The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) held their 2013 General Assembly in Montreux (SUI), 7 November. The quorum consisted of 99 National Federations: 77 represented in person and 22 by proxy.
The FEI General Assembly acts as a platform for discussions and voting on the major decisions of the FEI and the governance of the sports disciplines worldwide. Elections are held and decisions are taken, by vote, on changes to FEI Statutes, long-term strategies, FEI budgets and important equestrian matters. Each National Federation has a right to cast a vote.
One of the decisions at this year’s General Assembly was to approve the qualification system for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. A vote on a proposal introduced by the British Equestrian Federation was taken. According to this proposal, the individual qualification places in the Completion of Quota category are made open to all nations including those that have qualified a team of four. No nation can send more than five athletes. The allocation of Completion of Quota places is based on the FEI Paralympic Athletes Individual Ranking List. The proposal was approved.
The qualification system for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will be amended to reflect the GBR proposal and will be sent for final approval to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and will then be published on the FEI website.
Keith Taylor, Chairman of the British Equestrian Federation commented:
“We have always fully supported the motion that a qualifying team at the Paralympic Games should consist of four riders. However, we also strongly believed that there should be an additional opportunity for nations to attain a further individual qualification so that they may be represented in all five grades if good enough. We welcome this revision to the new FEI qualification procedure which enables qualification for up to five riders. Quite rightly, qualification for the fifth rider will not be easy but we believe the new system will be fair for everyone and balances inclusivity with getting the best to the Games.”
A summary of the main decisions taken by the General Assembly are outlined on the FEI website here: http://www.fei.org/sites/default/files/GA13%20-%20wrap%20up%20report-7Nov2013.pdf