Antwerp (BEL) 14-17 November 2021

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the varying restrictions in place around the world, this year’s General Assembly will take a hybrid form: attendance will be possible both in-person and online.

The attendance to the FEI General Assembly is restricted to National Federations, stakeholders, guests, etc. and is by invitation only. It is mandatory to register for all participants via the FEI Online Registration Platform, whether attending the FEI Hybrid General Assembly 2021 in-person or participating online, using the link received in the invitation email. Should you need to contact us, please email feigeneralassembly@fei.org.

Please use the menu tabs below to navigate through the different sections of this edition where we have collated all the information relevant to the 2021 edition, from the logistics to all the meeting documents (including the annexes and the minutes), as well as the ultimate tab where you can watch the entire General Assembly on replay.

Welcome by the FEI President and the FEI Secretary General

Dear Board Members, delegates and guests,

 

On behalf of the FEI, it is our pleasure to welcome you to the FEI General Assembly 2021 hub. Last year, as the world grappled with the Covid-19 pandemic and the related sanitary requirements, we were unable to come together in-person to discuss important decisions regarding the future of our sport. This year, although the current Covid-19 situation remains challenging, with different restrictions in different parts of the world, we have learnt many lessons, and there are great solutions at our disposal to cater to all needs so that we can meet safely and securely, but also online for those unable to travel.

 

For this reason, and because we are acutely aware of how important it is to meet and have opportunities to discuss around a cup of coffee, we are innovating once again, and will be hosting the FEI General Assembly in Antwerp (BEL) and in a hybrid format, meaning participants have the option of joining us in-person or online. We are very thankful to have the Belgian Federation as our host this year and truly appreciate all their support in making this event happen.

 

It is important to note that while we are excited at the idea of coming together again in person, our motto remains: safety first. This is why the FEI has provided important Covid-19 information to protect all participants, which can be found here on the GA hub and which we strongly encourage all attending individuals to read. These Covid-19 countermeasures build on the measures established by both the World Health Organization and the Belgian Government.

 

As a reminder, all National Federations are required to register to attend (in-person or virtually) the General Assembly so that they can exercise their statutory rights (voting) and take part in discussions. Of course, for all other participants, the General Assembly will be livestreamed (as always) and there will be a live blog providing updates throughout the day.

 

All annexes for the General Assembly as well as agendas, presentations and rules revision processes are also publicly available in line with the transparency principle defined by the Association of Sports Olympic International Federation (ASOIF). By navigating through the different tabs provided on the GA hub, you will have access to all information relevant to the GA, such as the timetable, logistics to be aware of, and the link to the Live Stream and Replay depending on your time zone, only to name a few.

 

It is with great enthusiasm that the FEI looks forward to organising this first “hybrid” edition of the FEI General Assembly in Antwerp together with the Belgian Federation. With the GA week coming to a close with the much anticipated FEI Awards Gala presented by Longines, we are confident this important hybrid get together will provide the ideal platform to review, to reflect and to celebrate the achievements of the community.

 

We are in our 100th year, a very unusual one, but more than ever we are reminded that to not only survive but to thrive for the next 100 years, we need to innovate, we need to be flexible, we need to embrace change and importantly we need to work together towards common goals!

 

