Swiss rider Steve Guerdat riding Alamo won his third title at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup in Gothenburg last year.
© FEI/Liz Gregg
By Ellie Jolley
The list of cancelled international equestrian events continues to grow as coronavirus creates new health obstacles for event organisers across the world.
A further three events have been cancelled at coronavirus hotspots in Hong Kong, Iran, and Italy according to the International Equestrian Federation.
Some other recently cancelled competitions, including the three latest events are: the CCI1* Event in Hong Kong on 14 March, the CEI1* and CEI2* Endurance in Kerman, Iran 5-6 March, CRI3*, CRIY3* and CRIJ3* Reining in Cremona, Italy 26-27 March, and both Dressage World Cup events in Kiev, Ukraine which had been planned for the first and second weekends in May.
The biggest events on this year’s equestrian calendar are the Tokyo Olympics and the World Cup in Las Vegas next month.
For now, both these events are continuing as planned with some extra attention given to health precautions for spectators and competitors.
In a recent report in the Sydney Morning Herald, it was revealed that every sport at this year’s Olympics would be impacted by coronavirus to some degree.
But at this stage, the plans to transport both riders and horses to Asia for the Games has not changed and it is not yet known how the virus may impact the equestrian events.
In a statement released on Tuesday (3rd March), the International Olympic Committee said a joint taskforce made up international bodies had been mobilised to ensure all measures were being taken to prepare the city of Tokyo.
The IOC said it is working closely with the Japanese Government and the World Health Organisation as it monitors the coronavirus situation.
The Games are due to commence on July 24 with the Opening Ceremony in Tokyo.
READ THE LATEST NEWS ARTICLES HERE
