FEI Regional Group VII Meeting Report

Geographical Group VII recently held a meeting in Abu Dhabi (UAE) under the patronage of H.R.H Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, FEI President, and H.H. Sh. Dr. Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, UAE NF President. The Meeting was chaired by the FEI Regional Group VII Chairman, H.E. Sh. Khalid Bin Abdulla Al Khalifa. It was co-attended by Capt. John Roche (Director of the FEI Jumping Department).

The attendees of the meeting were comprised of representatives from the following Group VII Nations:
1. Bahrain
2. Egypt
3. Jordan
4. Kuwait
5. KSA
6. Lebanon
7. Libya
8. Oman
9. Palestine
10. Qatar
11. Syria
12. UAE
The meeting began with an opening statement from the President of the UAE NF who welcomed all Group VII representatives to this second Geographical Group VII meeting in Abu Dhabi, which was followed by a welcome speech from H.R.H. Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, who praised the Group VII Regional Group efforts to help co-ordinate and support riders/horses and equestrian sport. The first item on the agenda which generated much discussion was the co-operation between the different nations that make up Group VII for the continued development of the sport in the region. Experience and ideas were shared so as to generate discussion and elucidate winning formulas.

Moreover, each NF reported on their activities such as the FEI Olympic Qualifier events to be held in Doha. Meanwhile, NF's KSA, Egypt and UAE presented their papers for development of Group VII activities.

Other Important points discussed were:

1) Approving the Previous Meeting Agenda
2) Matters concerning the Arab League FEI World Cup™ Qualifiers for the existing and coming season.
An aspect that received much debate was the footing to be used in the arena. Many other aspects for development of the sport in the region were passionately discussed and cooperations projects within the Group elaborated.
3) Concentrating more on Childrens, Juniors and Young Riders categories and discussing the possibilities to hold a Nations Cup for Juniors in the region.
4) Discussing the possibilities to hold a Group VII Championship among the Group VII Nations.
5) Encouraging the Group VII Nations to benefit from the Olympic Solidarity and FEI Development Programme eg: FEI Level 1 Coaches Course to be hosted in the Kingdom of Bahrain following the Bahrain FEI World Cup™ Qualifiers CSI-W 2007.

Apart from the Geographic Group VII Meeting that was hosted in Abu Dhabi, another grand event held alongside was the FEI World Cup™ Arab League Sub Committee Meeting that was also held on 25 Jan 2007 under the patronage of H.R.H Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, FEI President and chaired by all the above mentioned Group VII Nations.

In general, both these meetings spurned a fruitful result that comprised of future development, competitive assistance and support for the equestrian sport in the region.