Gothenburg, Sweden to Bid for 2018 WEG
15 years ago StraightArrow Comments Off on Gothenburg, Sweden to Bid for 2018 WEG
GOTHENBURG, Sweden, June 4–The city of Gothenburg announced Friday it plans to bid to host the World Equestrian Games in 2018, returning the global event of international horse sports held once every four years to Sweden where the first WEG was held in 1990.
Gothenburg’s announcement follows that of Wellington, Florida, which announced in winter that it plans to bid for the 2018 Games.
Plans for the Gothenburg bid will be drawn up by Göteborg & Co and Got Event, the city’s event companies, with support of the Swedish Equestrian Federation.
The Göteborg Horse Show has been hosting World Cup competitions in jumping, dressage and four in hand driving in the Scandinavium Arena since 1987.
“Gothenburg now wants to make use of all the experiences gathered during the years, not least from a number of FEI World Cup Finals in jumping, dressage and driving,” the organizers said in a statement announcing the bid.
All the venues are within walking distance within the city boundaries and, the organizers said, its aim is to make the city “savior of horses.”
“We want the whole city to be part of the event,” Svante Hjertén, Director of Events at Göteborg & Co. said. “Our ambition is to make the WEG 2018 a fantastic and unique event for all of the equestrian family. Our plan is to make use of the existing major outdoor arenas in the city, as Ullevi Stadium, as well as Scandinavium Arena.”
Göteborg & Co and Got Event will now prepare a study for WEG 2018 before presenting the bid.
“We support the plan for a World Equestrian Game in Sweden and are looking forward to a further presentation from Gothenburg,” Bo Helander, president of the Swedish Equestrian Federation, said.
WEG this year is being held in Kentucky and in 2014 in Normandy, France.
