Horse Illustrated Magazine

Before the action even begins, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games are already unforgettable. Running a year later than scheduled and with multiple challenges along the way, the best of the best are now putting in their final preparations ahead of the Opening Ceremony on July 23, 2021. All is a go for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

It has been a difficult lead-in period, with so many interruptions due to the pandemic that has affected the entire world and the equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) impacting mainland Europe. Then this past week’s news that there will be no spectators at any of the venues in order to ensure safe and secure Games. But the statistics for equestrian sport are more impressive than ever, with a record number of countries fielding teams and individuals in the three disciplines of dressage, eventing, and jumping.

The Tokyo 2020 sport entries (FEI Definite Entries) reveal that the flags of 50 nations will fly high during two weeks of spectacular sport. A total of 200 athlete-and-horse combinations are listed, along with an additional 48 Alternate/Reserves.

Formats

The new three-member format has changed the dynamic of the team competitions. Not only is the pressure more intense as each individual performance will count for so much, but it has also opened the door for many more countries to take part.

At the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, a total of 27 nations lined out in jumping, with 15 of those sending teams, while this time 20 teams and individuals from a further 15 countries will take part to boost the number of National Olympic Committees (NOC) represented in Tokyo to 35. In eventing, the number of participating countries has increased from 24 to 29, with 15 teams compared to 13 in Rio. And in dressage, the numbers jump from 25 to 30 nations and from 11 teams to 15.

Centered

The equestrian events of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be principally centered at Baji Koen Equestrian Park in Setagaya. This is a public park owned by the Japan Racing Association, which was also the venue for dressage at the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games. Back then, eventing was staged in Karuizawa, and jumping took place at the National Olympic Stadium. For the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the fully refurbished Baji Koen will host dressage, jumping, and two of the three phases of eventing.

Course designer Derek di Grazia (USA) has spent the last five years creating the eventing cross-country course on what was previously a landfill site at the waterfront at Sea Forest with a stunning backdrop of Tokyo Bay and the city. Equestrian shares the venue with Olympic rowing and canoeing, and the venue will become a public park after the Games.

The Games of the XXXII Olympiad promise to be like nothing that has gone before, and equestrian sport is already breaking records.

The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) is the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was founded in 1921. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Games in Stockholm.

The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of jumping, dressage and eventing, as well as driving, endurance, vaulting and reining.

The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its seven able-bodied disciplines when para dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for para dressage and para driving.