Lausanne (SUI), 14 April 2019 — The eighth edition of the FEI Sports Forum 2019, which will be held at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne (SUI) on 15 and 16 April, will be live-streamed on fei.org.

Day 1 will begin with a session dedicated to gender equality, particularly in governance positions in equestrian sport. This will be followed by a session on preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games with a focus on climate mitigation plans and the optimisation of equine and human performance in a challenging climate. The first session of the afternoon will be dedicated to a review of the FEI legal system, including a proposed way forward regarding pony measurement, as well as sanctions and measures related to Eventing Risk Management. The closing session of the day will look at the future of Reining.

Day 2 will focus on Endurance with the whole day dedicated to the questions, challenges and reshaping of this discipline.

Timetable of sessions (all times CET):

15 April – Day 1

Morning

• Opening – FEI President and IMD representative – 09:00-09:30
• Session 1 – Gender Equality – 09:30-10:30
• Session 2 – Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games – 11:00-12:30

Afternoon

• Session 3 – Review of Legal System – 14:00-16:30
• Session 4 – Future of Reining – 17:00-18:30

16 April – Day 2 – Reshaping Endurance

Morning

• Session 5 – Qualification of Horses and Athletes: reducing welfare risks – 09:00-11:00
• Session 6 – Educating Officials and correct application of the rules – 11:30-13:00

Afternoon

• Session 7 – Improvements and innovations to shape Endurance – 14:00-15:30
• Session 8 – Wrap-up by the Secretary General and open Q&A

FEI Media Contacts:

Shannon Gibbons
Media Relations and Communications Manager
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46

Vanessa Martin Randin
Senior Manager, Media Relations & Communications
Vanessa.Randin@fei.org
+ 41 78 750 61 73

The seventh edition of the FEI Sports Forum 2018, which will be held at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne (SUI) on 26 and 27 March, will be live-streamed on fei.org.

The FEI Sports Forum 2018 will have a prominent focus on Youth.

Day 1 will host a panel of eight young and talented athletes from around the world, representing FEI disciplines. Discussions will centre around their experiences, how they see the future, the challenges they face, and the impact on their careers. In addition, we will hear from experienced professionals and experts on discussion topics of athlete welfare as well as the IOC’s toolkit regarding harassment & abuse.

Day 2 will continue the discussions on athlete welfare, focusing on concussion, medication & recreational drugs and Eventing risk management, all of which have a substantial significance and impact on present day sport and competition. Further discussion topics include optimising performance in a challenging climate, in view of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon and Tokyo 2020, FEI Officials, as well as an update from the FEI Dressage Judging Working Group.

Timetable of sessions:

26 March
Morning session 09.00-13.00 CET
Afternoon session 14.00-18.00 CET

27 March
Morning session 09.00-13.00 CET
Afternoon session 14.00-17.30 CET

FEI Media Contacts:

Shannon Gibbons
Manager Press Relations
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
Email: ruth.grundy@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 145

L-R: Sam Watson and Diarmuid Byrne, EquiRatings; David O’Connor, Chair FEI Risk Management Working Group, and Giuseppe Della Chiesa, Chair FEI Eventing Committee. (FEI/Richard Juilliart)

The welfare of equines and human athletes was top of the agenda on day two of the FEI Sports Forum 2017. Scientific data on Eventing risk management, Endurance risk factors and bone fatigue was presented to more than 330 delegates gathered at the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne (SUI).

The FEI has invested in substantial scientific research to evaluate risk factors and risk management and the sixth edition of the Sports Forum provided the platform for evidence-based data to be presented to the equestrian community.

Sydney 2000 Olympic champion David O’Connor (USA), Chair of the FEI Eventing Risk Management Steering Group, shared moderation of the afternoon session on Eventing Risk Management with Giuseppe Della Chiesa (ITA), chair of the FEI Eventing Committee.

David O’Connor, who was also involved in the Hartington Report into risk management in the sport in 2000, remembered how Formula 1 driver Jackie Stewart had given him two messages: “If you have the technology and the ability you have to use it, and you will always be behind the curve, you will never think of everything.”

Co-founders of equestrian data science company EquiRatings, Diarmuid Byrne and Sam Watson, who signed a four-year partnership with the FEI earlier this month to work on risk management initiatives for Eventing, presented the rationale behind the EquiRatings Quality Index (ERQI) and its scope, with analysis of athlete and horse performance history one of the key elements in risk reduction in Eventing.

