Back in Paris in 1921, the founding member states of the International Equestrian Federation agreed on the terms of the establishment of an international governing body for equestrian sport. The Frenchman Baron du Teil and Major Georges Hector served as the first president and secretary general of the International Horse Federation.
The FIA was created before the 1924 Paris Olympics, and these founders ensured that equestrian sports could take their place in the Olympic Games and continue to flourish. Since then, France has been hosting major competitions in various equestrian sports, producing many of the best human and equestrian athletes, and has always been the home of equestrian sports.
France will host the Olympic Games for the third time in the summer of 2024, once again inviting the world's top riders together.
When the French capital first hosted the Olympic Games in 1900, equestrian events became a major event, divided into jumping, high jump, long jump, mail coach carriage driving and hacks and hunters. At that time, the pattern of venue obstacles, dressage steps and three-point three-point competitions had not yet been established. At the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, these three equestrian events had become official Olympic sports. For France, however, their results were not ideal this year, with only one bronze medal in the equestrian competition.
At the just past Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the French team only had three teams on the podium and won the only bronze medal.
The bronze medal itself is precious, but France hopes to create more glory when it hosts the Olympics on its own two years later. As a result, the French Equestrian Association (FFE) has unveiled a new sports programme, determined to put more homegrown athletes on the podium.
"After winning the only bronze medal in a triathlon team at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, we hope to maintain the cohesion of the national team and the athletes, and proposing a plan that is in line with the medal ambitions of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games is definitely a priority for the French Horse Association," said the French Horse Association. ”
France will use the upcoming 2022 FIM World Championships in Herning, Denmark and Pratoni Del Vivaro, Italy, as well as next year's FIMA European Championships as a springboard for success, looking forward to seeing more top talent like Maxime Livio, Julien Epaillard, Morgan Barbancon and Chiara Zenati come to the fore!
Serge Lecomte, president of the French Horse Association, explains: "At the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, French equestrian sports should impress people. To this end, the French Horse Association strengthens the preparation of athletes and horses and wants to maintain the trust established with their owners. ”
The sport programme identifies key areas of particular focus, including enhanced training support for horse owners and officials. The program will also increase support for France's elite riders, offering more bonuses to reward their performance and providing grants to ensure they can focus on training.
The French Jockey Club is also establishing a new tournament support body to develop strategies to support the work of technical officials. In terms of high-level strategy, ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, the agency will be tasked with the national technology management proposal, and the agency's staff will include the country's technical officials as well as past medalists.
Despite their ambitious goals, the French Horse Association confirms that animal welfare will always take precedence over race results.
Lecomte said: "Through the excellence of our athletes and their horses, the passion of all of us for horses and the growing enthusiasm for the club will be rewarded. Medals are not only the result of high-level competitions. Every day, they invest tirelessly to reward all those involved in sports. ”
In the history of Olympic equestrianism, France has won a total of 43 Olympic medals, including 15 gold medals. In Rio de Janeiro six years ago, the French won two gold medals and one silver medal, and their new plan aims to ensure more recognition in front of their supporters.
Lecomte added: "These Olympic Games in France are unique opportunities for the industry as a whole to increase the popularity of equestrianism. Not only is the Olympic Games the biggest sporting event in the world, but it must also allow us to highlight and promote the beauty of equestrian sport in order to conquer all French people. I want our athletes to carry the Olympic values as well as the values of our equestrian sport. ”
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