The 2018 World Equestrian Games (WEG) are to be held in Canada.
Horse sport’s governing body — the FEI — today (Monday 9 June) announced its Bureau had “unanimously approved” Bromont/Montreal in Canada as the host city for 2018 WEG.
The event will take place at Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park, which was the venue for the Montreal 1976 Olympic equestrian events.
Bromont will become only the 2nd host outside Europe, after Lexington, Kentucky in 2010. Lexington was the only other remaining bidder for the 2018 Games.
Bromont was expected to win the bid last summer, but the FEI reopened the bidding process after it was found there was not sufficient funding.
However the FEI confirmed “substantial government backing” has now been secured, which was a “crucial element” in the decision.
“The Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park is an exceptional and proven venue, and will be the ideal location for the 8th edition of the FEI World Equestrian Games,” said FEI President Princess Haya.
“We are now just 75 days from the opening ceremony of the 2014 Games in the heart of Normandy, when over 500,000 spectators and millions of TV viewers will watch the best equine and human athletes compete for world titles over 2 weeks of absolutely top equestrian sport.
“And 4 years from now, the Games will be heading to Canada, where we expect even larger audiences on the ground and on television as equestrian sport continues its global growth.”
In June 2012, 5 countries — Morocco, USA, Hungary, Austria and Canada — came forward as official candidates for the 8th WEG.
After a fluctuating bidding process, the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) submitted an “expression of interest” to the FEI, but never put in a formal bid.
Earlier this year Wellington, Florida, withdrew its bid to host the 2018 WEG due to a sponsor conflict, leaving just the 2 venues.
WEG is held every 4 years and all 7 FEI disciplines — dressage and para dressage, eventing, showjumping, driving, endurance, reining and vaulting — are represented.
