Two Kiev, Ukraine Dressage World Cup Events Canceled Due to Coronavirus, First for Horse Shows Outside China
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By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
Two dressage World Cup events in Kiev, Ukraine scheduled for May have been canceled because of concerns over the the outbreak of coronavirus, the organizers reported Monday.
Cancellation of the Central European League event organized by the Equestrian Federation of Ukraine, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Equides Club are the first international horse shows outside of China and its territories known to have been canceled by coronavirus, or what is officially named COVID-19.
Asia Horse Week and the Longines Masters in Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China, scheduled for mid-February were cancelled “as a precautionary measure” based, the organizers said, on guidance from the government.
Iuliia Parkhmenko, the Ukraine event director, confirmed to dressage-news.com the cancellations of the May 1-3 and May 8-10 World Cup events in Kiev.
The events are among 17 qualifiers in the Central European League for the 2020-21 World Cup circuit leading to the Final in Gothenburg, Sweden Mar. 31-April 5, 2021.
Inna Logtenkova, Ukraine’s top combination with Olympics, world and European championships as well as a World Cup on her resume, is based in western Europe. She does, however, compete in international events in her homeland, including Kiev shows in 2018 and 2019.
The International Equestrian Federation issued a statement Jan. 31 advising all National Federations, event organizers and others involved in horse sports to keep themselves informed on coronavirus.
“While the outbreak started in Wuhan in China,” the FEI said at the time, “it has now spread to a number of other countries, resulting in travel restrictions in some areas and the cancellation of major events in China, including some sports fixtures.”
It recommended avoiding non-essential travel to China, avoiding close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections and frequent hand washing and general personal hygiene measures, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment.
The International Olympic Committee and sports federations around the world are closely monitoring coronavirus with the IOC indicating a decision will be made at the end of May on the status of the Games in Tokyo scheduled for July 24-Aug. 9.
