Will Equestrian sports survive in the Olympics?
The doping scandal that emerged at the HK Equestrian Olympics has serious repercussions for the sport. Equestrian sports, already distanced to Hong Kong at the Beijing Olympics, faces exclusion from future games.
In an article in the Irish Times, Olympic Council of Ireland’s President, Pat Hickey, who is also president of the European Olympic Committees, a powerful voting block including all of the European nations, said there were fundamental issues the sport had yet to iron out.
“There are a lot of problems occurring. I’m in no doubt,” said Hickey.
“I’m appalled that this is happening in this sport. But there seems to be something wrong in the equestrian movement and they just have to get their act together. This sport could be in very serious difficulties for next year’s vote, whether they remain on the programme or not.”
In 12 months’ time the 114 IOC members will meet to decide which sports will be part of games and which will fall out to create the vacancies.
Already he and other voting members are being vigorously lobbied by the sports that want to be included.
“Make no mistake, the lobbying for this is as big a lobby as the one for the venue for the 2016 Games. The old sports are lobbying to stay in and the new ones are lobbying to be included. Rugby Sevens has been extremely active, and so has golf. This is a big deal for the sports.”
Between now and the voting, every IOC member will receive an outline of how each sport has performed. The assessment will look at everything from spectators to drugs issues to the quality of the venue.
When asked by the Irish Examiner if the future of show jumping at Olympic level was in question, he responded, âIâd say itâs in question. â(My senior IOC colleagues) are shocked and appalled that this is happening in this sport. There seems to be something wrong in the equestrian movement. They just have to get their act together.â
The cost of holding equestrian sports at the Olympics has always been a contentious issue as it is a sport that requires a lot of land for the cross-country, special stabling and veterinary facilities for the horses. multiple arenas to work in and one of the highest number of technical officials as compared to other Olympic sports.
If Showjumping goes from the Olympic programme, it is hard to see Dressage or Eventing surviving. Olympic exclusion would have repercussions for the sport that even we in South East Asia would feel.
