Paddy McMahon, individual Jumping European Champion in 1973, passed away peacefully on 4 April 2021. He was 87.

One of the greatest British Jumping athletes of all time, Paddy McMahon was most memorable for his successes in the 1970s, including that famous championship gold medal in Hickstead 1973. He was also a member of the British team that won the Nations Cup at the Dublin Horse Show the same year, and again in 1975.

His legend lives on through the memories and stories told by those who knew him, some of which can be found in “The Golden Age of Show Jumping”, a book written by Frank Waters about famous athletes and horses that had the same celebrity status as movie stars.

The FEI expresses its sincere condolences to Paddy McMahon’s family and friends, the British Equestrian Federation (GBR) and the global equestrian community.

British Olympic Dressage athlete, Sarah Whitmore, sadly passed away on the 27 March at the age of 89.

Sarah Whitmore started her international competitive career as an Eventing athlete, but after breaking her back in a fall, she switched to Dressage. Her greatest Dressage highlights included representing Great Britain at the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games, where she finished 22^nd individually and eighth with the British team.

Alongside her own success, she helped shape the career of many international British Dressage athletes, including Laura Fry, who was selected for the European Championships in 1991 and for the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games. Sarah Whitmore was also an international judge and a member of the International Dressage Trainers Club.

She was an inspiration for many athletes, a fantastic mentor and friend. She will be sorely missed.

The FEI expresses its sincere condolences to Sarah Whitmore’s family and friends, the British Equestrian Federation (GBR) and the global equestrian community.

Fans can expect a new and totally authentic look to their equestrian eGame experience with the release of the official FEI Equestriad™ World Tour version in May. The game, which targets horse lovers of all ages, has a potential global audience of over three billion gamers in more than 175 countries.

Developed by GoGallop Studios, a leading publisher in the mobile game world, the FEI Equestriad™ World Tour simulates an Eventing competition where horse and athlete combinations compete across the three tests of Dressage, Cross Country and Jumping.

The FEI has entered into a five-year licensing agreement with GoGallop Studios, giving the Australian-based company exclusive rights across the eGaming sphere to the FEI Brand as well as the FEI named Series and Competitions. First launched in November 2020, the Equestriad™ World Tour has already seen over 1.4 million downloads and plans are already underway to release FEI branded Jumping and Dressage Events within the game.

“This agreement with GoGallop Studios is a unique opportunity to take our sport to a more global and diverse audience,” FEI Commercial Director Ralph Straus said.

“We are looking forward to working closely with GoGallop, a company with a stellar reputation for developing authentic and realistic online gaming experiences.

“The sport will definitely benefit from having a deeper level of fan engagement, particularly with Generation Z who play a vital role in the ongoing growth and sustainability of our sport. It will also enable us to connect in a unique way with this audience to convey know-how on the topics of horse welfare and horsemanship.”

To bring a greater sense of realism and player immersion to the game, the FEI Equestriad™ World Tour already features the 5* star Eventing competitions at Badminton, Burghley, Kentucky and Adelaide. It also includes world-renowned Eventing course designers, such as Mike Etherington-Smith, Captain Mark Phillips and Ian Stark, as well as top athletes like five-time Olympian Ingrid Klimke (GER) and three-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Jung and their horses.

“The majority of games that have been made in the equestrian space have been based more around the fantasy horse world,” Craig Laughton CEO of GoGallop Studios explained.

“One of the key things that we’re doing, and why this game stands out from all others, is the authenticity of the game and the FEI Equestriad™ World Tour gives a real grassroots voice to the global equestrian community and horse lovers in general.

“We’re taking the cutting edge in game design and technology and bringing it to equestrian games. And if this new game can inspire the next generation of Eventers to get out there and have a go, what an awesome thing that would be!”

After an introduction to the basics of horsemanship and once they have honed their skills in qualifying events, players can progress to 5* Eventing where they are evaluated on timing, control and even appearance. The more players train and nurture their horses, the better their horse will perform. Players can compete in solo career mode or team competitions with family and friends as well as with other gamers from across the globe.

