The EFA has reviewed the proposal by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) to
the IOC designed to counter threats to remove Eventing from the Olympic program, and gives
it its full support.
Mr. Russ Withers, National President of the EFA, said: "The FEI proposal answers
all of the IOC's concerns in a comprehensive and effective manner. The proposed
replacement of the Three-Day Event with that of the CIC short format event, addresses
issues of cost, land requirements and staffing levels and improves the event's
attractiveness to both television and spectators. We fully support the FEIs
proposal."
"Eventing is Australias gold medal equestrian discipline with a record three
successive Team Gold medals. However, even a change to the short format will require a
considerable re-think in team selection and preparation and may well effect the kind of
competition organisers offer in the future." Mr. Withers said.
The FEI President, HRH the Infanta Dona Pilar, together with FEI Eventing Committee
Chairman, Mr Wayne Roycroft, will put the FEIs case to keep Eventing in the Olympics
to IOC President Jacques Rogge later this month.
If accepted by the IOC, the new short format for Eventing could be introduced as early
as at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
At this stage, the next World Equestrian Games to be held in Aachen, Germany, in 2006
will have a Three-Day Event as its Eventing competition format. However, the shorter CIC
format is to be used for the new Eventing World Cup competition.
A copy of the full FEI Proposal to the FEI is available at http://www.horsesport.org/fei/reference/reference_05/ref_05_03.html.