Olympic Showjumping Begins Sunday

At Markopoulo there is the finest Equestrian Venue in Olympic history, and it is there, beginning on Sunday 22 August, at 9 am, that 77 riders from 27 countries will pitch into the showjumping preliminaries. Among them are Greek champions Petris, Mytilinaiou, Tsatsou, and Athanasiadi. Canada is represented by 'Captain Canada' Ian Millar & Promise Me.

Thomas VELIN (DEN) is to replace Carlos LOPEZ (COL) in the Individual Jumping competition at Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre. The Dane will bring his horse CARNUTE.  The bay stallion had been placed tenth at the Olympic Games in Sydney as well as in this year's World Cup final in Milan.

The jumpers will present 75 horses plus 15 reserve horses for inspection to the Ground Jury. The first horse is out at 17:00.

The equestrian disciplines, and especially the showjumping, are among the most magnificent events on the Olympic menu. They will enthrall the fans lucky enough tobe at what is a quite exceptional Olympic arena, British-designed, admiring, from up close, the riders’ skill and perseverance.

The best horsemen and horsewomen in the world are already in the Markopoulos Equestrian Venue, among them Nick Skelton, Rodrigo Pessoa, Miranda Neto Alvaro, and Ludger Beerbaum.

Spectacular to watch, showjumping is a combination of the rider’s technique and the horse’s powers, as they endeavour to clear a set course of obstacles some of which stand as high as 1.60 metres.

The 45 riders and horses that qualify will compete in the semifinals, on Tuesday 24 August. In the finals, on 27 August, the twenty best will meet to compete for the medals ‘in noble strife’.