2020 CDIO Rotterdam Cancelled, German Championships in Balve Postponed

Dressage

The Netherlands

More of the key Olympic selection trial competitions are being cancelled. Today, 23 March 2020, it was announced that the CHIO Rotterdam was cancelled and the 2020 German Dressage Championships in Balve postponed until September.

CHIO Rotterdam Cancelled

The board of CHIO Rotterdam decided to cancel the only 5* event in Holland, which was scheduled for 18 - 21 June 2020 due to the coronavirus crisis. Rotterdam was marked as a Dutch Olympic team selection trial.

"With the current situation in our country and the rest of the world and the uncertainty for the next coming months it should be irresponsible to continue the preparations and financial obligations for the upcoming CHIO Rotterdam," said Ron Voskuilen, general director of CHIO Rotterdam. "We currently investigate if it is feasible to organize some smaller local activities after summer to ensure we maintain the CHIO momentum."

"We are very, very sorry but in these circumstances we have to take responsibility for health of the public, competitors, VIP guests, sponsors, volunteers, partners and everyone else involved and it is best to take such a difficult decision in an early stage", says Theo de Rooij, president of CHIO Rotterdam. "This is a very different start of my new role than I hoped for, but it is an exceptional situation. The complete board will now focus on organizing a great event in 2021."

German Dressage Championships in Balve Postponed

Podium in Balve in the 2016 Olympic Year

The 2020 German Dressage Championships in Balve, originally scheduled for 7 - 10 May 2020 has rescheduled for 17 - 20 September 2020.

Balve is annually the first official German Olympic team selection trial.

"What seemed important and correct to us yesterday is completely relativized today in light of the current development, they disappear into insignificance.," the organizers of Balve stated.

"Now it's about solidarity with all of our fellow human beings. We have to follow rules ; we have to do our part. Postponing is the best way to be mindful of each other in this corona pandemic n which we have to take care of each other. In regard to the great dramaturgy and the great concern for all our fellow human beings, sport now has a comparatively insignificant role in society."

What About Aachen?

The second mandatory German team Olympic selection trial is scheduled for the CDIO Aachen (29 May - 7 June 2020). Till today the organization of the CHIO Aachen has not announced a cancellation or date change.

World Cup Qualifier Budapest Postponed

The 2020 CDI-W Budapest, scheduled to take place at Stable Unikornis just outside the Hungarian capital on 13 - 17 May, has been postponed till July. The World Cup qualifier will now co-incide with the 3* CDI on 9 - 12 July that was organized as prepratory event for riders competing at the 2020 European Children and Under 25 Championships in Budapest on 18 - 23 August.

Check out the updated list of cancelled and postponed shows