OS Tokyo: All ready for the eventing!

OS Tokyo: All ready for the eventing!


On Thursday, the second equestrian discipline in Tokyo gets underway with the veterinary inspection of the eventing horses. 65 eventing riders from 29 different countries will compete for medals in both the Nations Cup and the individual ranking from Friday 30 July to Monday 2 August.


Eventing at two locations

Dressage for the eventing will take place on Friday and Saturday at the Baji Koen Equestrian Park, the heart of the Games. After the dressage on Saturday, all eventing horses will be transported to Sea Forest, the location where the cross-country will take place on Sunday. Sea Forest is a reclaimed piece of land on the waterfront of Tokyo Bay. At this second location, which is about an hour's drive from the base, the horses stay in similar stables as at Baji Koen. On Sunday evening after the cross-country event, the horses will return to Baji Koen Equestrian Park, where the second veterinary inspection and the final show jumping will take place on Monday.

Changed format

The Olympic formats of all equestrian disciplines have been changed, including those of eventing. A country team consists of only three combinations and there is no longer a tie-breaker. After completing the first veterinary inspection, the eventing competition starts with the dressage as usual. Due to the large number of participants and taking into account the heat during the day, the dressage starting list has been split into three groups. Group 1 starts Friday at 08.00 hrs local time (until approx. 11.00 hrs) and group 2 starts at 17.30 hrs (until approx. 21.00 hrs). The second part of the competition, the cross-country, is shorter than usual at the Olympic Games due to the climate, has a length of about 4,500 metres and must be ridden at a pace of 570 metres per minute. The first competitor will start at 7.30 a.m. local time, so that all horses will have completed their cross-country by 11 a.m. The final day will begin with the second veterinary inspection. All combinations that are still in the competition will ride a course in the morning with obstacles of a maximum height of 1.25 m. This course will determine whether the horse is fit or not. This course is decisive for the results of the Nations Cup. The highest placed 25 combinations from the individual ranking until then will ride another course in the afternoon (height max. 1.30m) to divide the individual medals.




Source: KNHS