We look forward to seeing you (in-person and online) at the FEI General Assembly, and should you have any questions in the meantime, don’t hesitate to contact the team here at FEI headquarters. 
Ingmar De Vos
FEI President		 Sabrina Ibáñez
FEI Secretary General
DRAFT TIMETABLE (subject to change due to Covid-19)
Click on any meeting to see more details		 Last update: 19 October 2021
Time zone: CET
Sunday 14 November 2021 (only for Board members)
09:00 Board Meeting 1
11:00 Coffee break
13:00 Board Lunch
14:15 Board Meeting 1
16:00 Coffee break
19:00 FEI Board Dinner - One eighty Restaurant at MAS - upon invitation only
(business attire)
Monday 15 November 2021
09:00 Regional Group Meetings
11:00 Coffee break
13:00 Lunch buffet
14:15 Continental Associations Meetings
EEF - AEF - PAEC - ACES
16:00 Coffee break
19:30 Welcome Dinner - Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp
(business attire/cocktail dress)
Tuesday 16 November 2021
09:00 Regional Groups Meeting with the Board
11:00 Coffee break
11:30 Session - FEI Rules and Regulations
13:00 Lunch buffet
14:15 Session - FEI Rules and Regulations (to continue)
16:30 END
  FREE EVENING
Wednesday 17 November 2021
08:15 Registration of participants
09:00 FEI Extraordinary & Ordinary General Assemblies
11:00 Coffee break
13:00 Lunch
14:15 FEI Ordinary General Assembly
16:45 Board Meeting 2
19:30 FEI AWARDS Gala 2021 presented by Longines - Black Box, Antwerp Expo
(black tie/evening dress)
 

 

 
 
 

All documentation (minutes, agenda and annexes, presentations and any additional documents) from the various meetings will be published and accessible in the corresponding tabs below.

15 September 2021
The FEI Online Registration Platform opens.
27 September & 15 October 2021

Registration is mandatory for all participants and must be made via the FEI Online Registration Platform. 

27 September: deadline to register to attend in person. Past this date, hotel bookings via the FEI Online Registration Platform will not be possible anymore.

15 October: deadline to register to participate to the FEI Hybrid General Assembly online.

If you need assistance, please contact feigeneralassembly@fei.org.
06 October 2021
Items proposed by the National Federations for the FEI Hybrid General Assembly agenda must be provided to the FEI in writing (francisco.lima@fei.org) no later that 06 October 2021.
15 October 2021

Although the statutory deadline to provide the FEI with the Power of Attorney with the names of the National Federations’ Delegate(s) attending the General Assembly is, at the latest, twenty-four (24) hours before the start of a General Assembly, this exceptional year we would kindly ask you to provide us with the Power of Attorney by 15 October 2021 at the very latest. The reason is because we will run test sessions (exact dates yet to be confirmed) to ensure each Delegate is able to connect to the video conference and vote. It is mandatory for the Delegate(s) that will represent the National Federation online to participate in one test session.

 

The Power of Attorney Form will be sent to the National Federations, attached to the email inviting them to register their delegate(s). Should your National Federation not be represented in person, please fill in the Proxy section of the Power of Attorney Form to nominate the delegation from another National Federation to act as your Proxy.

 

Power of Attorney Form to be sent to francisco.lima@fei.org or by fax (+41 21 310 47 60) (FEI Statutes, 24th Edition, Annex I, Article 3.3).
20 October 2021
FEI publishes the agenda and annexes of the FEI Hybrid General Assembly week on Inside.fei.org (FEI Statutes, 24th edition, Annex I, Article 2.2). 
26 January 2022

The minutes of the General Assembly and Group Meetings are published on Inside.fei.org (FEI Statutes, 24th Edition, Article 16.3).

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Updated 13 October 2021

Dear National Federation,

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the FEI will need to put in place different IT systems to organise the FEI Hybrid General Assembly 2021 (the “General Assembly”). In these extraordinary times more than ever we would need your full cooperation and assistance in order for the FEI to ensure your statutory rights, such as but not only the right to participate and the right to vote.

As per FEI Statutes the deadline to submit the Power of Attorney is 16 November 2021 9:00 Central European Time (CET)

A. IN PERSON ATTENDANCE

If a National Federation has one or more Delegate(s) attending the General Assembly in person and online, only the Delegate(s) attending in person can exercise the National Federation’s right to vote (subject to the Power of Attorney being submitted within the deadline).

