JUMPING LONG & SHORT TERM VISION JOHN E. MADDEN 30 April 2nd May 2012 Lausanne, Switzerland
JUMPING 30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 2
JUMPING LONG & SHORT TERM VISION JOHN E. MADDEN 30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 3
We are in a luxury crisis Growth of the sport has created a need to grow the vision Thanks to all that have worked, invested and sweat to put us in this position The vision must honor tradition while encouraging growth Tradition of horsemanship (horse welfare) Tradition of sport Tradition of Olympic ideals We should recognize, embrace and promote that the equestrian sports in the Olympics are unique We maintain the Olympic ideal for the human athlete, but also the horse Growth in new and developing regions Growth in the strongest regions These may be different but not opposing 30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 4
Where we are and why we are here from the point of view of governance Due to growth, we performed in the J.C and Jumping Department a bit of a patchwork fix to many challenges. Challenges have been addressed on an individual basis The J.C and Jumping Department feel we need to address the discipline on the whole. We have identified main areas of concern that have been sent back to committee or working groups over and over but have not been resolved 30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 5
We have identified 5 categories of challenges that must be faced Series Categorization of events and event quality Date Clashes and Calendar Structure Rankings Invitations/Pay Cards/Wild Cards 30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 6
We trust that solutions are possible but only in 2 ways 1. Look at the challenges as a whole since they are all indeed interrelated 2. Develop and follow a vision (short and long term) GOAL: Understandable, inclusive, honest, reliable, transparent Horse Sport while maintaining tradition and welcoming growth for: Enthusiasts (FEI, Federations, horsemen, riders, organizers, owners), Fans, Sponsors, Media 30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 7
Goal: Understandable, inclusive, honest, reliable, transparent Horse Sport while maintaining tradition and welcoming growth for: Enthusiasts (FEI, Federations, horsemen, riders, organizers, owners), Fans, Sponsors, Media Event Classification System 6 levels of ECS Complete evaluation of events will control pay cards, financial security and quality control Eventual evaluation of all * levels, starting at the 5* level Offer opportunity for all types of events FEI Calendar Designed by FEI for Sport Reasons and licensing events of all star levels in all regions of the world Sport includes realizing the limitations of top horse/rider combinations and the need for entry level events FEI Event Licenses Granted based on calendar and ECS Championships Date Protection 5* No Clash with 5* regionally 4* Open Market 3* Open Market 2* Open Market 1* Open Market Rider Ranking List Points earned are tied to star rating of events when all star levels are being evaluated Save Horses Keep good riders up Send weak riders down Bring strong new riders up Invitation System Develop a system of invitations for each star rating 30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 8
5 Categories to be presented Categorization of events and event quality John Madden Calendar Competitions should be allowed and dates should be free with the exception of the Olympic and Pan- Am Games, the World and Continental Championships and the FEI World Cup Final. Invitation System Marco Fusté The CSI5* invitation system works satisfactorily, the main problems are with the CSI3*/4* events as the OCs have too much flexibility. A transparent invitation system for CSI3*/4* events must be established with the current four sections: top athletes, home athletes, OC invitations and FEI invitations. Rankings Marco Fusté The main goal is to have a fair point system and in the long term once the ECS is in place, all events in the same category would offer the same points. Series Ingmar De Vos will introduce, including proposal for FEI Nations Cup The current format is unsustainable and too Eurocentric. The long-term goal is to make this a global series which allows any NF the chance to become the Nations Cup Champion. 30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 9
Event Classification - ECS 30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 10
1 st Category Categorization of events and event quality Introducing the Event Classification System Comprehensive evaluation of events to rank and categorize in a more complete way the ECS is a transparent long term solution (for full implementation in 2017) 30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 11
Cons of the current system include the following: Due to current star system it is against human nature to expect OC to manage revenue by investing in infrastructure, media and sponsor improvement rather than prize money FEI brand is not clear with the only measurement being prize money Minimum prize money per level, rather than a maximum in 4* and 5*, should be used. Prize money should be only a portion of the assignment of Star Rating, not be used solely to define. The eventual goal is to go completely away from prize money as the only criterion to determine the Star Rating. Minimum requirements do not encourage events to improve; excellence must be rewarded Worldwide standards are only achievable if we fully evaluate events based on regional advantages and disadvantages Need a clear path for developing nations with fair play and equal opportunity to go from 1* to the championship level Top horses should be able to compete an appropriate level of high level events and stay on the top of the ranking list Realistic calendar that s honest to fans, media and sponsors Currently have too many shows claiming to be the best and offer the best 30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 12
Goals of the ECS 1. Developing concise, measurable standards. 2. Assessing consistent application of standards. 3. Assessing the performance of the operation and infrastructure/venue. 30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 13
Concept 1/3 Two major information resources Technical Check Compliance with FEI Rules and Standards only: eg Number of Stewards Group Survey Quality Information for all other criteria: eg Quality of Stewarding Self-Assessment (Administered to all 1,500 Events) Routine FEI Reports (for Selected Events/Shows) Data Collection On-Site and/or via Internet 30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 14
Concept 2/3 Survey: Two Primary Evaluation Groups Quality Information Primary Evaluation Groups Riding Teams Enthusiasts Secondary Evaluation Groups Comp. Owners Vendors Sponsors Media 30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 15
Level of ECS Concept 3/3 Championships will not be included as they are subject to a bidding process. Majors Quality Information Star Level 5 Annual Evaluations including all Standards / Criteria Star Levels 1 to 4 Self- Assessment with Periodic Spot-Checks Emphasis on Compliance / Technical Standards 30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 16
Scorecard (example) 30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 17
Timeline FEI Sports Forum FEI General Assembly Corrective measures for 5* events. Development of rankings. 05 / 2012 06 to 09 / 2012 11 / 2012 01 / 2013 01 / 2014 01 / 2015 Initial Tests Evaluation of 5* and selected majors Data complete and able to be used for Event Classification 30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 18
Pros of the Event Classification System Independent evaluation of events FEI gains control and has solid data to work with for the purpose of classifying events Events are classified based on objective criteria, taking into account the concerns of all stakeholders (enthusiasts, fans, media, sponsors) Able to identify strengths and weaknesses of events clearly and use to encourage event development Gives the officials a voice System that allows opportunities for every type of event 30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 19
Further Solutions proposed through the Event Classification System include: Excellence is rewarded through the evaluations Competition for licenses to fill available slots will control event quality Equal worldwide standards because events will be able to be ranked regionally for comparison, as well as worldwide with scores Improvement in the quality of events by identifying the strengths and weaknesses of events and creating worldwide standards and competition between events Categorization of events based not solely on prize money but also on quality control 30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 20
ECS and its relation to the Calendar Competitions should be allowed and dates should be free with the exception of the Olympic and Pan-Am Games, the World and Continental Championships, the FEI World Cup Final and possibly Majors. Free market, supported by clear and understandable data, will give the customers a better ability to choose their schedule. 30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 21
ECS The implications for events not meeting the minimum requirements for their star level will be a lower score in the event s evaluation which may cause the event to drop one or more star levels. However, the ECS will include a provision for arbitration to determine whether a particular issue was beyond an OC s control and if it is deemed serious enough to warrant relegating the event to a lower star level. 30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 22
COSTS Evaluations will be outsourced to a global market research company. The FEI should consider how the evaluation could be funded and included in their budget. Estimation: could cost approximately USD 10 000 15 000 per event, depending on number of events. 30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 23
THANK YOU 30 April - 2 May 2012, Lausanne (SUI) / FEI Sports Forum 24