FEI launches its special WEG news service

With only 24 days to go before the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games open in Aachen on 20 August, the FEI is pleased to launch its special WEG news service. Our goal is to provide the media – the recipients of the regular FEI news as well as all WEG accredited journalists – with extensive information about the equestrian world’s most momentous event.

Four editions of the FEI World Equestrian Games have taken place so far: the inaugural World Euqestrian Games were held in Stockholm (SWE) in 1990, followed by The Hague (NED) in 1994, Rome (ITA) in 1998 and Jerez de la Frontera (ESP) in 2002. Organisational triumphs or failures, unforgettable sporting achievements and memorable moments of horsemanship have all been part of what is truly becoming the WEG tradition. To bring these back to live, a special WEG History link has been created on the FEI website homepage www.horsesport.org. Click on it to discover a factsheet on each WEG containing a brief overview, useful statistics such as the number of competitors and countries by discipline and the overall number of participating nations as well as some interesting facts (NB. to view the factsheet, please click on the name of the city, e.g. STOCKHOLM (SWE), 1990). The full Team and Individual results by discipline are also available. And for the true scholars who would be interested to fully immerse themselves in FEI tradition, the full lists of FEI Championships by discipline from the beginnings and the names of the medal winners are also available under “Further historical references”.

But what would the WEG be without the image? To give the sport its full dimension, a special WEG Photo Gallery has also been created. Renowned equestrian photographer Kit Houghton’s high resolution images of the past WEG winners can be viewed from the homepage of www.horsesport.org, WEG Photo Gallery. Please note that these photographs are strictly for editorial use. There is no reproduction fee, but please credit Kit Houghton/FEI.

Of course, the past is all very well, but a news service won’t be a news service without up-to-date information. As of tomorrow, previews of each of the seven FEI disciplines in competition in Aachen will be sent out. Prepared in cooperation with equestrian experts, these pieces will provide a comprehensive overview of the international scene.

Through means of in-depth articles we will bring to you the latest news about FEI’s efforts in the fight against doping, development or commercial strategy. You will also find out how art, and more specifically music, is an integral part of horsesport.

And as the WEG kick on, updates on the events of each day will be provided.

We are looking very much forward to being part of your 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games experience and wish you a happy reading.