PISA BECOMES GLOBAL WITH THE LONGINES FEI ENDURANCE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2021

8 May 2021 – Two weeks before the start of the Longines FEI Endurance World Championship 2021, planned for May 22nd at San Rossore in Pisa, the chefs d’équipe of the Federations of the countries competing made official the names of the horses and riders (56% men and 44% women) who will compete over the 160 kilometres of the course created inside the San Rossore Estate. Representing all 5 continents, there will be 32 countries of which 13 also competing for the team titles, ready at the start at 7am on Pisa’s racecourse.

THE BEST HORSES AND RIDERS IN THE WORLD WILL BE COMPETING

The definitive entries sent by the various National Federations have confirmed the top level of competitors taking part in the Longines FEI Endurance World Championship 2021. Most attention will be concentrated on the current world champion, Spain’s Jaume Punti Dachs, riding to defend the title he won in 2016 in Samorin (Slovakia). He will be challenged by the best riders in the world, first among them his wife Maria Alvarez Ponton, World Champion in 2008 in Terengganu (Malesia) and in 2010 in Lexington (United States). Spain’s Alex Luque Moral and Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa (Bahrain), respectively Silver and Bronze medallists at the 2016 World Championships in Samorin are also hot favourites.

32 NATIONS REPRESENTED

Pisa and Tuscany are preparing to welcome delegations from Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, France, Germany, Hungary, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, Oman, Portugal, REF, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America and Uruguay.

THE INTERNATIONAL EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION (FEI)

“We appreciate all the efforts of the Organisers and the Italian Equestrian Federation, who have done everything possible in such a short time frame, to create a beautiful event in the unique setting of the San Rossore racecourse. It has been a huge challenge but with a world class line up of athlete and horse combinations, we are ready for this fantastic event and looking forward to great sport”, said Christina Abu-Dayyeh, who joined the FEI as Endurance Director in April 2021.
“Whilst it was an enormous disappointment having to postpone the 2020 edition of the Longines FEI Endurance World Championships due to the ongoing impact of Covid-19, this has only increased our passion to make these Championships even more spectacular in 2021”.

THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE 

“While preparation of the field of play and the course proceeds incessantly – explains Gianluca Laliscia, CEO and Chairman of Sistemaeventi.it and a member of the Organising Committed –  not only San Rossore, but also the city of Pisa and Tuscany seem to have come back to life. In spite of the problems caused by the pandemic, we are ready to safely welcome the delegations coming here to compete from all over the world, well-aware of the fact that this great event will have an important economic effect on the tourism and hospitality sector, estimated as amounting to between 8 and10 million euros.”

GRAND OPENING CEREMONY LIVE ON TV THE WEB AND SOCIAL NETWORKS

In addition to achieving the best sporting result, everyone’s objective will be that of sending a message of hope, resilience, pride and a sharing of the great sports values that are the foundations of the FEI Endurance World Championship 2021. For this event in San Rossore it will be possible to rely on incomparable television coverage also broadcast on the web and social networks. The first event will be the opening ceremony planned for Thursday May 20th at 9.30 pm in Pisa’s historic centre, in the evocative Piazza dei Cavalieri outside the historic seat of the Scuola Normale Superiore. The spectacular inaugural event for the Longines FEI Endurance World Championship 2021 will be broadcast live on FEI TV, on Unire sat (channel 220 in the Sky package), on 50 Canale, on the Italian Equestrian Sport’s Federation’s webpage www.fise.it  and on the event’s official website www.ewc2021.com as well as on the @endurancelifestyle Facebook page. There will be extensive detailed coverage, with 15 hours live on FEI TV, including on Saturday May 22nd, the grand day of the Longines FEI Endurance World Championship 2021, so as to take this event and its leading competitors to every corner of the world and ensure that supporters and fans unable to be here in person will be able to watch the championship.