In 2018, The World Equestrian Games (WEG) will be the world’s forth largest sporting Event and the Games will be held right in the backyard of the area of Western North Carolina that we serve.
The International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) World Equestrian Games began with great hopes and have grown into a trademark international platform from which to show equestrian sport at its best. Since 1990 the Games have been staged every four years, halfway through each Olympic cycle. They bring together the World Championships for all FEI disciplines.
Initially staged at European venues, and always at a new location – Stockholm (SWE), The Hague (Netherlands), Rome (ITA), Jerez de la Frontera (ESP) and Aachen (GER) – the Games moved outside Europe for the first time in 2010, into the heartland of horse country in Lexington, Kentucky (USA) for the Alltech-sponsored spectacular. In 2014 they returned to Normandy in France.
Once again this year the excitement crosses the Atlantic for the much-anticipated eighth edition at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) (USA).
The 2018 WEG has the potential to be the largest sporting event in North Carolina history with over $400 million dollars of projected economic impact and 500,000 spectators over the 13-day event in September. TIEC is preparing for a daily attendance of 40,000 to 50,000 people.
The 2014 Games in Normandy delivered over $400 million in economic impact, and attracted 984 athletes, 1,234 horses, 74 nations, 1,900 accredited media from 52 countries and 575,000 spectators.
The disciplines of Jumping, Dressage, Eventing, Driving, Endurance and Vaulting were included in the first five editions of this equestrian extravaganza, Reining joined in 2002 and Para-Dressage in 2010.
Click HERE to access the Official WEG Destination Guide!!
Here, you can find a detailed history of each Games and the stunning achievements of the athletes and horses who have given their all in pursuit of those elusive medals.
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