Mike Etherington-Smith, Team Delegates Weigh in on 2016 Olympic Equestrian Venue

Photo by Leslie Wylie.

The world’s most high-profile eventing championship is no easy party to throw. But if this week’s Aquece Rio Olympic test event is any indication, the host site’s game plan is right on track.

Of course, there’s a big difference between a modestly attended 18-horse CIC2* and an international championship with tens of thousands of spectators. The point of the exercise is to watch how the venue, Deodoro’s Olympic Equestrian Centre, handles logical challenges and to test it in action.

As Tim Hadaway, FEI chief coordinator for the Rio Games, explained earlier this week, “They want to be confident that the facilities are in place and that their athletes will have the best possible conditions to perform to their best at the Olympics next year.

“They will be studying everything from the stabling, the bedding, the transport routes and the training areas to the footing of the arena and cross-country course.”

By all appearances the test event is running relatively smoothly and the buzz surrounding the venue is overwhelmingly positive thus far.

Representatives from 16 national federations, including athletes and officials, traveled here to take part in the Observers Programme, which runs concurrently with the test event. After seeing a preview of the cross-country track in action this morning, here’s a survey of their impressions.

Mike Etherington-Smith, course designer for the 2000 and 2008 Olympic Games, TD of the 2004 Games, and course designer of the 2010 World Equestrian Games:

Joanie Morris, USEF managing director for eventing:

Staffan Lidbeck, chef d’equipe for Sweden: 

Clayton Fredericks, 2008 Olympic Games team silver medalist for Australia and current chef d’equipe for Canada: “It’s in a very good state. I think it will be a great Games. There is plenty of coverage of grass and the ground is in good order.”

Looking up a green galloping lane being prepared for the Games. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Nick Turner, former international British eventer and current performance manager for Ireland: “I am very optimistic that is is going to be a good Games. The infrastructure is here now and there is nothing serious, nothing worrying.”

The stabling area is utilitarian but just look at that backdrop! Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Marius Lips, chef d’equipe for the Netherlands: “The course is awesome. The footing is very good and there is irrigation everywhere, so they can keep it to the right level. There is a lot of space. When all the flags are up for the Games, it will be beautiful here. It’s a pity we couldn’t come with the horses. The traveling was really difficult and expensive.”

A table being built for the Games. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Antonius Van der Headen, team performance director for the Netherlands: “The one thing I am worried about is the new road from Deodoro to the Olympic Village — it has to be finished. It will be chaotic if not.”

Construction of the new road connecting the Deodoro with the Olympic Village. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

The Olympic track has more terrain than the CIC2* Aquece Rio Test Event track but it’s flowing and fair — and beautiful. Photo by Leslie Wylie.

And last but not least…

Chinch, international eventing celebrity and American Olympic hopeful: “Hey Pierre, whaddya think about making this ditch-and-wall you’re working on a little narrower?”

Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Photo by Leslie Wylie.

Go Eventing.

[Aquece Rio Test Event Website]