Department updates in Main Paris 2024 - Olympic & Paralympic Games Hub

The FEI Board held a teleconference on 16 April. The main resolutions about Dressage taken on this occasion are listed below.

GOVERNANCE
Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission Final Report publication
The Board approved the publication of the Final Report of the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission ahead of the FEI Sports Forum 2024. The report will be made available on the dedicated FEI Sports Forum hub here.

DRESSAGE RULES
The Board approved the following rule modifications:

• FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ 2024 – proposed clarification to Article 2.6 Judges to align the wording of the FEI Judges Panel Provision with reference to the FEI Dressage Rules.
• Rules for the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2024/25;
• FEI Dressage World Ranking List Rules 2024 (on the basis that the changes would not take effect until 1 September 2024).

The updated sets of rules will be published here.

PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES
Olympic Games – updated timetable
The Board approved the proposed modifications to the Olympic Games timetable for the equestrian competitions.

Paralympic Games – updated FEI delegation
The Board approved the proposed appointments for the 2024 Paralympic Games, as follows:

• Sara Valls Perez (ESP) as Testing Veterinarian further to the withdrawal of Mogens Christophersen (DEN);
• Markus Hinzke (GER) as a Music Specialist.

The updated Olympic timetable and list of Paralympic Officials will be published in the dedicated hub here.

The FEI Board held a teleconference on 16 April. The main resolutions about Jumping taken on this occasion are listed below.

GOVERNANCE
Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission Final Report publication
The Board approved the publication of the Final Report of the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission ahead of the FEI Sports Forum 2024. The report will be made available on the dedicated FEI Sports Forum hub here.

JUMPING RULES
The Board approved the following sets of rules:

• FEI Jumping Children’s Classic Final 2024
• FEI Jumping Ponies Trophy 2024

Both sets of the updated rules will be published here.

PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES
Olympic Games – updated timetable
The Board approved the proposed modifications to the Olympic Games timetable for the equestrian competitions.

Paralympic Games – updated FEI delegation
The Board approved the proposed appointments for the 2024 Paralympic Games, as follows:

• Sara Valls Perez (ESP) as Testing Veterinarian further to the withdrawal of Mogens Christophersen (DEN);
• Markus Hinzke (GER) as a Music Specialist.

The updated Olympic timetable and list of Paralympic Officials will be published in the dedicated hub here.

Please be informed that the next update of the FEI Tack, Equipment & Dress Database (FEI Tack App) will be released after the Easter holidays, on 8 April 2024.

Further to feedback received from numerous Athletes and Officials, who are seeking clarity regarding the use of tack and equipment during the Olympic & Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, the FEI agreed that this would be the last update of the FEI Tack App prior to the Games. The temporary pause of updates to the FEI Tack App will be applied to all FEI Disciplines, including non-Olympic Disciplines.

Following the conclusion of the Olympic & Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, the updates shall resume on every first Monday of the month, as per the usual process.

The FEI Board held a teleconference on 27 February. The main resolutions taken on this occasion are listed below.

Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games
Eventing Competition Format
The Board agreed with the proposed modifications to the Eventing Olympic Competition format, which will be shared with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by the set deadline of 1 March 2024 as per the official International Federations consultation process launched by the IOC.
The details of the proposal were discussed during the online Eventing Seminar held on 20 January 2024 and are outlined in this press release.

The details pertaining to the technical aspects of the proposed format will be discussed in detail next year in the framework of the revision of the FEI Regulations for Equestrian Events at the Olympic Games, once the IOC has provided its feedback.

Nationality Changes
We would like to make National Federations aware of the news concerning Nationality changes prior to the Paralympic Games, which was communicated by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC):

With the preparations for your team’s participation at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games stepping up, we want to remind you of the nationality changes procedure for participating athletes presented during the Chef de Mission Seminar in Paris last August, and detailed in the IPC Nationality Regulations published in the IPC Handbook (effective 01 September 2022). 

Please note that the deadline to submit change of nationality requests to the IPC is 28 February 2024.

For any inquiries on Qualification Regulations and Eligibility, please refer to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Qualifications Regulations (updated January 2024). 

