Session 2: Paris 2024 Olympic Regulations - Jumping

Session 2: Paris 2024 Olympic Jumping Regulations

Proposals outlining modifications to the Paris 2024 Olympic Regulations for Jumping were discussed during the second session of the FEI Sports Forum 2022.

The proposals put forward to delegates in this Session are the result of a widespread consultation process which saw athletes, officials, National Federations, and stakeholders with whom the FEI has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), submit key topics for review as part of an initial survey. The feedback from the survey was discussed during an online meeting held last month on 22 March and the main points consolidated for further deliberation at the FEI Sports Forum.

The topics of discussion included timelines for entries, competition schedule, the substitution process, Minimum Eligibility Requirements, the order of the Competitions, as well as modifications related to rankings and penalties.

Presenters for this Session included FEI Chair of the Jumping Committee Stephan Ellenbruch and FEI Jumping Director Marco Fusté. Tokyo 2020 Jumping Course Designer Santiago Varela, Swedish Jumping chef d’equipe Henrik Ankarcrona and Olympic champion and President of the International Jumping Riders Club (IJRC) Kevin Staut from France were the panellists for the Session.

Key information and proposals put forward to delegates for discussion included:

• To have the timeline for entries for Paris 2024 follow the same deadline principles as Tokyo 2020.
• To revert to the pre-Tokyo competition order with the team competition held first followed by the individual competition. According to the suggested competition schedule, the second horse inspection would be open to all four horses, and the first horse inspection open to horses for both team and individual competitions.
• Only medical and veterinary substitutions will be allowed, and require a veterinary or medical certificate.
• The event begins at the first horse inspection and only horses stabled at the Olympic stables can be substituted for the team competitions, the exact time is to be defined.
• In terms of MERs, the number of results required will be three and the maximum number of penalties allowed is four at 1.55m and eight at 1.60m.
• To increase the number of wild cards per Event for the purpose of achieving MERs.
• To have the first individual qualifier judged on penalties and time.
• To have an additional judge appointed for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games so that the requirements for the Olympic Games meet the Jumping Rules requirements.

During the Q&A, Belgian athlete and IJRC Board Member François Mathy JR cautioned that it will be necessary to manage the public perception of having a horse taken out of a competition one day for veterinary reasons and then allowed to compete again a few days later. Stephan Ellenbruch responded that transparency in the process and fitness to compete were the primary ingredients to ensuring the public understood and approved the process.

Gerald Kuh (HKG) also brought up the point that there is real concern for smaller countries to qualify for the Olympic Games without the existence of special qualifying competitions.

IJRC Director Eleonora Ottaviani (IJRC) and Lizzy Chesson US Equestrian Managing Director of Show Jumping also proposed that if Wild Cards are included that they should be outside of the quota places assigned through the FEI Online Invitation system.

Presenters:
♦ Stephan Ellenbruch (GER), Chair of the FEI Jumping Committee
♦ Marco Fusté, FEI Jumping Director

Panellist:
♦ Santiago Varela ESP), Tokyo 2020 Jumping Course Designer
♦ Kevin Staut, IJRC President
♦ Henrik Ankarcrona, Deputy Chair of the FEI Jumping Committee