“Past performance helps us predict and plan future performance” — EquiRatings MD, Diarmuid Byrne

The Irish company is also working with a number of National Federations and their work in Ireland saw a 66% reduction in falls at national level last year. “It’s about introducing a mind-set of rider responsibility. Psychologically we don’t look at risk, and this tool allows us to step in when we ignore it.”

Presentations in the following session on Endurance risk factors and bone fatigue were well received by delegates, who were impressed by the detailed analysis of data. All three of the panellists – Dr Tim Parkin and Dr Euan Bennet from the University of Glasgow, who are conducting the FEI’s Global Endurance Injuries Study, and Professor Chris Whitton from the University of Melbourne – were clear on the fact that speed and non-compliance with mandatory rest periods are the key risk factors.

Dr Euan Bennett stated that an increase of seven days on the mandatory rest periods established in 2014 could potentially prevent 10% of the failed-to-qualify statistics.

Professor Chris Whitton spoke about how intensive training results in an accumulation of damage and the inhibition of bone repair that occurs during rest. “Prevention is the key,” he said. “Once you’ve got the injury it’s too late. It may not be a catastrophic injury but that horse’s career is shortened. It’s not speed alone, and it’s not distance alone, it’s a combination of the two.”

In her wrap-up of key takeaways from the Endurance session, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said: “We really need to be attuned to our horses. We need to listen to them. They are equine athletes and they really need and deserve recovery time.”

Mark Samuel (CAN), Chair of the FEI Working Group on FEI Officials opened the day’s first session when details of 13 concrete recommendations were provided, including a code of conduct and job descriptions for officials, the withdrawal of the age limit, online education for officials and course directors, appointments and remuneration, and a mentoring programme for younger officials,.

Delegates were also given an update on the initial findings of the FEI Dressage Judging Working Group. The Group’s discussions, which have lasted for several months, were based on analytical studies of the current judging system and exploring judging procedures in other FEI disciplines, such as Reining and Vaulting.

The need to introduce a code of points and to concentrate further on education and training of judges across all levels are some of the long-term objectives proposed by the Working Group, with a revised multi-media FEI Dressage Handbook to be delivered as support.

FEI President Ingmar De Vos closed the FEI Sports Forum 2017 by thanking delegates and sponsors, and saying: “We’re very proud of the Sports Forum. This is what we need to do to fully engage with our community and take the necessary next steps. It is very important for the FEI to listen to what our National Federations and stakeholders have to say. The end of the Sports Forum means the start of a lot of work, but this is always a positive move forward.

“It was great to have so many young people contributing to the success of this year’s Sports Forum, and we very much hope to increase the participation of our youth in other editions of the Sports Forum.”

Panellists at the FEI Sports Forum 2017

Officials: Mark Samuel, Group IV Chair – Moderator; Peter Bollen, FEI Jumping Committee member, Sönke Lauterbach, NF Germany Secretary General; Brigitte Mathias, NF Namibia Secretary General.

Risk Management in Eventing: David O’Connor (USA), Chair FEI Eventing Risk Management Steering Group and Sydney 2000 Olympic Champion; Giuseppe Della Chiesa, Chair FEI Eventing Committee – moderators; Sam Watson, Founder, EquiRatings; Diarmuid Byrne, Managing Director, EquiRatings

Endurance: Risk Factors and Bone Fatigue: John McEwan, Chair of the FEI Veterinary Committee; Brian Sheahan, Chair of the FEI Endurance Committee – Moderators; Professor Tim Parkin and Dr Euan Bennet at the University of Glasgow; Professor Chris Whitton from the University of Melbourne.

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
grania.willis@fei.org
+41 787 506 142

Leanne Williams
Manager Press Relations
leanne.williams@fei.org
+41 79 314 24 38

Shannon Gibbons
Manager Press Relations
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
Email: ruth.grundy@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 145

Lausanne (SUI), 20 February 2017 – World experts on the Olympic sports of Jumping and Eventing and the non-Olympic discipline of Endurance will address the FEI Sports Forum 2017 when it takes place at the International Management Development Institute (IMD) in Lausanne (SUI) from 10-11 April. The programme for the annual event, which is acknowledged as the key opportunity for the equestrian world to gather and debate current topics in the sport prior to the annual General Assembly, is published and registration is now open.

