[Sport]Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final 2020 in Barcelona canceled

[SougarLord]

The Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup ™ Final 2020 has been canceled. The cancellation is a joint decision taken by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the Royal Spanish Equestrian Federation (RFHE), the Foundation and the Board of Directors of the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona,During the last years of the FEI Nations Cup Final.

 

The conclusion of the final in Barcelona was scheduled for 2-4 October 2020. "We have examined all the scenarios, including playing the final of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup behind closed doors, without spectators, but the combination of the global situation of the pandemic and the continuous restrictions on international travel have unfortunately forced us to jointly make the decision that the final cannot be played in Barcelona as the risks are simply too great, "said FEI President Ingmar De You.

 

“When we announced changes to the final regulations in April, we became cautiously optimistic thinking that even if the series had been the victims of the pandemic, we could have saved the final in Barcelona. Sadly, this has not been possible. ” "Of course, this is devastating news for everyone involved," he said.

 

Hard decision

Above all, the athletes who hoped to compete in the final, for our hosts in Barcelona and, of course, for our main sponsor Longines. However, health and safety have been our top priorities. Although we are all very sad now, we want to return to Barcelona for the final in 2021 ";

 

                                                                          

 

"This difficult decision is very discouraging for our Club, our members and all the people involved," said the president of the RCPB Foundation, Emilio Zegrí. “The Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final is an annual milestone for us, the city of Barcelona and all the national and international spectators who fill the stands year after year.

However, it was important that we make this determination at this time, knowing that a last minute cancellation would have entailed significant expenses for the National Federations in having made travel plans for their riders and horses. Despite this, we want to transmit a positive message of hope as we will redouble our efforts so that the 2021 final unfolds in a remarkable way. ”

 

Regulatory changes

The changes to the 2020 final regulations announced earlier this year, when the pandemic first affected the FEI Calendar, meant that 22 nations would have been invited to compete in the Barcelona final (2-4 October) : ten from Europe, three from North America, two from South America, two from the Middle East, two from Asia / Australasia, one from Africa and Eurasia, plus the host nation.

 

The European Equestrian Federation (EEF) announced in April that due to the global pandemic, the launch of the Longines EEF series was postponed to 2021. Consequently, there will be no promotion or relegation this year, meaning Division 1 will start the season 2021 with the same 10 teams: Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and Sweden.