B. ONLINE ATTENDANCE

If a National Federation is attending the General Assembly online only, please take note of the following important points:

  1. To ensure that a Delegate is able to connect to the video conference and vote at the General Assembly the FEI will organise training sessions on 2 and 3 November 2021.
  1. To attend one of the training sessions you shall submit the Power of Attorney by 01 November 2021 at the latest.
  1. Each Delegate included in the Power of Attorney will receive an invitation to attend one of the training sessions. The invitation to the training sessions will be sent to the email address provided during the registration process.
  1. Each Delegate included in the Power of Attorney must participate in one of the training sessions.
  1. However, at the General Assembly your National Federation will be able to vote from one computer only, consequently the voting credentials will be provided to only one Delegate (the one included in Section A.1 of the Power of Attorney). Other Delegates included in the Power of Attorney will have the opportunity to interact during the General Assembly.
  1. IMPORTANT: You could still register and submit the Power of Attorney to participate online at the General Assembly by 16 November 2021, 9:00 Central European Time (CET). However, if your Delegate(s) do not participate in one of the training sessions organised on 2 and 3 November the FEI will not be able to guarantee that your Delegate(s) will know how to vote during the General Assembly.

If you have any questions please send them by e-mail to francisco.lima@fei.org

 

17 November 2021

FEI Awards Gala 2021 presented by Longines

A glittering ceremony to celebrate and reveal the FEI Award winners 2021 was held in Antwerp (BEL) on 17 November, bringing the FEI General Assembly week to a close.

Discover the winners and read all about the Gala here: FEI Awards 2021 celebrate outstanding achievements in equestrian

You will also find video features from the evening and interviews with all the winners on the FEI Awards playlist.

Visit fei.org For more on the FEI Awards.
17 November 2021

FEI Extraordinary & Ordinary General Assembly

A detailed wrap-up from the FEI Extraordinary and Ordinary General Assembly (EGA & OGA) - including the main decisions taken on 17 November 2021 - is available in the Meeting Documents Tab, simply click on FEI Extraordinary & Ordinary General Assemblies to access the agenda and wrap-up. Note the decisions taken at Board Meeting II are also included in the wrap-up.
You can watch the full FEI EGA and OGA in replay, simply click on the Watch On Replay Tab.

The full Minutes from the EGA and OGA will be published on 26 January.
16 November 2021

FEI Session

A detailed wrap-up including the main decisions taken by the FEI Board at its in-person meeting in Antwerp (BEL) on 14 November is available in the Meeting Documents Tab – simply click on Board Meeting 1 and 2 to access the agenda and wrap-up.
14 November 2021

Board Meeting 1

A detailed wrap-up including the main decisions taken by the FEI Board at its in-person meeting in Antwerp (BEL) on 14 November is available in the Meeting Documents Tab – simply click on Board Meeting 1 and 2 to access the agenda and wrap-up.
13 November 2021

Sightseeing tours are published. Two walking guiding tours of the city of Antwerp. Please check here.
11 November 2021

The Watch Live information are available here.
20 October 2021

Agenda of the Board, Agenda of the FEI Extraordinary and General Assemblies and Annexes are published here.

26 August 2021

FEI General Assembly 2021 - Board resolution

The Board approved the allocation of the FEI General Assembly 2021 to Antwerp (BEL) from 14-17 November 2021.

Due to the restrictions and travel related challenges linked to Covid-19, the FEI General Assembly 2021 will be held in a hybrid format, allowing participants to attend both in-person and online with interactive livestream and voting capabilities in place so that all attendees can exercise their statutory rights.

The running order will resemble previous General Assemblies with all the key meetings and dinners held as follows (exact times still TBC):

14 November

  • Board Meeting

15 November

  • Regional Group Meetings
  • Continental Association Meetings
  • Welcome Dinner

16 November

  • Regional Groups Meeting with the Board
  • Interactive Session (interactive livestream)

17 November

  • FEI General Assembly (interactive livestream & voting)
  • FEI Awards

The FEI is looking forward to organising this essential event in Antwerp and with the support of the Belgian Federation so that the community can come together in-person for the first time since the General Assembly 2019 for the important discussions and decisions which lay ahead.

