Eventing has been part of the Olympic Games since the 1912 Stockholm Games, and in modern times spectators are used to seeing the traditional order of events: dressage, cross country and show jumping. But that will change at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, based on a proposal from the International Equestrian Federation submitted to the International Olympic Committee in early March. We spoke with David O'Connor, sports director of the United States Equestrian Federation, chair of the FEI Eventing Committee, and Olympian himself, to discuss the proposed changes to the Olympic eventing format and the public's thoughts on it. I asked him about his reaction in detail.
In order to emphasize the cross-country stage, which attracts the attention of spectators (and the largest number of viewers on television broadcasts), the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Broadcasting Corporation, which is responsible for the television broadcast of the Olympics, recommend holding this stage. did. last. In response, the FEI proposed that the team event in Los Angeles be run like a short-form CCI. Dressage first, then show jumping and then cross country to determine the final team rankings on the third day. Specifications for each phase (course length, number of efforts, etc.) will continue to adhere to long event standards. The phases just run in a different order.
Additionally, instead of holding a second round of show jumping late on the final day to determine individual rankings, as has been done since the 2004 Olympics and will be held at the Paris Games later this year, individual The round will be held the day after the cross. -Country, which means the entire competition spans his four days.
The changes were previewed at the International Equestrian Federation's Online Eventing Seminar held on January 20th, with March 1st being the deadline set by the IOC for all international federations to submit their 2028 competition formats. . “Details regarding the technical aspects of the proposed format will be discussed in detail next year within the framework of the revised FEI rules for equestrian events at the Olympic Games, once feedback is received from the IOC.” the group said. In a statement.
Public reaction to this change has included a shift from the original template of a three-day long format with a one-day endurance race including road, track and steeplechase, in an effort to maintain this format over time. This included complaints that the format was too unusual. Suggestions that it would be better for the Olympics, and eventing, to be removed from the Olympic menu rather than continuing to undergo changes.
We asked Mr. O'Connor for his insight into the potential impact of the proposed changes. The conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Let's start with the big picture question here. Why do you think it's important that the all-around event remains in the Olympics, even if the format is a little watered down or different from what we're used to?
Well, I don't agree with the opinion that it's watered down, and how different it is. Actually, we already play this sport, right?This is what happens every weekend all over the world [with short-format events]Including big tournaments such as Aachen. [CHIO in Germany] Nations Cup and things like that. There are some pretty big tournaments that take place in this format, but Aachen is clearly one of the toughest in the world. That's No.1.
The only difference between here and places like Aachen is that the course will be a long-distance course, rather than a short-distance course like it is now. However, it will still continue with his five-star dressage, five-star show jumping and his four-star cross-country under 10 minutes. [in length], or in the area. Of course, it depends on the weather where we are going. So this isn't really reinventing another sport. It's just tweaking one of them a little bit and, in some ways, actually making the sport that we're already doing a little bit harder.
Second, there is no doubt that being on the Olympic stage is extremely important to the profile of the sport. No matter what anyone says, everyone wants to go. There really isn't a competitor you don't want to go to, right? No matter the format, the Olympics have always produced individuals with the qualities of an Olympic champion. Did your sport change when you lost the steeplechase? Yes. However, there were many other considerations at the time that forced us to do so.
“[B]Being on the Olympic stage is very important in raising awareness of the sport. No matter what anyone says, everyone wants to go. There really isn't a rival who doesn't want to go, right? ”
David O'Connor, USEF Sports Director
Will this change the sport? No, because I don't think there is any desire or thought process to change other championships, championships run by the FEI. Therefore, the World Championships will remain exactly the same as they are FEI competitions. This is not an FEI competition. This is an IOC competition and we are invited as guests. So, I continue to be involved in the Olympic Movement because of the exposure of the Olympic Movement and because it gives athletes and horses a purpose. As long as the core concept of eventing is the same, that is, riding the same horse in three different disciplines, he also has elements of galloping that are very different from the two disciplines.
