The FEI World Equestrian Games™, held every four years in the middle of the Olympic cycle, starts on September 11th at the Tyron International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, NC. There is something here for everyone: All FEI disciplines are represented – Jumping, Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage, Eventing, Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining.
Right now, horses are arriving from all over the world.
So, how can you watch?
If you have a TV package, NBC Sports will broadcast nearly 65 hours of FEI World Equestrian Games™, including a record 57 live hours, beginning Wednesday, Sept. 12. Live coverage begins with the dressage team and individual grand prix Sept. 12 at 2 pm. ET on Olympic Channel Home of Team USA, and continues with the endurance team and individual ride at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN. The event culminates on Sunday, Sept. 23, with live coverage of the jumping individual third competition at Noon ET on NBC, followed by the driving cones test at 1:30 p.m. ET on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA. You can see the full schedule of coverage here.
I sure in heck hope this time, the Games aren’t soaked in advertising, like it was for the 2010 games blitzed by Alltech. It was disgusting. The stuff was EVERYWHERE. Alltech was relentless in their pursuit of every last cent in your pocket. Even the prepackaged foodstuffs had stickers saying Alltech. Never mind the fact that it was overpriced and wasn’t very good. $4.50 for a bag of M&M’s?? Crazy. I remember hearing someone say, I can’t believe they spent all this money bringing the Games to the US, and then serve Horse Show Food. I think the worst of it was the airplane, circling over the Kentucky Horse Park allllllll day, towing a banner saying Alltech. I mean, c’mon…we’re THERE. At the Games sponsored by Alltech…why have the plane? When the audience was silent, watching the Dressage, all you could hear was the monotonous drone of the airplane.
That all being said, still…I had a ball. It was Disneyland for Horse People, only without the cartoon characters. Fabulous.
I just hope the rain doesn’t cause too many problems. I’m really glad that Florence was downgraded but there will still be a lot of water. The issues with the FEI endurance race were terrible — and the “track” that was made looked horrible, especially with all the mud. Here’s hoping that it improves.
I hope you’re right, Liz, but..I don’t think you are. I’ve seen weather like this. Admittedly, it was a typhoon, but a hurricane and a typhoon are the same thing, merely different oceans. I think the most worrisome thing is that Tryon is, from what I understand, at the base of the hills/mountains. I see mudslides, landslides, roaring water courses…it’s not going to be pretty.
I just hope there are no drownings.