The FEI Bureau held its statutory meeting on 15 and 16 November at Buenos Aires (ARG) on the kind invitation of the Argentinean Equestrian Federation.
The following items were discussed, approved and/or will be presented for approval to the 2005 General Assembly in London (GBR):
MARKETING AND COMMERCIAL MATTERS
FEI Television dominates global Equestrian events with more than 30 events per year. It is the intention of the Commercial Division to still increase the television presence of FEI events in the long-term, the short-term objective being to improve the quality of the coverage and the placement of the programmes. In that respect, a number of broadcasters are now showing FEI events on quality timeslots, such as Wednesday night on Eurosport or Sunday afternoon on CNBC Asia.
Independent market researches monitoring TV audiences, sponsor brands visibility and major press sources show that FEI events are excellent properties for existing and potential sponsors. The analysis process that started with the FEI Samsung Super League has now been extended to cover the FEI World Cup Jumping Series and Final as well as the FEI World Cup Dressage Final.
The valuation of the Samsung brand in connection with the Samsung Super League brand is impressive. Its visibility in relation to the actual broadcasting time has been consistently over 30% since 2003, proving that this competition is a superb platform for Samsung brand awareness objective.
The FEI Official Partner Programme is confirming itself as the best way to attract new sponsors to join the FEI family. A new partnership has been signed recently and discussions with a variety of potential sponsors are now taking place.
The Bureau has recognised that the FEI logo reflects its heritage rather than its ambition. As an organisation, the FEI has evolved enormously over the last 10 years and this now needs to be reflected in its identity. Consequently, the proposed new brand was accepted.
STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE
The Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee reported on the works of the Committee, which has begun the task of establishing a new Strategic Plan for the next five to ten years and established several working groups in the following areas:
- FEI Structure
- Development
- Marketing and Communications
- General welfare and veterinary
- Information technology
- Olympic Games
A preliminary plan will be presented at the 2005 General Assembly in London. The implementation of the new plan is scheduled for 2006.
The FEI Strategic Planning Committee will also study the restructuring of Geographical groups in consultation with National Federations.
DEVELOPMENT
The Bureau acknowledged the written report of the 1st Vice President, the main items of which were:
- FEI Coaching System: the courses for coaches, which started in three Geographical Groups (IV, VI and IX), received a positive feedback from the participants.
- FEI/PSI World Jumping and Dressage Challenges: both competitions run very smoothly throughout the year.
- Competitions supported by the FEI Development Fund had been successfully organised in Latvia, Georgia and Swaziland.
FINANCE The result for the end of 2004 is estimated to show a satisfactory surplus, despite the negative impact of the USD - CHF exchange rate on the IOC contribution.
The revised 2005 Budget and the 2006 Budget were approved, which include the updated commercial division plan. Certain modifications will be made to both budgets to incorporate further developments that have arisen since the Finance Committee Meeting. CHF 475,000 were allocated to the FEI Development Fund for both 2005 and 2006.
2004 OLYMPIC GAMES
The FEI Bureau expressed its satisfaction at the increasing number of participating nations in equestrian events. The organising committee (ATHOC) produced beautiful equestrian facilities and must be praised for the fantastic work they accomplished in preparing for the Games. The venue was probably the best ever for Olympic equestrian sport.
With the help of the IOC, the FEI is aiming at being be more involved and have a better control on the budget for staging the equestrian disciplines. Minimum requirements for the Olympic organising committees have now been established which clearly specify the essential elements for the running of the equestrian competitions.
BEIJING 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES
The FEI Executive Board will travel to Beijing for meetings with the Organising Committee (BOCOG) early in 2005.
ASIAN GAMES
The Asian Games to be organised in Doha in December 2006 will include competitions in Jumping, Dressage, Eventing and Endurance. The Organising Committee is presently looking at the possibility of including the regional discipline of Tent Pegging as a demonstration sport.
PAN AMERICAN GAMES
The 2007 Pan Am Games to be organised in Rio de Janeiro (BRA) will include all three Olympic disciplines.
2012 OLYMPIC GAMES
The Bureau acknowledged the technical evaluation reports for the bid cities of London (GBR), Paris (FRA), Madrid (ESP), New York (USA) and Moscow (RUS). All five cities offer excellent plans for the staging of the equestrian Olympic competitions.
CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Bureau allocated the following Championships:
2006
World Driving/1: Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA) date tbc
European Dressage Young Riders and Juniors: Stadl Paura (AUT), 19-23 July European Eventing Young Riders Pardubice (CZE), 4- August European Eventing Juniors: Necarne Castle (IRL), 15-20 August European Pony Jumping, Dressage and Eventing: Fontainebleau (FRA) 26-30 July
2007
European Jumping: Mannheim (GER) date tbc
European Eventing: Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA), date tbc
European Eventing Young Riders: Blair Castle (GBR), end August
In addition, the Bureau approved the concept of two new championships:
- American Jumping Championship to be held in Rio de Janeiro (BRA) from 28 September to 2 October 2005
- European Endurance Championship for Young Riders and Juniors to be held for the first time in 2006 in the Czech Republic
GEOGRAPHICAL GROUP REPORTS
Group I
The following major items, discussed during a Group meeting in October 2004, were presented to the Bureau:
- Transparency in fight against doping as well as in the conduct of FEI's legal proceedings.
- All issues for the temporary import of horses must be solved with the respective governments before the allocation of WEG 2012.
Group II
The following items, discussed during the Group meeting in October 2004, were presented to the Bureau
- Group II supported the comments from Group I concerning transparency and speed of medication control and consequent legal proceedings.
