I do have a dream, one that I have never voiced publicly in writing before. One of the key reasons I have never expressed this dream publicly is because of my vocal and sometimes extremely frank criticisms of the measures in place for Eventing Safety. I figure that my dream may be a great noose around my neck to help stymy my public comments in the future.
Just this week there was a document with a series of questions sent out to all Eventing Officials asking us to comment on some issues in the sport and the FEI. One area got me thinking pretty hard. Since then I have been working hard scouring the internet for data to back up my thoughts.
Below is part of the document sent out to officials by the IEOC, for a full copy click here.
5. Is there anything fundamentally wrong with the sport at present e.g:
- The present age restriction on FEI Eventing officials: i.e. ‘compulsory’ retirement after the year of their 70th birthday?
- Appointment of officials for Eventing Championships – who is responsible and is it a fair system at present …?
- Should there be a clear structure – with transparency – for these important appointments?
All three of these points interest me highly but number two, really got up my nose.
Why? Well it seems that one of the key selection criteria for appointing officials to major championships (Olympic Games and World Equestrian Games), is having been born in Europe (incl the UK). Even more so if you want to be President of the Ground Jury (PGJ), a TD or CD.
The stats show, if you have done it once, you are quite likely to do it at least twice and in some cases three or four times. What does it matter? Well, if our riders from outside of Europe can be at the top of their game and bring home medal hauls, what says our officials are not of equal calibre?
Who is the judge of that and who makes the decisions? This is the crux of one of the big questions, no-one knows or at least no-one is prepared to talk publicly about it. Work hard, be good and perhaps if you are outside Europe you may get a token role.
I note that at the recent WEG held in the USA, the President of the Ground Jury was American Marilyn Payne. Marilyn is the first non-European to head a Ground Jury at least as far back as Los Angeles in 1984. This is by no means a token role and I congratulate Marilyn for earning and achieving the role but it must be said that this is an exception to the rule.
For TDs we need to go back to Sydney 2000 to find a Kiwi TD, Jennifer Miller. The next previous occurrence of an non-European TD was Ewen Graham of Canada in 1988 and 1984.
Please note: I was unable to find any records for WEG at Stockholm 1990 and The Hague 1994.
So what do we need to do to re-balance the whole situation?
I don’t know, perhaps it is a question of ensuring more officials from across the globe, get invited to do events within Europe and be exposed to the decision makers. Perhaps an independent panel representing all Continents might work? Something needs to change.
What I do know is the numbers during the period from 1984 to 2010. A total of 78 medals were awarded at WEG or Olympic Games in Eventing. Of those 25 or 32% were won by riders from Down-Under (Aus & NZ), 12 or 15% by North Americans (USA & Can) and the remaining 41 or 53% by Europeans.
During the same period if you look at the FEI Appointed President of the Ground Jury, Technical Delegate and Course Designers, then the numbers are grave! Roger Haller from the USA holds the honor of being the only non-European to have designed a cross country course for a WEG or Olympics since Neil Ayer at Los Angeles in 1984 and there hasn’t been one since.
Simply there were 33 PGJ, TD or CD roles in the 11 Championships I could find details for. Of the total 33 only six were non-Europeans. One from Down-Under and five from North America. A stunning 82% of the most senior official roles in our sport were held by Europeans. I have not done an analysis on the four star events but I am confident that these findings will hold true with a wider base.
Please don’t think I am bashing on Europeans, in fact I am half English and half German. What I am criticizing is an obvious imbalance and priority given to European officials over all others. Whether deliberate or not, it is real.
As for the compulsory retirement at the age of 70 years old. Personally, I believe this is essential. Not because I believe that people are necessarily past their used-by date, but purely we must find more ways to encourage the new generation of officials.
I am in my thirties and one of the few FEI officials under 50 let alone under 40. To be a TD costs me and my family both in money and time. I get a little support from Equestrian Australia and have been lucky enough to have the support of the FEI as part of the Global Education Program, but it still is not a cheap pursuit to be a volunteer.
Our older and more experienced officials are often retired or semi retired. Time and money is easier for these guys and girls. Many can afford to cover their own costs, which is great for events but not so good for us younger and less financially independent officials.
So what is my dream? Simple, I want to be the TD at the Olympic Games. Unfortunately now that I have written this story, I probably have a higher chance of winning an individual gold medal at an Olympic games.
Pretty sure I won’t get one of those red or blue jackets now.
Here is a copy of the table I prepared on the list of Officials for all the events I could get info on.
Yours in Eventing,
ESJ