While current customisation features allow for the creation of unique elements such as styles of clothes, horse face markings, patterns and breed, the FEI Equestriad™ World Tour will also have hundreds of unlockable items available to discover horse accessories, supplies, ribbons and prizes. The game’s new “Tack Shop” also allows users to download avatars of the world’s top Eventing riders and their horses.

The game is available for download on the Apple Store and Google Play.   

The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decisions in two equine anti-doping cases involving Banned Substances.

The horse Easy Boy 23 (FEI ID 105AF89 /ESA), ridden by Joaquin Albisu (FEI ID 10161938/ARG), tested positive for the Banned Substances Boldenone, Boldienone and Boldenone Undecylenate, following samples taken at the CSIO4* Wellington (USA), on 25 February to 1 March 2020.

The athlete was unable to account for the positive findings and investigated further with the owner of the horse and the veterinarian to determine how the banned Substances entered the horse’s system. The owner admitted having treated the horse with Anabolde, containing Boldenone Undecylenate and consequently the athlete, as Person Responsible, admitted the violation directly. The FEI has opened a separate procedure against the owner.

In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal disqualified the horse and athlete from the event, and imposed a 14-month suspension on the athlete. The period of the provisional suspension of the athlete, which came into effect on 26 March 2020, was back-dated to the date of the sample collection (26 February 2020), meaning the athlete will be ineligible until 28 April 2021. He was also fined CHF 5,000.

The parties can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the decision (7 April 2021).  

The full Decision is available here. 

 

The horse Denitha (FEI ID 104MR05/UAE), ridden by Abdul Rahman Ahmed AMEEN (FEI ID 10064049/UAE), tested positive for the Banned Substance Strychnine, an alkaloid and a toxic substance causing muscular convulsion and used as a rodenticide, following samples taken during the CSI5*-W Sharjah (UAE), 30 January to 2 February 2019.

As the athlete could not explain the origin of the Strychnine in the horse’s system there could be no reduction of the standard two-year sanction.

In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal disqualified the horse and athlete from the event, and imposed a two-year suspension on the athlete. The period of the provisional suspension of the athlete, which came into effect on 4 March 2019, is credited against the period of ineligibility imposed in the decision, meaning the athlete is now eligible to compete again. He was also fined CHF 7,500.

The parties had 21 days to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) from the date of receipt of the decision (2 March 2021).  

The full Decision is available here. 

 

Separately, the FEI has announced new adverse analytical findings (AAF) involving equine Prohibited Substances. The cases involve *Banned Substances under the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs).

In the following Endurance case, the athlete has been provisionally suspended until the FEI Tribunal renders its decision. The horse has been provisionally suspended for two months from the date of notification.

Case: 2021/BS02

Horse: CALAI (FEI ID 105RF80/UAE)

Person Responsible: Hassan Bin Ali (FEI ID 10017909/UAE)

Event: CEI2* 120 - Bou Thib (UAE), 10-12.01.2021

Prohibited Substance(s): Salicylic Acid, 2-hydroxyethyl salicylate, Arsenic

Date of notification: 3 March 2021

Details on this case can be found here.

 

In the following Jumping case, the athlete has been provisionally suspended until the FEI Tribunal renders its decision. The horse was provisionally suspended for two months from the date of notification.

Case 2020/BS11:

Horse: HALO (FEI ID 105ZA57/ITA)

Person Responsible: Giuseppe DE LUCA (FEI ID 10047635/ITA)

Event/ID: CSI2*- Oliva (ESP), 29.09-04.10.2020

Prohibited Substance(s): Stanozolol

Date of notification: 11 November 2020

Details on this case can be found here.

 

Notes to Editors:

FEI Equine Prohibited Substances

The FEI Prohibited Substances List is divided into two sections: Controlled Medication and *Banned Substances. Controlled Medication substances are those that are regularly used to treat horses, but which must have been cleared from the horse’s system by the time of competition. Banned (doping) Substances should never be found in the body of the horse and are prohibited at all times.