The timetable, travel and registration details will be shared with National Federations shortly.

For any questions in the meantime, please contact Sophie Ruiz-Leimer.
 

 
  • Travel Information

    With only a few days left until the FEI Hybrid General Assembly 2021, we are pleased to provide you with clarifications and additional details regarding your trip to and stay in Belgium.

    Travel to Belgium
    We have listed below the main rules for your convenience. However, please note that it is each Delegate’s responsibility to ensure, he/she holds the travel/test/vaccination documents necessary to enter Belgium. Requirements might be subject to change and you must check the official information in Annex A.

    Covid Safe Ticket
    As per the current government measures in Belgium a Covid Safe Ticket policy will be applied to all social events part of the FEI Hybrid General Assembly. A Covid Safe Ticket (in the form of a QR code) will be also needed to enter bars or restaurants or have breakfast at the Hotels (see Annex B for detailed explanations on the Covid Safe Ticket).
    It is each delegate’s responsibility to ensure that they are in possession of a valid Covid Safe Ticket in Belgium. The FEI Staff at the FEI Welcome Desk will be able to assist you to check your Covid Safe Ticket status.

    - For people with a valid Covid Safe Ticket in Belgium
    Your vaccination/test/recovery certificate will be requested at the FEI Welcome Desk by the FEI Staff. Once the certificate has been checked, you will receive a black FEI bracelet that you must wear during the General Assembly week. Black bracelets (i.e. verified Covid certificates) will allow you to attend social events.
    - For people that DO NOT have a valid Covid Safe Ticket in Belgium
    Delegates with no valid Covid Safe Ticket will need one in the form of a QR code  to attend social events. To obtain a VALID Covid Safe Ticket in Belgium with a QR code Delegates must take a Covid-19 PCR or fast antigen test ( This test should  be less than 72 hours old for PCR and 48 hours for quick).
    To facilitate the process the FEI organises a special Test Clinic at the Hilton Hotel  to conduct a fast antigen test. The result will be available in approximately 15 minutes. However, this test will need to be taken every day to ensure that Delegates have a valid QR code for any social event. The Test Clinic will be open from 13 November to 17 November, schedule to be confirmed onsite.

    Testing before departure
    It will be the delegates’ responsibility to secure the necessary Covid Test, should they need one for their return trip.
    If a PCR test is needed, there is a PCR Test Center at the Antwerp Central Train Station (https://www.uza.be/antwerp-central-station-testing). Test for travel purposes are only available upon appointment.

    Health Insurance
    Please ensure that you and your accompanying person have adequate personal medical/travel insurance (including cover for COVID-19) to cover the entire period of your stay in Belgium, including coverage for any medical treatment, extended accommodation or repatriation expenses that might apply if you were to contract Covid-19 as these expenses would not be covered by the FEI or the General Assembly Organisers.
     
     

    Shuttles upon arrival (if applicable)
    As of 13 November, shuttles will be organised from Antwerp Central Train Station (Antwerp Centraal) to the Hilton Antwerp Old Town hotel.
    If travelling by plane to Brussels, you will easily access the train station located underneath Brussels airport. The trip to Antwerp Centraal takes approximately 30 minutes and tickets can be purchased at the railway station at the airport. Make sure to get off at Antwerp Centraal and not at “Antwerp Berchem”. Hostesses holding an FEI sign will be waiting in the main hall of the Antwerp Centraal near the Starbucks café to accompany you to the shuttle bus.

    Travel by car
    Indicate in your GPS system the ‘Eiermarkt’ which brings you in front of the hotel and entrance of the public car park. There is a direct access to the hotel through parking level -1. (€20 per day).
    Please note that, since February 2017, Antwerp has become a LOW EMISSON ZONE. To enter the city centre, foreign number plates must be registered. For more information, please visit https://lez.antwerpen.be/?Taal=EN

  • Hotel
    Hotel
     

    HILTON ANTWERP OLD TOWN
    Groenplaats 32

    Antwerpen, Belgium

    Website: www.hilton.com/en/hotels/anrhitw-hilton-antwerp-old-town/
    Single Room: EUR 152 / Double Room EURO 175
    Room price per night includes breakfast, wifi and taxes
    Check-in 15:00 / Check-out 12:00 noon

    While prices at the Hilton hotel are rather competitive, the number of rooms available for this period is limited which is why they will be attributed on a “first come first served” basis.

