the unsanctioned events rule, and these principles can only be protected and promoted by putting in place rules, including anti-doping and veterinary regulations, and by making acceptance of international events onto the official calendar conditional upon the Organising Committee adopting all of those regulations and making them binding on all participants in those events. Without these rules, we have no way of safeguarding the welfare of horses and athletes participating in such events, or of protecting the integrity of the events.

“We are confident that the European Commission will accept that legislation on unsanctioned events is not against the EU anti-trust rules.”

Shortlist Nominees Announced For FEI Awards 2015

A total of 29 candidates have been shortlisted for the 2015 FEI Awards 2015, with the winners to be announced at a glittering gala dinner on the island of Puerto Rico on 13 November. The winners in five hotly contested categories will be presented with their awards by Hollywood actress Bo Derek, Chair of the Jury for this year’s FEI Awards.

The Puerto Rican capital, San Juan will roll out the red carpet next week for the “Oscars of the Equestrian world”, when the FEI family will gather to honour the commitment, dedication and development of equestrian sport in 2015 at the grand finale to the FEI General Assembly.

Equestrian heroes, arriving from all corners of the globe, will attend the equestrian world’s biggest night of glitz and glamour when our stars will get the chance to shine in a different light at the FEI Awards 2015, sponsored by Longines. Over 350 guests, including National Federation representatives, equestrian sport fans and FEI partners will celebrate the achievements of the winners.

Hollywood actress Bo Derek Chair of the Jury of the prestigious FEI Awards 2015, the annual awards launched by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the world governing body of equestrian sport. (Photo: Bo Derek)

Nominees shortlisted for the five categories of the FEI Awards 2015 are:

Longines Rising Star – Dedicated to equestrians aged 14 to 21 who demonstrate outstanding sporting talent:
Juan Matute Jr (ESP)
Bertram Allen (IRE)
Kelsey Russell (USA)
Phoebe Peters (GBR)
Jessica Mendoza (GBR)
Gina Schumacher (GER)

Reem Acra Best Athlete – Athletes who have demonstrated exceptional equestrian skills and have taken the sport to a new level over the last 12 months:
Boyd Exell (AUS)
Jaques Ferrari (FRA)
William Fox Pitt (GBR)
Ingrid Klimke (GER)
Charlotte Dujardin (GBR)
Jeroen Dubbeldam (NED)

World Jumping champion Jeroen Dubbeldam, was the Reem Acra Best Athlete 2014. (FEI/Daniel Kaiser)

Best Groom – This award is reserved for those all-important, behind-the-scenes team members who work around the clock to ensure that our equine athletes get the best possible care and attention:
Alan Davies (GBR)
Jennifer Arnsten (USA)
Marlen Schannwell (IRE)
Zoltan Herczeg (GER)
Imogen Mercer (GBR)
Jose Eduardo Garcia Luna (“Eddie”) (USA)

Against All Odds – For those who have pursued their equestrian ambitions despite physical handicap or extremely difficult personal circumstances:
Gerado Tazzer (MEX)
Oriana Ricci Mannisille (URU)
Pepo Puch (AUT)
Ben Hobday (GBR)
Celine van Till (SUI)
Rixt van der Horst (NED)

FEI Solidarity – An equestrian development project, an individual or organisation that has demonstrated skill and energy in expanding equestrian sport:
Ready, Set, Trot (AUS)
First ever pilot course for Grooms (HAI)
Les Chevaux qui pensent les plaies (HAI)
Youth Summer Camp (BUL)

FINA Diving Grand Prix 2014 Schedule

The international diving elite will gather in Madrid (ESP) for the first meet of the FINA Diving Grand Prix 2014, organised from February 14-16.

Eight events are on the competition programme: 3m springboard, 10m platform, 3m springboard synchro and 10m platform synchro for men and women.

From February till October, rising and accomplished divers will be on track for medals in eight meets:

Its starts February 14-16, 2014 in Madrid (ESP) then the train moves to Germany this month also as diving elite converge on the city of Rostock, from February 21-23, 2014 (GER).

There will be a two months break then focus of the Diving world shifts to Canada, from May 1-4, 2014 in Gatineau (CAN) then off to Puerto Rico from May 8-11, 2014 in San Juan (PUR)

The month of may is the busiest month this year for elite Divers as competition moves from San Juan to Guanajuato Mexico from May 16-18, 2014 in (MEX) another 2 months break is observed before focus shifts to Bolzano Italy from August 1-3, 2014 in (ITA).

There are No elite Diving tournaments in September but the month of October will witness the last two FINA Diving Grand Prix’s first in Singapore from October 17-19, 2014 (SIN) and finally from October 24-26, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur (MAS) Malaysia.

FINA Diving Grand Prix 2014 Schedule

February 14-16, 2014 in Madrid (ESP)

February 21-23, 2014 in Rostock (GER)

May 1-4, 2014 in Gatineau (CAN)

May 8-11, 2014 in San Juan (PUR)

May 16-18, 2014 in Guanajuato (MEX)

August 1-3, 2014 in Bolzano (ITA)

October 17-19, 2014 in Singapore (SIN)

October 24-26, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur (MAS)