Top 6 Equestrians Gallop into Riyadh for 2024 FEI World Cup Finals

Top 6 Equestrians Gallop into Riyadh for 2024 FEI World Cup Finals
TT

Top 6 Equestrians Gallop into Riyadh for 2024 FEI World Cup Finals

Top 6 Equestrians Gallop into Riyadh for 2024 FEI World Cup Finals

The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has unveiled the official lineup of participants for the 2024 FEI World Cup Series Finals (Dressage and Jumping), marking the first time these prestigious events will be held in the Middle East, specifically in Riyadh.
The release of the participant list has ignited anticipation and excitement within the equestrian community, as it includes the top six consecutive riders in the world rankings. Leading the pack is Swedish rider Henrik von Eckermann, the reigning titleholder, followed by German rider Isabell Werth, Swiss rider Steve Guerdat, and French riders Julien Epaillard and Kent Farrington, all of whom rank among the top five participants in both dressage and show jumping.
According to SPA, Riyadh is set to host the largest finals in show jumping from April 16th to 20th, with the competitions slated to take place at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center within an indoor arena. The event promises a unique atmosphere, complemented by an area dedicated to accompanying events for sponsors and participants.
The decision to award Saudi Arabia the hosting rights for the world finals was announced by the FEI in November 2019. This milestone marks Saudi Arabia as the 12th country to host the championship since its inception in 1978, as it welcomes the 45th edition of the event.
The finals will feature 34 world-class riders, including three Saudi representatives: Olympic medalist Ramzy Al-Duhami, Khaled Al-Mobty, who earned his spot through exceptional performances in international competitions, and Abdullah Al-Sharbatly, who clinched the Saudi team's bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.



Paralympic Triathlon Events Postponed Because of Poor Water Quality in Seine River

 View of the Seine river where the triathlon competition has been cancelled, during the 2024 Paralympics, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP)
View of the Seine river where the triathlon competition has been cancelled, during the 2024 Paralympics, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP)
TT

Paralympic Triathlon Events Postponed Because of Poor Water Quality in Seine River

 View of the Seine river where the triathlon competition has been cancelled, during the 2024 Paralympics, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP)
View of the Seine river where the triathlon competition has been cancelled, during the 2024 Paralympics, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP)

Paralympic triathlon competitions in Paris scheduled for Sunday have been postponed because of concerns about water quality in the Seine River after heavy rainfall, organizers said.

The 11 para triathlon events are now scheduled for Monday, if upcoming water testing allows, the Paris 2024 organizing committee and World Triathlon said in a joint statement.

Rainstorms hit the French capital Friday and Saturday. Heavy rains cause wastewater and runoff to flow into the river, leading to a rise in bacteria levels including E. Coli.

This is the second scheduled change for the para triathlon events. They had initially been scheduled to take place over two days, Sunday and Monday, but were moved to Sunday because of rain forecasts.

The disruption is another hiccup for the city’s efforts to clean up the river for future public swimming, one of Paris’ most ambitious promises ahead of hosting the Olympics and Paralympics this summer. The men's individual triathlon event during the Paris Olympics was delayed and several test swims were canceled because of high E. coli levels after rainfall.

Some Olympic triathletes fell ill after swimming in the Seine, though it is unclear whether that was linked to the river water.