    We would like to draw your attention that, this year, hotel cancellation policies are very strict. This means that after the deadline of 27 September 2021, it will NOT be possible to book ROOMS via the FEI Online Registration System anymore.

    Rooms will need to be booked directly with the Hotels.

    Note that it is mandatory to register your participation (whether in-person or online) via the FEI Online Registration System.
  • Congress Fee Information
    Congress Fee Information
       
    Important: Your credit card will be charged once your registration is checked and validated by the FEI.

    National Federations Representatives

    In-person attendance: A congress fee of CHF 200 per delegate will be charged on your credit card in order to financially support the organisation of the FEI General Assembly. This amount includes the lunches and dinners organised from 15 to 17 November 2021.

    Each National Federation is allowed to be represented by two (2) official delegates with the exception of NFs belonging to Annual Subscription Level 1 who are allowed three (3) delegates.

    In addition to the congress fee, NFs with more than two delegates, or three for Level 1, will be charged a further contribution of CHF 200 for each extra delegate.

    Online participation: No congress fee will be charged.

    Accompanying person

    Accompanying person will be asked to pay a contribution of CHF 200 to participate to the dinners organised on 15 and 17 November. This fee will be charged on the participant’s credit card.

    Any other participant

    In-person attendance: The congress fee is CHF 200.-.

    The fee includes all meetings, lunches and dinners being organised from 15 to 17 November 2021.

    Online participation: No congress fee will be charged.

    Congress Fee Refund Policy

    In case of cancellation of the registration, 100% of the congress fees will be refunded if the cancellation is received before 31 October 2019. After this date, only 50% of the congress fees will be reimbursed. If cancellation is received after 7 November, no reimbursement will be made.

    Hotels Cancellation Policies

    Cancellation occurring less than 14 days prior to arrival: 50% of the reserved stay is due.
    Cancellation occurring 5 days prior to arrival and no shows: 100% of the entire stay is due.

    Your room reservation will be transmitted to the hotels, however your credit card information will not be provided to them. You will be asked to pay your stay on site.

     

  • Covid-19 Information

    Keeping in mind the fluctuating Covid-19 situation, the FEI has put in place a number of COVID-19 Countermeasures that will enable the FEI Hybrid General Assembly (the “GA”) to take place safely. These COVID-19 Countermeasures build on the measures established by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Belgium Government (as from 1 September 2021 (1) https://www.info-coronavirus.be/en/).

    These “safety first” rules are there to protect you, all GA participants and the people of Antwerp and Belgium.

    The success of the GA depends on every single one of us taking responsibility for following these Covid-19 Countermeasures at all times. Most of you have great experience in operating in these conditions.

    For any practical questions about COVID-19 you can address yourself to the FEI Welcome Desk.

    Overcoming the continued challenges will require flexibility and commitment to follow the measures outlined in this document.

    (1)These Covid-19 Countermeasures may be changed by the Belgium Government ahead of the GA. Please check the measures applicable to you 72 hours before your flight/trip to Belgium.

     

    ENTERING BELGIUM

    You must check what requirements apply to you to enter Belgium depending your country of origin. More details can be found on following links:

    https://www.info-coronavirus.be/en/travels:
    Please note that you will have to fill in a passenger location form (PLF) within 48 hours before entering Belgium. You can find the PLF on following link: https://www.info-coronavirus.be/eng/plf/. These are measures applicable in September 2021 so you have to check again closer to your departure; and

    https://reopen.europa.eu/en

     

    VACCINATION

    Considering that meetings will take place indoor the FEI strongly recommends that only vaccinated participants, entourage and companions attend the GA.