Your prompt attention to this matter is appreciated.

Bipartite Commission Invitation Applications
The IPC will be opening the Bipartite application system shortly, which is to be communicated to all National Paralympic Committees (NPCs). We encourage any NFs who are interested in submitting such an application to get in contact with their NPC as soon as possible.

As a reminder, the start of the Bipartite Commission Invitation application process is 19 February, and all applications must be received by 18 March at the latest.

Classification Status
We would like to remind NFs that to be eligible for selection for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, all Athletes must be internationally classified with a “Confirmed” status, or a “Review” status with a fixed review date after 31 December 2024. Athletes with a “Review” status with a date prior to 31 December 2024 or without a date would not be eligible for selection.

If you have any questions on the above topics, please contact the Para Dressage Department.

Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games – Eventing Format
The Online Eventing Seminar held on 20 January was, as mentioned in the invitation, the opportunity to introduce a proposal supported by the FEI Eventing Committee for the Eventing format for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
General information on the Seminar is available in this press release.
Below you will find details on the background for the proposal, a presentation of the format along with an outline of the next steps.

General background information
The proposal has been made further to information provided by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that the LA2028 Event Programme and quota will be confirmed by the IOC Executive Board after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the first quarter of 2025 (Q1 2025).

In December 2023, the IOC asked International Federations (IFs) to formulate proposals for changes to the Event Programme in line with the principles of IOC Agenda 2020+5, the strategic roadmap of the IOC and the Olympic Movement, and tailored to the LA2028 vision and context. This includes focus on athletes, cost, complexity, gender equality, and global appeal.

In order for the proposals for events to be included in the IOC consultation process and reviewed before the decision in Q1 2025, IFs were urged to make their submissions by 1 March 2024.

Background information on the proposed Eventing format
The proposed modifications to the Los Angeles 2028 Eventing Competition Format presented at the Eventing Seminar was the result of discussions between the FEI, IOC and the Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), the host broadcast organisation for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

OBS are strong supporters of Eventing Cross Country as it generates spectacular images of the environment and provides iconic views of the host city, such as the London historical landmarks, the Rio sugarloaf mountains or the Tokyo skyline. OBS formulated a proposal to make Eventing more attractive to fans and new audiences, and increase the media value by capitalising on the Cross Country phase which is a unique draw for the discipline.

We would like to clarify that discussions regarding proposed modifications to the Olympic format concern only Eventing and do not apply to either Jumping or Dressage as in these disciplines no changes are proposed.

Eventing Format Proposal
The OBS proposal supported by the FEI Eventing Committee as it is in line with Olympic principles, sees the team competition run on the short format (Dressage, Jumping, Cross Country) with Team medals awarded after the Cross Country while the Individual competition remains on the long format, as per previous Olympic Games, with the Jumping round held the day after the Cross Country to award the Individual medals. This would entail two medal days, with Team Medals awarded on Day Three after the Cross Country followed by Individual Medals on Day Four after the Final Individual Jumping Round.

The day-by-day breakdown would be as follows:
Day One & Day Two: Dressage and Jumping (all participants)*
Day Three: Cross Country (all participants) & Team Medals
Day Four:   Individual Jumping & Individual Medals
*Timetabling on Days One and Two will be held in accordance with the logistical possibilities.

The Team “short” format Cross Country will be run according to the current distance of 10 mins. This format is already in use at many events worldwide and would not bring drastic changes to the spirit of the discipline. It will focus even more attention on the unique attributes of the Cross Country adding greater excitement around the Team medals.

FEI consultation
Taking into account the very short time available for consultation, NFs involved in Eventing are kindly asked to provide thoughts or comments on the format described above by 20 February 2024 to Catrin.Norinder@fei.org, in order to allow the FEI HQ to finalise the submission and get FEI Board approval so that it can be provided to the IOC by 1 March.

Feedback on the following questions will be helpful:

• What advantages/challenges do you foresee in holding the Team competition as a short format whilst retaining the Individual competition on the long format?
• What further advantages/challenges do you see with this proposed format?  
•  Do you have any further suggestions, ideas or comments you would like to share?

