Italy returns to be the ‘Caput Mundi’ of equestrian sports with three different FEI World Championships 2022: Eventing, Driving and Endurance returning to Italy, 24 years after the 1998 WEG (World Equestrian Games) were held in Rome
In September 2022 the Equestrian Sports Facilities in Rocca di Papa - Pratoni del Vivaro, created by CONI on the eve of the 1960 Olympic Games, will be ready to host the FEI World Championship Eventing 2022 (14-18 September) and FEI World Championships Driving 2022 (21-25 September).
The FEI World Championship Endurance 2022 will instead be held at Isola della Scala (Verona) on October 22nd.
As preparation for the WEG gathers momentum, the FEI recently held meetings at the Pratoni del Vivaro with the twelve directors of the different departments involved in the organisation of the FEI World Championships Eventing, Driving and Endurance to assess work being done together with Italian Equestrian Sports Federation’s OC in preparing for the event
A visit to the historical facilities built to host the 1960 Rome Olympic Games was followed by a workshop organised in Rome at the Italian National Olympic Committee’s headquarters where meetings of the various work groups were held
The FEI World Championships Eventing and Driving that will be held at the historical equestrian centre Pratoni del Vivaro from 14-25 September next year, hosting the best horses and riders and spectators from every continent, will be a qualifying opportunity for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and will attract great attention from around the world. About 80 horses are expected to arrive for the Eventing Championships and 250 for the Driving (four-in-hand competitions).
Work to adapt the facilities to technical infrastructures needed (stables, arenas, cross country and marathon courses) and welcome services (parking, stands, restaurants, shopping area) for the over 40,000 spectators expected over the two weeks of competitions, started months ago and the 140 hectares of the estate will present an unmatchable stage when opened.
Tim Hadaway, Director, Games Operations, coordinated the meeting attended by the technical delegates of the three disciplines for which world championships
“It will be fantastic to compete at Pratoni, which is an iconic, legendary location for our sport and in particular for the disciplines to be hosted in 2022” says Tim
“Important events have been hosted here also in recent years and thanks to cooperation with the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation we are certain that a wonderful edition of the Eventing and Driving World Championships will be organised in which the best drivers and riders will compete and the many spectators will certainly not be disappointed. This will be my first time at Pratoni as the FEI’s Operations Director which is a great honour and an immense pleasure for me.”
FEI Eventing Director, Catrin Norinder is equally delighted about the return to Pratoni, saying that “It is a location and an equestrian centre that has already in the past hosted sporting events at the highest possible levels in this discipline, above all the 1960 Olympic Games and the 1998 WEG.
I cannot wait for next September to come as we will be happy to be attending such a great sporting event and do everything possible to support the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation in its organisation.”
