The FEI Refresher Seminar for jumping judges, stewards and officials was held at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, in the beginning of February. The new FEI Jumping Rules as well as other FEI Regulations were widely discussed, and we have gathered the most important parts. First up, the new FEI Invitation System.

The aim of the new Invitation System and Invitation Rules is to invite athletes according to their position on the Longines Ranking; these athletes have the right to participate based on their performance. An invitation is both an opportunity to participate in an event, as well as the right to participate in an event. If the show has a limited number of entries, the FEI invitation system applies.

These are the ways to participate in an event where the FEI Invitation System applies:

• To be invited according to the athlete’s position in the Longines Ranking (automatically invited by the FEI Invitation System)
• To be entered as an athlete competing for the country where the event is organised (home athlete, entered by the National Federation in the FEI Entry System)
• To be invited by the Organizing Committee (invited by the OC through the FEI Invitation System)
• To be invited as the last Olympic and World Championship gold medallist
• To be invited through getting a FEI Wildcard

The following percentages for each three quotas (Longines ranking, home athlete and OC invitation) apply;

• CSI5* events: 60-20-20 %
• CSI4* events: 50-25-25 %
• CSI3* events: 40-30-30 %
• CSI2* events: 30-30-40 %
• CSI2* events combined with a 3*, 4* or 5*: 20 % home athletes and 80 % OC (no Longines Ranking points given). Use of the quota system at these combined events is optional.

The process of the new Invitation System begins approximately eight weeks prior to the week of event. Home athlete-entries will be closed three weeks prior to the event, Invitation System-entries will be closed two weeks prior to the event and the OC-entries on the week of event. This way, any unused slots can be moved into the next group.

Roles and responsibilities are as follows;

• National Federations should accept or decline invitations and enter home athletes
• Organizing Committees should set the maximum number of athletes for the event, choose the CSI2* quota if applicable and invite athletes in the OC quota
• Athletes should plan participation in upcoming events by creating a wish list and accept or decline invitations.

The roll out of the new Invitation System will happen in three phases; Invitation System Pilot Phase #1 in the first semester of 2018, Pilot Phase #2 in the second semester of 2018 and full launch in the second semester of 2018.

The new concepts for standard events in the Invitation System are that there will no longer be nominated and definite lists, the entry process will be easier and it will be possible to add extended logistical information about vehicles, stables and contacts. There will also be a broader access (for athletes, grooms and athlete managers) and extended mobile access. There will be one screen for all event categories, entries duplication for tours will be possible, as well as entry of horse slots. Each rider can add their grooms and managers to the system.  

The CSI Invitation Rules do not apply to series with specific invitation rules of their own that have been approved by the FEI Bureau, as per the Jumping Rules Annex V which states at which events the invitation rules apply.