Seven-time Olympian Phillip Dutton has voiced support for remaining in the Olympics after a change to the format for 2028 was announced.
Olympic sports also receive funding from the United States Olympic Committee. How big a factor is that?
Well, I think that's a bigger factor, not just here in the United States, but around the world. The United States Equestrian Federation's high performance budget is $13 million across all sports. The budget for the event alone is $1.8 million. And a portion of it is supported by the USOC, a large portion of it is supported by the USEF, and a large portion of it is supported by the US Equestrian Team Foundation. But if we do not participate in the Olympic process, all Olympic funding for national federations will disappear. That will impact coaching, educational programs, and much more. I mean, it's a very big event and it's going to happen within a day. There are countries around the world whose entire budget is actually supported by the Olympic Committee. If the Olympic prize money goes away, they won't be able to play the sport at the level that we play. it is, Huge The economic impact may not be as great here in the US or UK. But in other countries? absolutely. It will definitely have a huge effect.
[The USOC provided about $2.6 million to USEF in 2021, the last Olympic year, and almost $1.8 million in 2022. You can view the amounts provided to each sport from 2019 through 2022 here.]
From a rider's perspective, do you think turning things around in cross country and show jumping requires a change in strategy and how a rider approaches each phase? No?
i don't think so.because we are used to it [with short-format events], right? As I said earlier, this is not a new sport. When you go to the Olympics, your strategy is determined more by where you are in the team standings than by what's happening on the day. It's clear that the horse's welfare must always come first, but your strategy is within team orders. Therefore, if the first person fails, the strategy for the day changes. There is some flexibility if the first two girlfriends had a great day. That's the strategy.
Your job is to run the cross-country course cleanly and safely as fast as possible. And then you deal with it the next day, that's the reality. So I don't think that's really changing. [The CCI4*-S at Gatcombe] was of Aachen, who have been one of the teams to beat in the world for a long time, are now one of the teams to win and you don't see people taking stupid and crazy chances.I'm not really concerned about the safety of my horse. [doing cross-country last].
Second round of show jumping for individual medals – how big of a ask is it for the horse to come back on that fourth day for a second round?
I think it's easier than what we're doing [for Paris], we're doing the second round in an hour and a half. Personally, I think this is better than the current system. Having to bring the horse back after an hour and a half and jump another course — even though it's a shortened course, making 12 efforts instead of 15 — I think it's better. .
Are details still being finalized as to when this form of horse testing will take place?
Obviously there will be one after cross country and before the individual meet. [round]. There has to be one there. And one of them will participate in the competition.More information about what happens after a horse goes cross country [for the team competition], that point has not yet been decided. This will be a global discussion because there are many questions about it.
[We wanted] First, accept the actual format, [and then we’ll put] A list of individual items displayed.From being able to score quickly without having to wait, to issues of horse welfare after finishing. [cross-country] and how they are viewed. And for each of those questions, there are sub-questions below it. If you open one door, there are four more. As long as we have a problem-solving mindset, I don't think there's anything we can't solve by putting the welfare of the horse first.
Are there any other big questions about the details that still need to be answered?
I think the score is great because you want results right away, right? There's the issue of flags, and how that's reviewed requires some thought. So we've put together a list and are going around the world to see what ideas people have. In fact, national federations are already very proactive about some really good ideas, which will be a global discussion. The Olympic regulations need to be completed by the end of 2025, so essentially it will take a year. That is when it is approved by the FEI General Assembly.
Is there anything important you would like others to know about this topic?
Of course I'm an Olympian, right?so i'm big [proponent] About the promotion of the Olympics and what it's going to do for people in the industry and the fan base, things like that. They are television people who want to promote the sport in a better and bigger way.because [the short format] is a sport that we already practice, but they said, “We think this is more exciting.'' I think you have to ask about that.
If we are to be judged by the media, then yes, that is the Olympics. It's always judged by how many people are watching and what they're interested in. And TV people say this. It’s really more of a celebration of your sport,” and I think that’s what you need to hear, and that’s what happened.
