France bids for 2014 World Equestrian Games

Horsetalk.co.nz
February 13, 2008

The French Equestrian Federation is the first to formally apply to the FEI with a proposal to stage the 2014 World Equestrian Games.

The French have proposed the games be held in the region of Basse-Normandie in Northern France with the organisers to be Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), organisers of the world's biggest cycling race Tour de France and the annual off-road race The Dakar Rally.

Horse Sport Ireland has also expressed interest in hosting the games, with sponsorship from Dr Pearse Lyons, Global President of Alltech. HSI has set up a working party but a formal proposal has not yet been received by the FEI.

The FEI says that it will follow a clear and fair process in the allocation of the seventh FEI World Equestrian Games, the several procedures in place to help with decision making.

In the period until October 2008, any bidders will be visited by the FEI management and technical experts to assess their technical and commercial capabilities as well as to assist the federation and organiser in the preparation of their bid and clarify any issues that may arise.

Formal bids should be finalised by October 2008; the contract will be signed during the FEI General Assembly in November 2008.

The bids will then be circulated to the FEI Bureau. Bidders will be asked to make a formal presentation prior to the decision by the Bureau on the host Organiser, which will be taken in the spring of 2009.