In the case of an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for a Banned Substance, the Person Responsible (PR) is automatically provisionally suspended from the date of notification (with the exception of certain cases involving a Prohibited Substance which is also a Specified Substance). The horse is provisionally suspended for two months.

Specified Substances

The FEI introduced the concept of Specified Substances in 2016. Specified Substances should not in any way be considered less important or less dangerous than other Prohibited Substances (i.e. whether Banned or Controlled). Rather, they are simply substances which are more likely to have been ingested by horses for a purpose other than the enhancement of sport performance, for example, through a contaminated food substance. Positive cases involving Specified Substances can be handled with a greater degree of flexibility within the structure of the FEI Regulations.

Information on all substances is available on the searchable FEI Equine Prohibited Substances Database.

 

The FEI has added new modules to the FEI HorseApp to monitor key mandatory requirements in the Return To Competition measures that will allow for a safe resumption of international sport in mainland Europe today, 12 April.

Key areas covered by the Return to Competition protocols, which were launched on 30 March, include advance PCR testing (for certain designated events only), temperature monitoring of horses as well as enhanced Examination on Arrival procedures. Stringent biosecurity measures and mitigation plans, in line with the FEI Veterinary Regulations, also form part of the Return To Competition measures.

The measures include a number of temporary provisions that will remain in place until 30 May 2021, providing a science-based safety margin to allow for monitoring of any further related outbreaks. This date can be extended if required.

The FEI Veterinary Epidemiology Working Group has already agreed that there is currently no evidence indicating that it would be unsafe to return to international competition in mainland Europe as planned today, provided the mandated enhanced preventive measures are implemented. However, the Group will continue to monitor the evolution of the outbreaks on a daily basis.

“The recent EHV-1 outbreak has underscored the importance of early detection and prevention in disease transmission,” FEI Veterinary Director Göran Åkerström said.

“The FEI HorseApp is a crucial tool to facilitate the traceability of horses attending FEI Events, as well as for data gathering to allow for better risk assessment analysis and informed decision-making. It is a key element in ensuring a safe return to competition today and in minimising the impact of a disease outbreak in the future.”

The FEI HorseApp will be used for uploading negative PCR results for designated events. In addition, the FEI Veterinarian conducting the Examination on Arrival will scan the horse’s microchip with a reader connected via Bluetooth to the FEI HorseApp, and also record the horse’s temperature in the FEI HorseApp.

Under the Return To Competition measures, it will also be compulsory for all horses to be officially checked out at the Show Office using the FEI HorseApp. This ensures traceability should a disease outbreak occur.

“Data driven technologies are a key part of the solution to the current EHV-1 pandemic,” FEI Director Information & Sports Technology Gaspard Dufour said. 

“We have been able to use the existing functionalities of the FEI HorseApp to actively monitor horse movement and horse health status and added new modules that provide for a safer return to competition.

“But importantly, the collection of this quantitative data is critical to tracking the evolution of the disease and allows us to make better informed decisions concerning the smart and safe resumption of equestrian sporting activities.”

The FEI HorseApp is available for download on the Apple Store and Google Play for Android devices. The new version of the FEI Horse App, including the Return To Competition modules, is now available for download.

The Return To Competition measures are available here.

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle in England. His death, at the age of 99, was announced by Buckingham Palace.

He was the longest serving FEI President (1964-1986) and was succeeded in this role by his daughter Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, for the following eight years.

Some of Prince Philip’s own greatest sporting achievements came in the sport of Driving which he introduced as a new discipline in the FEI and helped to develop during his FEI Presidency. He helped standardise international rules and became a hugely successful competitor himself, winning team gold at the 1980 World Driving Championship and bronze in 1978, 1982 and 1984. He also placed sixth individually in 1982.

Prince Philip strongly supported the FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ series, which is now one of the crown jewels in the Jumping calendar, and was hugely supportive of the launch of the FEI Jumping World Cup™ in the 1970s. He was also instrumental in the creation of the FEI World Equestrian Games™, having lobbied for such a competition for many years before it was finally staged for the first time in Stockholm (SWE) in 1990.

