From: Jenny Sheppard [jennysheppard@bigpond.com]
Sent: Thursday, 20 August 2009 7:22 AM
To: 'Robert Moller'; 'Robert Moller'
Cc: 'David Willis'
Subject: FW: FEI HOLDING STATEMENT: Relegation of Teams from the Meydan FEI
Nations CupTM
Some FEI News,
J
From: FEI Communications [mailto:Malina.Gueorguiev@fei.org]
Sent: Thursday, 20 August 2009 1:31 AM
To: jennysheppard@bigpond.com
Subject: FEI HOLDING STATEMENT: Relegation of Teams from the Meydan FEI
Nations CupTM
FEI HOLDING
STATEMENT
Lausanne, 19 August 2009
RELEGATION OF TEAMS FROM THE MEYDAN FEI NATIONS CUP™
The issue of team relegation from the
Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ is currently being discussed.
Following the final leg of the Meydan FEI
Nations Cup™ at the Royal Dublin Horse Show on 7 August, two teams – Great Britain and Belgium – tied for second-to-last
place and were consequently faced with relegation from the series as the Rules
provide for relegation for the 9th and 10th placed teams.
The interpretation of the Rules could lead to two different relegation
outcomes. Hence the case was presented by the FEI Headquarters to the Bureau
for discussion. Presented with the possibility of handing the matter over to
the FEI Tribunal, the Bureau unanimously felt that a decision must be taken in
the best interest of the sport. Bureau members took into consideration the fact
that the Equestrian Community is a family, and that the governing body has a
responsibility to translate its own rules in a sporting fashion and to
understand clearly the pressures that are faced by the National Federations and
athletes as a result of the current economic hardships. Failure to field a team
in the Nations Cup series will definitely put severe pressure on National
Federations to seek sponsorship from governments, National Olympic Committees,
and commercial partners. Hence it was unanimously agreed that, subject to
seeking permission from the Show Organizers, who would obviously bear the
pressure of additional horses, neither team should be relegated for next season.
The FEI Jumping Committee is also looking
into the matter presented by the Italian Equestrian Federation, winners at Dublin, under new Chef D'
Equipe Markus Fuchs. The Italian team feel strongly that even though they
placed 10th (last) in the Meydan FEI Nations CupTM, they should be included in
next year’s series and have appealed that if a concession is made for two
teams, they should be included as a third. The FEI Jumping Committee, and the
FEI Commercial Department are now in discussions with our commercial partner
Meydan in order to consider their wishes for the upcoming season, and will of
course continue discussions with the Nations Cup Organizers before making a
final statement in regard to this matter. The FEI Bureau and Headquarters wish
to thank their stakeholders for their patience in waiting for a final conclusion
which will be issued by next week.
Media Contact:
Malina Gueorguiev
FEI Communications
malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 33
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