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Tryon International Equestrian Center selected to host FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2018

Friday, 04 November 2016
FEI World Equestrian Games 2018

Photo (c) Meg Banks/TIEC. Tryon International Equestrian Center and Tryon Resort will host the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games. Photo (c) Meg Banks/TIEC.

The FEI and Mark Bellissimo, managing partner of Tryon Equestrian Partners (TEP), announced yesterday that the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Mill Spring, Polk County, North Carolina has been selected as the host venue for the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2018. The Games, which are administered by the FEI, is the major international championship event for the eight core equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage and para-equestrian dressage, eventing, driving, endurance, vaulting and reining.

The World Equestrian Games™ is held every four years, halfway between the Summer Olympic Games cycle and will occur from September 10 through 23, 2018. 

Bellissimo commented, "We are honored to be selected by the FEI to be the steward of the FEI World Equestrian Games 2018. Next to the Olympic Games, the FEI WEG is the most important event on the world equestrian calendar. We are confident that our partnership and our operating team will create a memorable experience for all involved with the ultimate goal of significantly elevating horse sport in the U.S. beyond the 27 million people who ride a horse at least once a year."

"We are very pleased to announce Tryon as the host of the FEI World Equestrian Games 2018", FEI President Ingmar de Vos said. "The Tryon team submitted a really impressive bid and we have every confidence in the organising committee. It's a truly spectacular venue and almost all the necessary infrastructure for our eight disciplines is already in place. We are looking forward to a fantastic celebration of top level sport as all the disciplines come together to crown their world champions at the Games in two years' time." 

"We are thrilled with this news and thank the FEI Bureau for having faith in us and entrusting us with the honor of hosting this prestigious event," Bellissimo said. "It's a really great fit for the Carolinas' equestrian heritage and we look forward to working closely with the FEI and with the USEF to produce a tremendous FEI World Equestrian Games in 2018." 

Equestrian enthusiasts from over 70 countries trek to WEG host cities every four years to cheer on athletes from their native countries, much like the Olympic Games. The Normandy FEI WEG had a local economic impact of $400 million, or 368 million euros, and an attendance of over 500,000 spectators during the 14-day event. 

"We are excited about the impact this event will have on the economic health of the Blue Ridge Foothills region of the Carolinas," said Sharon Decker, COO of Tryon Equestrian Partners, Carolinas' Operations.

The event has been held in an impressive list of major cities: Stockholm, Sweden (1990), The Hague, Netherlands (1994), Rome, Italy (1998), Jerez de la Frontera, Spain (2002), Aachen, Germany (2006), Lexington, Kentucky (2010), and Normandy, France (2014).

"We are delighted to welcome the FEI World Equestrian Games back to the United States and are delighted that the event will remain in North America," said Vicki Lowell, USEF Senior Vice President of Marketing. "We would like to express our gratitude to Tryon Equestrian Partners for stepping up to host this event with such short notice. Tryon Equestrian Partners has proven their ability to execute complex, high-level events and we are confident in their ability to produce an event of this magnitude. As one of the true pinnacles of equestrian sport, hosting the World Equestrian Games provides a fantastic opportunity to elevate the sport in the United States."

 


Source: Press release from Tryon International Equestrian Center // Picture © Meg Banks/TIEC



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