- An additional Group meeting will be organised at the end of January 2005 with medication control as main topic of discussion.
Group EEA
The Chairman of Group EEA was excused.
Group IV
The Group IV Chairman reported on the recent meeting held in Jamaica. The NFs of this Group are particularly enthusiastic and many activities have taken place despite the severe damages created by the recent hurricanes.
The Group expressed concern about quarantine and transport of horses to participate in the Pan American Games which will be held in Rio de Janeiro
(BRA) in 2005.
The FEI/PSI Challenge continues to be one of the most important competitions for the Group.
Group V
A meeting is being scheduled for early 2005. Long distances make regular meetings difficult to organise. The FEI PSI Challenge and the FEI Children competitions are very successful. Group V joined Group IV in expressing that a solution had to be found to solve the quarantine problems for participating in the Pan American Games.
Group VI
The 2005 FEI Pan American Endurance Championship will be for the first time held outside of Group IV, in Pinamar (ARG). A very useful and successful test event was organised the week preceding the Bureau meeting, with the support of the Chairman of the Endurance Committee Hallvard Sommerseth and the Head of the Endurance department Ian Williams.
Group VII
The Group did not hold any meeting since the 2004 General Assembly.
Group VIII
Group supported the proposal of teams of three riders for the Dressage Olympic competitions in order to make it possible for riders of this Group to participate. The Group is working very hard to make the forthcoming Asian Games in Doha
(QAT) in 2006 a great success.
Group IX
The FEI Coaching system was introduced to Southern Africa in a recently organised course in Swaziland, which has been well supported by the Group. The FEI PSI Challenge was once again a great success and several countries of Group IX were represented at the Final, both in Jumping and Dressage.
JUMPING
In connection with the Samsung Super League and Samsung Nations Cup Series, the Bureau approved:
- a revised version of the selection criteria for Super League events
- the rotation of the last event in the Super League season as of 2006
- restructuring and renaming the FEI Nations Cup Committee to the FEI Super League Committee
- a number of clarifications to the rules for both the Super League and Nations Cup series, which will be published in the FEI Bulletin and on the FEI website.
The Bureau also approved a number of alterations to the Jumping rules to become effective on 1 January 2005 which relate to the following:
- water jump,
- knock out competition,
- height of obstacles in one and two-star events,
- competing hors concours,
- approved draft schedules,
- sponsored obstacles,
- publicity on hats,
- qualification criteria for Grand Prix competitions. Clarification to starting, circling, and knock downs were also approved.
In addition the Bureau also approved the following items:
- The wording of the Jumping competition format for the 2008 Olympic Games
- regulation relating to date protection.
- The wording for limiting participation in the second round of the Team competition of the 2005 European Championship
- the maximum number of horses per team will be limited to five and one horse per individual.
- the statutes for the FEI International Jumping Owners Club.
- the introduction of a European Jumping championship for veteran riders.
The technical requirements for CSI events effective in Europe for 1 January 2006 and 1 January 2007 in the rest of the world were approved and will be published in the FEI Bulletin.
EVENTING
The Bureau shares the view of the Eventing Committee that the new CCI format without Steeplechase is a viable sport for the future, providing new opportunities for the organisers, riders and horses and is good for the development of Eventing.
The World Event Riders rankings are being updated to include CICs.
The Eventing Rules will include an annex describing the procedure for communication between riders and officials at event.
The Bureau approved the Eventing Committee's proposal to introduce a yellow flag system to warn riders on the cross country course.
A Jumping judge will now be compulsory for three-star events and up for the Jumping test.
New Dressage tests for all star levels will become effective on 1 January 2005.
DRESSAGE
The Bureau approved slight modifications to the FEI World Cup Dressage Rules for the 2004/2005 season.
DRIVING
The Bureau approved the qualification criteria for the upcoming 2005 FEI Driving Championships to be published in the FEI Bulletin and on the FEI website.
The Rules for the 2004/2005 season of the FEI World Cup Driving were approved.
ENDURANCE
The Bureau acknowledged the new Qualification Criteria for Endurance Championships.
VAULTING
Open Forums will be organised in 2005 to discuss and evaluate the rules, competitions and any arising subjects.
The Committee will produce a video to clarify the criteria of judging the horse's canter.
The guidelines for Judges for 2005 have been revised.
A pilot plan for South America has been developed and will be integrated in the FEI coaching system.
PONY RIDERS
The Bureau accepted the revision of the Pony rules to be approved by the 2005 General Assembly for implementation on 1 January 2006.
REINING
The Qualification criteria for the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games were approved.
The qualification system for the 2005 FEI Reining Masters will be changed to a point system instead of the present prize money classification.
The development efforts will be concentrated on South America, as this continent has the greatest potential for the discipline.
Minor modifications to the Reining Rules were approved.
VETERINARY MATTERS
The FEI Veterinary Committee Chairman presented an update on FEI vet activities.
Until October 2004, 1250 horses have been tested in the Medication control Programme. Sixty-nine positive medication cases were reported (4.6%).
A seminar will be organised in 2005 to consider all veterinary aspects of Medication control.
Endurance Research: a project proposal for the 2005 Test Ride in which a number of variables will be tested to measure fitness and fatigue in Endurance horses is currently being developed.
The recent outbreaks of several infectious diseases, among which equine influenza, was reported to the Bureau. It was reminded that as of January 2005, vaccination against equine influenza will be mandatory every six months.
CALENDAR
The 2005 calendar of FEI International Events was approved.
The FEI would like to thank the President of the Argentinean Equestrian Federation, Gerardo Werthein and his team for their hospitality and support in the preparation of the meetings.
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