An all-round horseman, he played polo during his time in the Royal Navy in the 1940s and became one of Britain’s top-10 players. His passion for all things equestrian was shared by his wife and passed on to their children, particularly Prince Charles who was also a keen polo player, and Princess Anne, who claimed individual gold at the FEI European Eventing Championships in 1971, and individual and team silver four years later, before becoming the first British Royal to compete at an Olympic Games when she rode in Montreal 1976.

Prince Philip’s grandchildren have also inherited a love of horse sport. Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall took the Eventing world title in 2006 and was a member of the British silver medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Princes William and Harry are also regularly spotted on the polo field.

Born in Corfu, Greece and educated in France, Germany and Great Britain, he was just 18 years old when he joined the Royal Navy in 1939. During World War ll he served with the Mediterranean and Pacific fleets, and by the time he left the service in 1952 he had reached the rank of Commander. At the age 26 years, he married the then Princess Elizabeth (Queen Elizabeth ll) in November 1947.

“The passing of Prince Philip is a huge loss for equestrian sport and his legacy, particularly at the FEI, will live on for many many decades to come”, FEI President Ingmar De Vos said. “I first met him in London at the FEI General Assembly in 2005, and again at the FEI Eventing European Championships in Blair Castle in 2015. He was a man of incredible energy and a great sense of humor and the FEI was honoured to have him as our longest serving President.

“His dedication to equestrian sports cannot be underestimated and will never be forgotten, especially in the Driving community. He was born in the same year the FEI was founded and sadly he will not be with us to celebrate his own and the FEI’s centenary this year. We will celebrate his life and remember him as a great ambassador of our sport.”

The FEI extends its deepest sympathy to the British Royal Family and joins the equestrian community in mourning the loss of this remarkable man.

Avenches in Switzerland will host this year’s FEI Eventing European Championship, with the 2023 edition allocated to Haras du Pin (FRA)

Host venues for these two important Championships and other key events were made by the FEI Board at its videoconference yesterday, with the full support of the FEI Eventing Committee and the European Equestrian Federation (EEF).

“We are pleased to have the Swiss venue of Avenches hosting the 2021 Championships,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said. “Following last year’s postponement of the Tokyo Games, the FEI had originally cancelled European Championships in all three Olympic and Paralympic disciplines so that the focus could remain on the Games in 2021, but our community encouraged us to review that decision and we listened to those voices.

“After carefully reviewing three strong bids, which also included Boekelo in the Netherlands and Montelibretti in Italy, the FEI Board voted to allocate this year’s FEI Eventing European Championship to Avenches.

"We are happy to be able to give our community something to look forward to during these difficult days as we tackle the EHV-1 outbreak and work to put in place protocols to get our horses and athletes back to competing again.”

The 2021 edition of the FEI Eventing European Championship will run from 23-26 September.

Haras du Pin (FRA) was named as host for the FEI Eventing European Championship in 2023. The FEI Board had originally allocated the 2021 Championship to the French venue and, when there were discussions last year about the possibility of rescheduling the event away from the Olympic Games period, the Haras du Pin organisers were unfortunately unable to find an alternative date in 2021. However, they put forward a proposal to the FEI to host the Championships in 2023 and this was agreed by the FEI Board this week. Dates for the Championship in 2023 are yet be confirmed.

The FEI Board also allocated the FEI Jumping Ponies Trophy Final 2021 to Mechelen (BEL). An experienced Organiser of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Western European League, the Belgian city will hold the Trophy Final from 26-30 December.

Kronenberg (NED) will host the FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Youth Final 2021 from 23-26 September.

The FEI has imposed a further two-week extension of the shutdown of all international events in mainland Europe until 11 April 2021 due to the ongoing outbreak of the neurological form of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1). The FEI had previously announced a 28-day shutdown on 1 March 2021.

The move, which aims to minimise the further spread of the very aggressive strain of the virus, was unanimously approved at an emergency FEI Executive Board meeting today. The extended lockdown applies to all FEI disciplines.

The decision is based on detailed scientific risk assessment conducted by world leading epidemiologist Dr Richard Newton and the FEI Veterinary Department.

