Lexington, KY - With less than 100 days remaining in the countdown to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, some are already looking ahead to the next edition of the event. In 2014, the Games will return to Europe, making its first appearance in France.
On June 16, delegates from the Normandy region of France met at Alltech's headquarters in Nicholasville, Ky., to discuss their participation in the upcoming Games and their vision as hosts for the seventh Games in 2014.
Phillippe Bonneau, vice president of the Basse-Normandie Regional Council in charge of the 2014 WEG, sees the 2010 Games as an opportunity to promote the connection between Normandy and Lexington. Deauville, an equine-centered town in Lower Normandy, was named a sister city to Lexington in 1957 and mirrors its emphasis on breeding racehorses. Like Kentucky, the Normandy region is its country's leading breeding region, with about 10,000 foals born each year to 8,300 breeders. The equine industry represents 10,000 direct or indirect jobs in Normandy.
Bonneau also counts tourism as a central element to Normandy's economy and connection to the United States, which he says is particularly relevant for this event because the 70th anniversary of D-Day will take place during the 2014 WEG.
According to Bonneau, about 100 representatives from Normandy will be on hand at its booth in the Alltech Experience section at the 2010 WEG as "a symbol to show the ties between Kentucky and Normandy." The representatives will include government officials at the state and city levels as well as businesses showcasing their products, several of which will be equine-related. Since France is also well-known for its cuisine, visitors to the WEG will have an opportunity to sample cheese, chocolates and cookies flown directly from Normandy.
Attendees to the "100 Days to Go" celebration in downtown Lexington on June 17 had the opportunity to sample a few French treats several months early.
"We strongly believe that Americans like French food and want to communicate through food and showcase Normandy," said Bonneau, speaking through an interpreter.
In addition to their presence on site at the WEG, Normandy officials also plan to meet with U.S. breeders to educate them about the French industry and encourage American imports of French horse breeds. They will also meet with U.S. food import officials to discuss a strengthened relationship between Normandy and the United States through food sales.
An equine delegation will sign a convention between the Normandy Equine Industry Competitiveness Cluster (which monitors horse health research, corporate product research and export of horse-related products) and a group of Kentucky researchers, including several with the University of Kentucky, to promote shared equine research projects between the two regions.
October 8, 2010, will be Normandy Night in Lexington, which will give visitors a feel for the next WEG and further showcase activities from the booth at the Alltech Experience.
Throughout the 2010 Games and beyond, French WEG organizers will conduct a scouting and exchange mission with American Games organizers to gain insight into Kentucky's preparation for the Games. Bonneau said that organization of the WEG in Normandy is being conducted unlike it has anywhere else. He describes the financial organization as a "double pyramid," with a finance committee as the base, supporting public funding.
Funding of the 2014 Games will be both public and private, with a little more than half of the needed funds coming from the local, regional and national governments. A public interest group is already in place to create public and private partnerships to raise the remaining 35 percent of funds.
The 2010 World Equestrian Games will be held September 25 through October 10 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. For more information about the 2010 Games, visit http://www.alltechfeigames.com.