Victory is never a foregone conclusion, they say. Even without an opponent. The Canadian city of Bromont, Quebec, has just experienced this. The only one in the running to host the World Equestrian Games in 2018, she saw her application ultimately rejected by the International Federation. At issue: a financial package that is too vague and uncertain to offer all the budgetary guarantees.
The story is surprising. After withdrawing from Vienna, Austria, Bromont remained the only candidate for the organization of the WEG 2018, the largest global gathering of equestrian sports. The matter therefore seemed to be closed. A team from the bid committee went to Lausanne last week to meet elected officials from the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). Without imagining any other scenario than that of a victory.
The only problem is that the Quebec file turned out to be incomplete on one point, but not the least: the budget. The Canadians had estimated it at $70 million, but without being able to present to the FEI a formal commitment from the public authorities regarding their financial participation. “ We had a verbal promise from them, but nothing in writing », explains Roger Deslauriers, one of the project leaders. The bid committee has taken many steps, with the hope of obtaining aid of 12 million Canadian dollars (around 9 million euros) from Quebec, and the same sum from the Canadian government. In vain.
Result: a rejected application. “ Bromont's bid was very impressive in all technical aspects and it was very disappointing, both for the bid committee and the FEI, that our Office was unable to confirm the award of the 2018 World Equestrian Games today . Unfortunately, without the required financial confirmations, the FEI and the bid committee would expose themselves to too great a financial risk. “, declared FEI President, Princess Haya.
Consequence: the FEI is now faced with a blank page. A new call for projects will be launched very soon. With the hope of seeing at least two countries embark on the adventure. Vienna, a moment of temptation, but forfeit last January, should not be one of them. Conversely, Bromont should try its luck once again. “ We will continue to work to obtain this financial support from the authorities », assured Roger Deslauriers.
As a reminder, the next World Equestrian Games will take place in 2014 in Normandy. The previous ones took place in 2010 in the American city of Lexington, Kentucky.
Photo: Rinaldo de Craen / FEI