The extended lockdown applies to all countries that have international scheduled events in the period to 11 April – Austria, Belgium, Spain, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Sweden. However, the FEI again strongly recommends that all National Federations in mainland Europe cancel their national events in order to minimise horse movement.

The shutdown will mean the cancellation of the FEI World Cup™ Finals for the second consecutive year following the loss of the 2020 Finals in Las Vegas (USA) to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final and the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Final were scheduled to be held in Gothenburg (SWE) from 31 March to 4 April 2021.

“The extension of the lockdown is difficult for everyone, and the loss of the FEI World Cup Finals for a second year is particularly devastating, especially for the qualified athletes and for our loyal Top Partner Longines,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said. “We know how much work Tomas Torgersen and his incredible team in Gothenburg have put into organising the 2021 Finals, which would have been part of the 400^th birthday anniversary celebrations for the city, so this is a desperately bitter blow.

“We cannot eradicate EHV as it is endemic in many countries, but we need to work together to minimise the transmission of this particular strain, which has already caused the death of 12 horses in Europe. All of the original in-contact horses from Valencia, Vejer de la Frontera and Doha are already blocked on the FEI Database, but the whole community needs to be on the alert and monitoring their horses. We strongly urge all European-based FEI athletes to avoid travel with their horses during this prolonged shutdown, as travel is a very clear risk factor.

“Sadly this additional lockdown is crucial to slow down the spread of the virus so that we can preserve the rest of the season, get our athletes and horses back competing safely and allow as long a period as possible for those aiming for Tokyo to earn their Minimum Eligibility Requirements and confirmation results, and of course to prepare their horses for the Games.

“Nobody wants to see an outbreak like this ever again. There will be a comprehensive and fully transparent investigation into every aspect of this outbreak and the way it has been handled, and the findings will be published so that, together with our community, we can all learn from this.

“We will be putting in place enhanced protocols to allow for a safe return to play once this outbreak is under control, and we will advise our community on those well in advance of the resumption of international events, but the priority right now has to be the treatment of sick horses and getting healthy horses back to their home countries in a safe and biosecure way. We all need to focus on safeguarding not just FEI horses, but the wider European horse community.”

Work on identifying the gene sequencing of this strain of the virus is already underway, and the FEI is continuing to monitor the evolution of the virus through the FEI Veterinary Epidemiology Working Group, which was formalised this week. The Group is composed of world-leading EHV specialists, the FEI Veterinary Director and FEI Senior Veterinary Advisor, supported by the Chair of the FEI Veterinary Committee. Reports and recommendations from this Group will be published on a weekly basis.

The FEI is also publishing daily updates on the dedicated EHV-1 hub.

Jean-Philippe Camboulives (FRA), has been appointed as Solidarity Director for the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the global governing body for equestrian sports.

Already a well-known figure with National Federations and Continental Associations, Mr Camboulives, 55, will move into the role of Director after almost 10 years as Development Officer within the Department. He will take up his new position on 1 April, replacing Ms Jacqueline Braissant who will be retiring after 29 years of service with the FEI.

“It is an honour to be appointed as FEI Solidarity Director,” Jean-Philippe Camboulives said. “Together with the team in Lausanne, I am looking forward to building on the foundations that we have created together since the department was set up in 2011. Equestrian sport has always been my passion and I am wholeheartedly committed to the development of athletes and coaches around the world, and to growing the structures that allow National Federations attain their ambitions and achieve their goals.”

A former French international Eventer and licensed coach, Jean-Philippe Camboulives has extensive coaching experience with the Ukrainian, Russian, Brazilian and South African National Eventing teams. He took Brazil to a bronze medal win at the 2007 Pan American Games, earning the home team a place at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. He has a degree from the National Equestrian French School in Saumur and is a graduate of Sport Science from the National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance (INSEP) in Paris (FRA).

Before joining the FEI Solidarity Department in 2012, Mr Camboulives held various national and regional Technical Director positions with the Ministry of Sport in France where he was responsible for the development of professional courses for instructors and trainers, as well as the training and selection of regional athletes.

