FEI European Jumping Championship: Press conference in London

The 2005 European Jumping Championships Championship which will be held in the equestrian facilities of the San Patrignano community (Rimini ~ Italy), from 21 to 24 July were presented this morning in conjunction with the FEI General Assembly taking place in London.

San Patrignano is the largest rehabilitation centre from drug addiction in Europe and in 26 years of its activity have welcomed and reinserted in the society in a drug free condition over 20.000 people.

Giacomo Muccioli, President of the Organising Committee of the event and Cesare Croce, President of the Italian National Equestrian Federation highlighted the important support and patronages obtained by next July’s Championships such as the one of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC); the Regional United Nations Information Centre (RUNIC); the United Nations International Year of Sport and Physical Education; and of the European Cities Against Drugs (ECAD).

The strong involvement in the project of the FEI was underlined by the significant presence of the 1st Vice President Freddy Serpieri who in his address focussed on the unique opportunity that the world equestrian community is given by this Championship to contribute to spread the social message of San Patrignano.

The Chairman of ECAD, Jim Corr, explained the importance of this event which will be the first ever top sport event to be entirely organised and hosted by a community for the rehabilitation of drug addicts. “When ECAD speaks of drug free Europe there are many who call it a utopia. If I had told you fifteen years ago that the Championships will be organised by former drug addicts in a treatment centre you would all have called it a utopia”.

The importance of the horses within San Patrignano was stressed even more with the announce of the strong cooperation with UNIRE (National Union for the Increment of Horse Breeds) which has chosen to fully support the Championships’ project that is strongly orientated not only to the sport but also to the promotion of horse breeding in Italy. San Patrignano also represents one of the largest and most recognised studs in the country.

During the conference it was also presented the ad starred by the top riders Ludger Beerbaum, Markus Fuchs, Ludo Philippaerts and Jerry Smit to promote the social meaning of the event. The ad is the result of another important partnership between the community and the International Jumping Riders Club.