The FEI Dressage Task Force sent out two major proposals today to all the National Federations as well as the Stakeholder Groups for their opinions and consultation
on issues relating to the Olympic format for dressage and the representatives in the future FEI Dressage Committee.
The Dressage Task Force wants to reformat the number of team members going from three back to four, though the fourth rider will be an individual competitor and not contribute to a team score. Also the DTF has clear ideas on the makeup of the future FEI Dressage Committee which should include one member of each stakeholder group.
Proposal I: This proposal concerns the Olympic Format for Dressage.
As discussed with the IOC it is possible to change the format already for the Olympic Games London 2012, possible changes have to be forwarded to the IOC by the end of April 2009 at the latest. Although not completely in its original brief the Dressage Task Force (DTF) would like to make the following proposals:
The number of athletes:
The DTF would like to propose that the number of dressage athletes increases from 50 to 60. The numbers of athletes for those NFs directly qualifying a Team should be increased from 3 to 4 riders (3 team riders plus 1 individual rider). Before the start of the first competition the NF has to decide which athletes are team-members and who is an individual. This will enable the universality of the Dressage element of the equestrian Olympics to be maintained whilst ensuring that the best riders in the world are represented – there is also the chance that the additional rider can outperform one of the Team members and go on to compete in the Individual final. Increasing the number of Dressage athletes would mean a better geographical spread and maintain the ability of developing countries to compete, and would also create greater equity between the disciplines in terms of overall numbers.
The number of competitions and competition days:
It is proposed to maintain the same number of competition days, however, to have the team ranking including the first and second competition. Increase the number of riders to 60 for the first competition, 40 for the second and 20 for the final individual competition which would enable 30 more riders to compete in competitions 2 and 3 than is currently the case.
The schedule would be as follows:
Day 1 & 2: Competition 1: first team-competition, open for all 60 athletes (teams of 3, plus individuals)
Day 3 Competition 2: final team competition, open for 40 athletes:
(the 8 best teams and the 16 best individuals after competition 1)
Day 4 Competition 3: final individual ranking, open for the best 20 athletes from competitions 1 & 2 (max 3 per NF).
Format of competitions:
Day 1 & 2: Competition 1: Grand Prix
Day 3: Competition 2: Grand Prix Special short (5.5 min)(new test)
Day 4: Competition 3: GPFS
Draw for Competition 2: 16 individual riders drawn first in groups of 4, in reverse order from the result of Comp 1. Then the teams ranked 5th-8th after Comp 1 are drawn, and last the teams ranked 1st-4th.
Team result: Comp 1 + 2 total
Individual result: Comp 2 + 3 total
OR
Comp 1 + 3 total.
Please can you state a preference for the 2 options
Proposal II: This concerns the makeup of the Dressage Committee.
The proposal is 5 representatives – one from each stakeholder group
Organisers
Trainers
Riders
Judges
Owners
The final aim is that the representatives would be nominated by their Stakeholder groups - who are Associate Members of the FEI – the International Dressage Trainers Club (IDTC) etc. It is the goal that all stakeholders (riders, trainers, organisers, owners, judges) will with their registration at the FEI, automatically become members of the stakeholder group.
The representatives would need to be endorsed by their NFs as is the current practice.
The period of office is 4 years as is currently the case in the statutes
For the first few years there would be a draw to see who had to stand down after 2 years so that not the whole committee stood down at same time.
The Chair would eventually be from the Committee when a member stands down. The chair would NOT have a vote. In the interim the Chair would come from within the Task Force but would have to be endorsed by his/her NF
There can not be more than one rep from each NF. If possible, geographical spread (continental diversity) is encouraged.
The representatives are accountable to and responsible for communicating with their stakeholder group. It is for this reason that the DTF felt that the representatives must be put forward by the Stakeholder Group to ensure clear lines of communication and to ensure that that representative on the Dressage Technical Committee is truly speaking on behalf of and representing the views of the Stakeholder Group.
As part of this strategy and to ensure NF Stakeholder buy in and involvement in the decisions of the Technical Committees, National stakeholder groups must be developed to feed into the International stakeholder groups.
Interim solution for Nominations to the new Dressage Committee
As an interim measure and until such time as the Stakeholder associations have their Constitutions in line with FEI Guidelines it is proposed that for 2009 there should firstly be the possibility of the Stakeholder Associations – namely the International Riders Club, Judges Club, Trainers Club and Organisers Club proposing representatives (note the International Dressage Owners Club is not yet created), putting forwards proposals and secondly also of the NFs proposing people to fill these Stakeholder representative positions.
All of the proposals made by Stakeholder associations, once supported by their NFs, would as per the relevant rules go to the Nominations Committee for vetting.
Developing nations issues.
The DTF acknowledges that there needs to be close dialogue with developing nations and therefore proposes that where there are issues which may affect these nations that there can be a presentation at one of the meetings from such nations.
Enhancing NF involvement. It was discussed to assist the improvement of NF involvement that the Committee be doubled in size with 2 representatives from each stakeholder group however it is recognised that with the current financial situation and given the current statutes this would not be feasible.
Related Links
FEI Dressage Task Force Meeting Note
FEI Dressage Task Force Held its First Meeting