The organizers of the 2006 World Equestrian Games announced today that the new medal system of two individual champion medals will be instated at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen this summer 2006.
This information was released at the same time that the FEI officially announced (on their website) that the new medal system has been voted and has been effective as of January 1, 2006.
The new medal system, which means that a medal will be awarded to the Grand Prix Special Champion and to the Grand Prix Kur champion instead of one overall champion over three tests --though the same rider could win the two individual medals -- was being discussed in the FEI Dressage Committee in the summer of 2005, but final decisions were so far not yet made, nor did the FEI executive board vote on it at the time. In an interview with Chronicle of the Horse, FEI Dressage Committee chairwoman Mariette Withages stated that the system would be in effect no sooner than the 2007 European Championships. Miraculously and very efficiently, this date of effect has been brought down to the 2006 World Equestrian Games held in Aachen, Germany, in August 2006. The double plaque deal.
“We are delighted that the Aachen Organising Committee have accepted to implement the rule change already this year, and we do appreciate their efforts to make this possible in such a short time” stated Mariette Withages, Chairman of the FEI Dressage Committee, stated in the official FEI statement issued today.
Though this new medal system will only make the entire dressage system less transparant and more confusing for both laymen spectators and true fantatics (who is the real dressage champion??), the organizers seem to be ecstatic about it as for them it is "double the excitement."
The Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein (ALRV), organizers of the 2006 WEG, issued the following press release today:
Double the excitement and double the joy: At this year’s World Equestrian Games in seven disciplines in Aachen (20th August – 3rd September), the dressage riders are going to be given the chance of winning two World Championship individual medals. Not only for the Prize of the Deutsche Bank, the Grand Prix Freestyle, but also for the Prize of the Deutsche Bank, Grand Prix Speciale. This was just announced by the FEI, the International Equestrian Federation and the event organisers, the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein (ALRV). In past World Championships the Grand Prix Speciale only served as the qualification competition for the Grand Prix Freestyle. “This new ruling further upgrades the dressage competitions in Aachen,“ said Frank Kemperman, ALRV General Manager and Sports Director. And the spectators will not only be able to experience double the amount of sporting top performances and pure excitement during the competitions for the individual medals, they will also be able to celebrate two World Champions at the respective prize-giving ceremonies. This means that in total three gold, three silver and three bronze medals will be awarded for dressage – including the ARAG-Prize, Grand Prix Team medals.
Whereas the dressage riders and their horses have to complete a predetermined fixed dressage test in the dressage arena for the Speciale, they can freely choreograph the sequence of the movements and the music for the Freestyle contest. According to the new ruling, the best 30 riders from the Grand Prix Team competition will take part in the Grand Prix Speciale and the best 15 riders of the Grand Prix Speciale will qualify for the Grand Prix Freestyle. Of course the riders start each competition with a clean slate. During the World Equestrian Games 2006, the dressage riders will not be competing in the Deutsche Bank Stadium, as is the case for the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen, instead they will be fighting it out in the showground’s main stadium, which holds 40,000 spectators.
Related Links
Double Medals at the 2006 World Equestrian Games
FEI Dressage Committee Unveils A Plan For More Medals