The Sports Forum will be opened by FEI President Ingmar De Vos, followed by a keynote address from IMD. The first day of the two-day programme will focus on Jumping, with an in-depth look at the future of the FEI’s flagship team series, the FEI Nations Cup™. Other highlights on the first day will be a presentation on the FEI’s online invitation system, discussion on CSI/CSIO requirements. Dress code and youth development in the sport will also be discussed, with a presentation on youth sport from Belgium’s four-time Olympian, Ludo Philippaerts and Peter Bollen, member of the FEI Jumping Committee.

The second day opens with a morning session on FEI Officials, including an update from the Dressage Judging Working Group. The two afternoon sessions are devoted to Eventing and Endurance.

Sydney 2000 Olympic champion David O’Connor (USA), Chair of the FEI Eventing Risk Management Steering Group, and Giuseppe Della Chiesa (ITA), chair of the FEI Eventing Committee, lead the first afternoon session dedicated to risk management. Beginning with a presentation of the Eventing risk management policy and programme implemented by the FEI to date, this will then be followed by a discussion on new proposals and next steps.

Endurance then takes centre stage for the final session of the Sports Forum 2017. Dr Tim Parkin, an expert in veterinary epidemiology, will present the initial findings of the two-year Global Endurance Injuries Study that he has conducted at Glasgow University with fellow specialist Dr Euan Bennet, and there will also be a presentation on bone fatigue and preventing bone injury by Professor Chris Whitton from the University of Melbourne, one of the world’s leading authorities on skeletal injuries.

The FEI Sports Forum 2017 will also be streaming all our sessions live on inside.fei.org and the FEI YouTube channel, providing viewers the opportunity to ask their questions directly to the panels and experts.

“The annual FEI Sports Forum is the opportunity for everyone involved in equestrian sport to have their say on some of the most important current topics, and a key part of our governance structure,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez says.

“In an ever-changing landscape we all work hard to keep our sport fresh, relevant and with the highest standards of horse welfare at its core, and this year’s agenda and guest speakers will delve into some very important current issues. The FEI prides itself on being open and transparent and this intensive two-day programme will provide a platform for everyone to have their say, whether they are on-site delegates or online viewers.”

The full programme for this year’s event is:

Day One:

• Focus on Jumping
• Future of FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping
• Online invitation system
• CSI/CSIO requirements
• Dress code
• Youth development

Day Two:

• FEI Officials, including update on the Dressage Judging Working Group
• Eventing Risk Management
• Endurance risk factors and bone injury

All information regarding the timetable, sessions, accommodation and registration is available at inside.fei.org on the dedicated FEI Sports Forum platform.

Additional supporting documents relating to the various sessions will also be posted on 13 March 2017.

Registration closes on 20 March.

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
grania.willis@fei.org
+41 787 506 142

Leanne Williams
Manager Press Relations
leanne.williams@fei.org
+41 79 314 24 38

Lausanne (SUI), 7 April 2016 – Following the successful two-day FEI Sports Forum in Lausanne (SUI), the Bureau met in FEI Headquarters for its spring in-person meeting (6-7 April 2016). The key decisions and updates can be viewed here.

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
grania.willis@fei.org
+41 787 506 142

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
Email: ruth.grundy@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 145

A record number of delegates attended the FEI Sports Forum at IMD in Lausanne (SUI), where Olympic and FEI World Equestrian Games™ competition changes were debated at length. (FEI/Richard Juilliart)

Lausanne (SUI), 5 April 2016 – Olympic Press Committee member Alan Abrahamson gave a reality check to a record number of delegates at the FEI Sports Forum as almost 320 participants debated the future shape of equestrian sport in Lausanne (SUI). “What you’re facing is nothing less than a reality check for the sport,” the former Los Angeles Times and NBCOlympics.com correspondent said.

“A lot of the public don’t know anything about equestrian sport. There are tons of new sports trying to knock on the Olympic door. Skateboarding, surfing and rock climbing are almost guaranteed to be on the Olympic programme for Tokyo because they are perceived as cool and sexy sports. You know you’ve got a great sport. You have that core audience; what you need are more and younger fans. This is not a crisis point. It’s not a moment of desperation for you; it’s a moment rich with opportunity.”

Alan Abrahamson, who has covered eight Olympic Games over the past 18 years, was speaking at the opening session on the programme, focusing on the changing communication landscape and how to use new media to reach a massively increased fan base. He was joined on stage by Richard Johnson, FEI Director of Corporate Communications, who outlined the FEI’s global campaign in the build-up to Rio 2016 and beyond.

