Source:  News Release

On the road to 2014 – the halfway mark !

If 2011 was spent getting the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy project off the ground, then 2012 saw the Organising Committee kick-starting the operational phase of the biggest equestrian sporting and cultural rendezvous around. Thanks to the concerted effort of all the different departments, the project timetable unveiled in 2011 began to take shape.

The sports team is now firmly in place, drawing on the experience of eight discipline managers, all working closely with officials at the Fédération Equestre Internationale. With only two years to go before the opening ceremony, the FEI has already validated the overall organisation of the different competitions. Under the watchful eye of the Layout, Logistics and Operations department, work to the Le Pin National Stud’s cross-country track has reached completion. The department has also selected the sports flooring service providers.

Significant headway has been made with regards to hospitality services for the public: 45,000 rooms have been booked for accredited persons.Tourism professionals across the region are getting ready to provide the public with high-quality accommodation, at the very best prices.Four partners – Ouest-France, PMU, Equidia Life and Ekkia- have also joined ranks with the public stakeholders. Their arrival has brought added support and will help to extend the reach of the event in the future.

The commercial, marketing and communication departments, not to mention the competition venues and event entertainment/activities management teams have all been working non-stop. They have finalised the ticketing policy, merchandising strategy, the creation of new communication materials, and the launch of 14 operational planning cycles… In addition, an event timetable has been agreed upon and an artistic and cultural consultant for the Games has been appointed.

As we reach the half-way mark, the pace is now being stepped up and the Organising Committee remains focused on its objectives.

The coming year will see imagined technical options become reality ; work at the competition sites will be either started or continued, both before and after the test trials scheduled this autumn.

The first tickets will go on sale.

The region’s role in the event will start to become clear,thanks to our continued close interaction with the public and with the arrival of the very first volunteers.  The technical teams will be doubled during this period, having a positive knock-on effect on the organisation process. This new development will increase the amount of interaction between all the public stakeholders involved. It isn’t too early to get ready after all!

In 2014, the Organising Committee will transfer to the different competition sites for the last leg of the organisational period.

But for now, let’s concentrate on 2013 and on making a success of all the opportunities that lie ahead!

London Calling

On 20 December 2012, that’s to say 612 days before the event, Fabien Grobon, the Normandie 2014 Organising Committee’s managing director, was invited to join Alltech, the event’s title sponsor. During a joint press conference at the prestigious Olympia- London International Horse Show, Fabien Grobon gave a progress report on the organisation of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy.

The international equestrian media were informed about the organisation of the largest sporting event to take place in France before Euro 2016. 

Fabien Grobon outlined 2012’s achievements and gave details of future projects. It was also the opportunity for him to talk about the upcoming test trials, the entertainment programme, the WEG Village… He also addressed the organisational aspects or particularities of such an event in France and how Normandy was suited to the challenge. At the same time, Clare Fahey, marketing manager for equine and animal products at Alltech, unveiled the “Equine Hero” community. The campaign*, launched by the multinational on the same day, shines the spotlight on hard-working, under-recognised members of the equine community.

*(equinehero.com and facebook/equinehero)

Alltech also laid out its strategy as title sponsorfor the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy. A key feature will be the development of an exclusive partnership programme. The brand plans to select the fifty leading feed and animal and health nutrition companies from around the world. It will then provide them with the right to use Alltech Official Partner brand marks linked to the Games. These companies will also be offered unparalleled public relations support on the event.

On a sporting note, the public were certainly not disappointed with the traditional « Alltech Puissance » competition.  It was none other than the Olympic jumping team medal-winner, Ben Maher, who triumphed with his impressive jump over a 2.15 metre high wall. Riding the French horse « Noctambule Courcelle », the British athlete sealed the perfect entente cordiale with our managing director. You can imagine how proud he was to be there at the medal ceremony!

Photo caption: Fabien Grobon, managing director of the Normandie 2014 Organising Committee, Catherine Keogh – world marketing director, Patrick Charlton – vice-president Europe- Photo credits: Kit Houghton

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