At this stage only the order of tests will be submitted to the IOC, no other information is required.

Next steps
If the format is approved by the IOC, veterinary matters, including horse inspections after Cross Country, would be reviewed in order to ensure optimal horse welfare. All other topics such as draw of starting orders, number of participants for the Individual Jumping test, etc. will be included in the revision of the FEI Regulations for Equestrian Events at the Olympic Games, which will take place in 2025 and will undergo a full stakeholder consultation process before being submitted for approval at the FEI General Assembly in November 2025.

We thank you for your attention and kind cooperation in this important matter and look forward to hearing from you by 20 February.

Jumping Horse Re-inspection
Emergency Board Resolution*:
The Board approved as an Emergency Board Resolution the proposed modification to Art.630.9 of the FEI Regulations for Equestrian Events at the Olympic Games to allow a Horse having not passed the First Jumping Horse Inspection to be re-presented either at the re-inspection before the training session or at the re-inspection the day after the First Horse Inspection and training Session.

Appointment of the Chief Medical Officer
The Board approved the appointment of Jan Holger Holtschmit (GER) as Chief Medical Officer for the Equestrian Sport during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

*Regarding the Emergency Board Resolution listed above, National Federations have until 19 February 2024 to signify their disapproval by sending an email to Francisco P. Lima, Director Governance & Institutional Affairs.

The FEI Board held its last teleconference for 2023 on 14 December. The main resolutions taken on this occasion are listed below.

GOVERNANCE
Election of the FEI Nominations Committee Chair
The Board elected Elena Couttenye (VEN) as Chair of the Nominations Committee for the term 2023-2027.

Appointment of Member of the Driving Technical Committee
The Board appointed Andrew Counsell (GBR) as member of the FEI Driving Technical Committee for the term 2023-2026.

Elections and Appointments 2024
The Board agreed for staggered terms for the members of the FEI Endurance Technical Committee, who will be appointed in 2024.

Descriptions for Elections and Appointments
The Board approved the Job Specifications for Elections and Appointments, which will take place in 2024. The updated job specifications will be published here.

LEGAL
The Board approved the re-appointment of Ken Lalo (ISR) as Independent Chair of the Atypical Findings Panel for one year.

Allocation of FEI Championships and Finals
Change of date for FEI Endurance European Championship 2025 and FEI Endurance World Championship for Juniors and Young Riders 2025
The Board approved a change of dates for the following FEI Endurance Championships 2025:

• FEI Endurance World Championship for Juniors and Young Riders 2025, Buftea (ROU): 20 September 2025 instead of 6 September 2025
• FEI Endurance European Championship 2025, Castiglione del Lago (ITA): 21 June 2025 instead of 6 September 2025

Jumping
Global Champions Tour Rules 2024 Season
The Board approved the rules for the 2024 Global Champions Tour Series.

Global Champions League Rules 2024 Season
The Board approved the rules for the 2024 Global Champions Leagues Series.

Both sets of rules will be published here in due course.

Endurance
Request to extend the deadline for late date applications or modifications
The Board approved the modification to the Application for CIs and CIMs Guidelines with applications for Endurance higher level Events to be submitted minimum eight weeks prior to the start of the Event, instead of four weeks.

VAULTING
Approval of the FEI Vaulting Guidelines 2024
The Board approved the FEI Vaulting Guidelines 2024, which will be effective from 15 January 2024.
The updated version of the FEI Vaulting Guidelines 2024 will be published here shortly.

Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Appointment of Officials
The Board approved the following appointments for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games:
President of the Ground Jury for Eventing: Christina Klingspor (SWE)
President FEI Tribunal: José Alfonso Rodriguez (MEX)
Member FEI Tribunal: Diane Pitts (USA)
Member FEI Tribunal: Cesar Torrente (COL)

The Board approved the appointment of Elke Ebert (GER) as Ground Jury Travelling Reserve for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, taking into account that Katherine Lucheschi (ITA) initially appointed as Travelling Reserve will officiate as Member of the Ground Jury.

The updated list of International Technical Officials will be published on the newly launched Paris 2024 Hub which combines both Olympic and Paralympic information, rules, guidelines and latest news in one location