Discussions then moved onto proposed changes to the competition formats for the three Olympic disciplines and the FEI World Equestrian Games™. Consensus on the need for change was reached and, although there were still some dissenting voices, there was also substantial support for the concept of a reduction to three-member teams and removal of the drop score.

Panellist Charles Balchin, Head of Programmes at IMG Production, was enthusiastic about the qualities of equestrian sport for broadcast media. “This sport – it’s worldwide. Very few others are and the whole gender equality thing it’s brilliant. You’ve got horses; you’ve got fantastic athletes who talk brilliantly. The future is beyond exciting.”

FEI 1st Vice President John Madden spoke of how having three-member teams would bring in more nations across the Olympic disciplines, as well as at the FEI World Equestrian Games™. “Universality we have control over,” he said. “It’s simple math. We have 200 spots and 40 National Olympic Committees at the moment. With the proposals on the table, we still have 200 spots and we can increase the number of flags to about 55. Three per team gets us 25% more.”

There was general agreement about the importance of bringing in new nations to the Olympic Games. “I agree 100 percent how important it is for smaller nations to have athletes at the Olympic Games,” FEI Executive Board member Frank Kemperman said. “It is the best shop window for our sport.”

Francesco Ricci Bitti, who will be standing unopposed for the presidency of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) later this month, was also adamant about the need for change. “But don’t do it only for the Olympics, do it for your sport. Find a compromise between the values your sport represent and the changes you need to make to make your sport more attractive. Be aware that the Olympics, the most attractive product of multi-sport in the world, has to change globally.”

The drop score and the role of potential reserve horse/rider combinations were debated at length, and the session was extended to allow discussions to continue, particularly as the focus had been more on the Olympic formats than on the FEI World Equestrian Games™ and the non-Olympic disciplines.

“I would like to reiterate how pleased we are,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said in her session wrap-up. “It was necessary to allow each and every one of you to speak your minds. I know we spent a lot of time on the Olympic formats but it was needed. We will continue to consult with you and many of your ideas will be taken on board.”

The final session of the 2016 FEI Sports Forum provided delegates with an opportunity to focus on the specific proposals for revisions to the Eventing Rules. The range of proposals tabled for discussion included new minimum entry requirements to open up Olympic Games and major Championships to be more accessible to new nations, new competition formats, updated scoring systems, and plans for enhanced presentation and explanation of the discipline.

Wrapping up the session, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez reminded everyone that discussions on both the competition formats and the Eventing Rules revisions have not ended and asked delegates to continue to provide thoughts on all the points that had been debated.

The FEI online platform is open for continued discussions on all topics raised at the FEI Sports Forum here.

Olympic and FEI World Equestrian Games™ competition formats session:

Moderator: Tim Hadaway (GBR), FEI Championships and Games Director

Panel: Charles Balchin (GBR), Head of Programmes, IMG Production; John Madden (USA), FEI Chair Jumping Committee; Frank Kemperman (NED), FEI Chair Dressage Committee; Giuseppe de la Chiesa (ITA), FEI Chair Eventing Committee; Brian Sheahan (AUS), FEI Chair Endurance Committee; Karoly Fugli (HUN), FEI Chair Driving Committee; John Eccles (GBR), FEI Chair Vaulting Committee; Bob Thompson (CAN), FEI Chair Reining Committee; Ulf Wilken (SWE), FEI Chair Para Equestrian Committee

A detailed summary of the debate will be produced and circulated to all stakeholders. Draft rules based on the discussions that have taken place over the last 12 months, will be sent to National Federations (NFs) on 15 July with a deadline of 9 September for NFs to revert to the FEI with their feedback. Final drafts will be published on www.fei.org on 28 October with NFs voting at the FEI General Assembly in Tokyo (JPN) on 22 November 2016.

Eventing Rules revision session:

Moderator: Giuseppe de la Chiesa (ITA), FEI Chair Eventing Committee

Panel: Catrin Norinder (SWE), FEI Eventing and Olympic Director; Daisy Berkeley (GBR), Athlete Representative, Eventing Committee Member; Patricia Clifton (GBR), Eventing Committee Member

FEI Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
grania.willis@fei.org
+41 787 506 142

Ruth Grundy
Manager Press Relations
Email: ruth.grundy@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 145

Shannon Gibbons
Manager Press Relations
shannon.gibbons@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 46

Leanne Williams
Manager Press Relations
leanne.williams@fei.org
+41 79 314 24 38