    Whilst, vaccination is not mandatory for participants to attend the GA, vaccination provides an extra tool to make the GA safe.

    Vaccines recognised in Belgium can be checked here: https://www.info-coronavirus.be/en/recognised-vaccins-and-certificates/

     

    SIX "GOLDEN RULES"
    1. Wash your hands regularly and use hand sanitiser frequently
    2. Avoid using shared items where possible, or disinfect them
    3. Keep a safety distance of 1.5 meters. Anyone unable to respect the safety distance must wear a face mask
    4. Wear a mask at all times while in conference and meeting rooms (even if the distance of 1.5m can be respected)
    5. Limit the number of close contacts. “Close Contact” implies contact which lasts longer than 15 minutes, without respecting social distancing and without wearing a face mask

    6. Limit your use of public transport and limit your attendance to public spaces if not essential.

     

    COVID-19 TESTS DURING GA

    If you need a PCR Test during the GA you can address yourself to the FEI Welcome Desk.

     
    PRE-DEPARTURE COVID-19 TESTS
    You must check your destination’s specific pre-departure requirements to understand what, if any, negative certificate you need.

    In case that you need a negative certificate you can address yourself to the FEI Welcome Desk.

     

    COVID-19 SYMPTOMS

    If you feel ill or you have symptoms during the GA stay in your hotel room and immediately contact the FEI at +41 78 750 61 49.

     

    CONSEQUENCES OF NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEI COVID-19 COUNTERMEASURES
    Compliance with these measures is essential in order to guarantee a safe GA and avoid the further spread of the pandemic. We are counting on everyone’s sense of civic duty and responsibility.
    - In the event of non-compliance with the measures GA accreditation may be withdrawn.
    - In addition, Belgium sanctions are possible under Article 187 of the law on Civil Security of 15 May 2007, among others.
    - Local authorities remain competent for public order in accordance with article 135 §2 of the new municipal law.
    - The police forces can carry out permanent checks to ensure strict compliance with the measures.
    DOWNLOAD
    Click here to download the above recommendations in pdf format.

     

  • Sightseeing in Antwerp

    Tourist Programme for FEI Delegates and Guests

    Monday 15 November 2021 at 14:00
    The tour includes:
    - Visit of the Cathedral
    - Grand Place
    - Visit of the "Diva" Diamond Museum
    - Vlaaikensgang (medieval site)
    Euro 35 per person

    Tuesday 16 November 2021 at 14:00
    The tour includes:
    - Walking through some historical streets
    - Visit of the "Rubenshuis" (house of Antwerp's most famous painter)
    - Visit of some gastronomic hotspots
    Euro 25 per person

    If you wish to participate, please register and pay the fee in cash at the FEI Welcome Desk at the latest at 17:00 the day before.

    Each tour starts at 14:00 sharp in Hilton Hotel lobby and will take 2.5 hours for +/- 3 km.

    A minimum of eight persons is required to organised each tour.

  • Contact Us

    For any information, please contact:

    Fédération Equestre Internationale - FEI
    Overall Organisation
    Sophie Ruiz-Leimer
    Senior Corporate Events Manager, Secretary General's Office
    sophie.ruiz@fei.org

    Logistics, hotel & visas
    Julie Schlaefli
    Senior Officer, Nominations Committee & Corporate Events, Secretary General's Office
    julie.schlaefli@fei.org

    Media
    Vanessa Randin Martin
    Senior Manager, Corporate Communications & Publications
    vanessa.randin@fei.org

  • FEI Partners

17 November 2021 13:00 CET
ON REPLAY | Morning Session | FEI Hybrid General Assembly 2021

17 November 2021 16:15 CET
ON REPLAY | Afternoon Session | FEI Hybrid General Assembly 2021

ON REPLAY | FEI Awards 2021 Ceremony - Antwerp, Belgium

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