During his time with the FEI, he has been deeply involved with the creation and development of the FEI Coaches Education System as well as projects related to athlete development. As the technical advisor for FEI Solidarity projects, his knowledge and know-how have been highly sought after by National Federations.

“We are delighted that Jean-Philippe Camboulives is now moving into the role of Director,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said. “This will guarantee a smooth transition at the FEI Headquarters and also with the extended National Federation community who have come to know and trust Jean-Philippe well over the years.

“His in-depth understanding of the needs and requirements of National Federations combined with his intense passion for developing our sport made him a natural successor to Jacqueline Braissant. We know that Jean-Philippe will carry on developing the amazing work that Jacqueline has done till now, and that he will uphold the values that have guided their work for so long.”

The FEI Solidarity Department will continue to be supported by Projects Administrator Céline Starbanov and Programmes Leader Andreina Wipraechtiger.

The FEI has cancelled international events in 10 countries on the European mainland with immediate effect and until 28 March 2021 due to the rapid evolution of a very aggressive strain of the neurological form of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1), which originated in Valencia (ESP) and has already resulted in related outbreaks in at least three other countries in Europe.

This decision applies to all FEI disciplines, but in order to prevent huge numbers of horses simultaneously departing the Jumping Tours on the Iberian Peninsula, in Italy and Belgium that have been ongoing for a number of weeks, these specific Tours will be allowed to continue as individual “bubbles” on the condition that absolutely no new horses are allowed to enter the venues and no positive cases of EHV-1 are confirmed.

The Jumping Tour venues in Vejer de la Frontera (ESP), Vilamoura (POR), San Giovanni in Marignano (ITA) and Gorla Minore (ITA) will have stringent biosecurity protocols in place and additional FEI Veterinary Delegates onsite. Horses will only be permitted to leave these venues when they are in possession of an official health certificate from the local Veterinary Authorities. Any horses leaving these venues without this documentation will be blocked on the FEI Database. It is also illegal to transport a horse without an official health certificate.

Oliva Nova (ESP) had already advised the FEI this afternoon that it has decided to cancel the rest of its scheduled competitions in the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour III. Opglabbeek (BEL) has also informed the FEI that it has cancelled its events in March.

A number of countries, including France, have already cancelled all their events to minimise transmission of the virus.

The decision, which covers events in France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Poland, Netherlands, Germany and Slovakia, has been made in accordance with FEI General Regulations Article 112.3, which state: The Secretary General shall have the authority to remove any Competition and/or Event from the Calendar if justified circumstances relating to a Competition or the Event are established.

“This was not an easy decision to block events in mainland Europe, particularly after the major disruption to the FEI Calendar caused by the Covid-19 pandemic”, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said, “but this EHV-1 outbreak is probably the most serious we have had in Europe for many decades and our decision is based on clearly identified epidemiological risk factors.

“This strain of EHV-1 is particularly aggressive and has already caused equine fatalities and a very large number of severe clinical cases. We need to keep our horses safe.

“We are also aware that a large number of horses left the venue in Valencia without an official health certificate, meaning they had an unknown health status. Some horses were already sick, and the risk of transmission from these horses is a major concern.

“Cancelling these competitions in mainland Europe, with the exception of the ongoing Jumping Tours in the Iberian Peninsula and Italy, limits the number of horses travelling internationally and therefore reduces the likelihood of this very serious virus being transmitted on an increasingly wider scale. We also strongly recommend that the affected member Federations should also cancel their national events.

“We are very conscious of the fact that this is a very stressful and distressing time, and that this is potentially hugely disruptive for those athletes aiming for their Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs) or confirmation results for Tokyo, but we are looking at ways to alleviate that in order to assist athlete/horse combinations in getting their MERs or confirmation results once the events in mainland Europe are allowed to resume.”

The FEI is aware that some athletes have already arrived on competition venues or are en route, and is directly contacting all impacted athletes entered in Events between now and 28 March 2021.

Notes to Editors:

Previous FEI updates since the FEI was first notified of the EHV-1 outbreak on 20 February are available here. Please scroll down to the Updates from the FEI Veterinary Department section.