The Kentucky Horse Park - As the world's economy fluctuated since the 2006 World Equestrian Games commenced in Aachen, Germany, organizers of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington feared a decline in the number of participating countries.
Despite the hard times of 2008 and recent European woes, however, the same number of teams that competed four years ago in Germany will defend their flags starting in 140 days at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Even Greece, with its current economic peril, has signed-on for The Games.
In all, 60 countries will send around 800 athletes ranging from a single endurance rider representing Namibia to a handful of countries including the US and Great Britain which will have participants in all eight disciplines.
"If there was any doubt this was going to be a worldwide event, I think that just got dispelled (by this list)," said John Long, CEO of the United States Equestrian Federation.
While the Games organizers didn't have a list of the countries that would be competing for the first time in the Games this year, Long said 2010 will see the largest contingent ever to be represented from Central and South America.
"We're pleasantly surprised," Games CEO Jamie Link said about the number of countries at a Horse Park press conference Friday morning. "We've had concerns about the global economy and how it might affect the teams coming here to Kentucky, but obviously from these entries in principle, I think we've seen there is still great interest and great intention to be here."
In all, the Games organizers expect to see some 800 athletes participate in the September 25 through October 10 world championships that will double as a qualifier for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
The countries that have indicated participation are:
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Belgium
Bermuda
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
China
Columbia
Costa Rica
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Finland
France
Germany
Great Britain
Greece
Guatemala
Hungary
India
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Lebanon
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Mexico
Namibia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Paraguay
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Slovakia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uruguay
Venezuela