The 2005 European Dressage Championships in Moscow have been cancelled. The organisation of event could not produce the necessary proof of payment for the chartered aircraft, that will be transporting the horses to the show.
Furthermore, the bank guarantee the FEI demanded for the money for the organisation and prize money of the event was not delivered by the ultimate deadline, which was today at 14.00h.
"It's a disaster," a distraught Mariette Withages told Eurodressage. "Everybody has been working so hard. Markowski has split himself in half to get everything in order. I have spent months on the phone and flew back and forth so many times. All for nothing."
The organisation in Moscow technically had all paper work in order, but they could not sort out the financial aspect. Moscow paid 15% of the deposit for the air transport of the horses, but it was unable to downpay the next deposit. The organizing committee of the 2005 European Championships is part of the Russian Equestrian Federation, but for its finances it mainly has to rely on the province of Moscow, which did not wire the promised money.
The FEI will be posting an official press release on the cancellation of the 2005 European Championships. An official announcement with the request for a new candidate to host the event will be posted as well.
At the moment, it is uncertain whether the 2005 European Championships will take place at a different location on the sames date, or whether the show will be postponed. More will be known this weekend.
Eurodressage On The Scene of the 2005 European Championships