IOC Executive Board Defers Beijing Decision until February 2003

Source :  Equestrian Federation of Australia Ltd

The IOC Executive Board met before the 114th IOC Session in Mexico City to
discuss IOC Programme Commission proposals on Olympic disciplines and
events. The Board accepted the proposal made by the International Equestrian
Federation (FEI) to change the Eventing format for the 2004 Olympic Games in
Athens. However, the Executive Board did not make a decision on the future
of Eventing for Beijing 2008 and thereafter. The Board will now discuss
Eventing when it meets in Lausanne next February.

"It is disappointing not to have Eventing's on-going position in the
Olympics confirmed, but I am hopeful that, despite the delay, there will be
a positive outcome for the sport," the President of the Equestrian
Federation of Australia, Mr. Russ Withers, commented. "It is a positive
decision for Athens, with the new Olympic format to be the same as the new
Eventing World Cup, which will commence in 2003."

The FEI has proposed significant changes in the Eventing competition for the
Olympic Games. The new CIC, or International One Day format, shortens the
cross-country course and removes the two "roads and tracks" phases and the
steeplechase from the cross-country day. It retains a Dressage test, a
Cross-Country test and a Jumping test, with the top 25 riders and horses
progressing to a second Jumping test to decide the Individual medals.
There is an expectation that the change of the Olympic competition format
will lead to a review of training methods and selection procedures,
particularly for Olympic Games. The Federation also anticipates a further
increase in the number of events running under the new format.