Denmark to host the FEI World Championships in 2022

When the world's best riders compete at the World Championships in dressage, para-dressage, jumping, and vaulting in 2022, it will be in Herning, Denmark. FEI, The International Equestrian Federation, just announced Denmark as host. Denmark was up against strong bids from Rome and Saudi Arabia.

The World Championships in dressage, para-dressage, jumping, and vaulting in 2022 will be the greatest international equestrian championship in Denmark ever, and Denmark plans to create a festive celebration of the sport.

- You have to think big; otherwise, you never achieve great things. Just think about what it means for Danish equestrian sports that we will host the biggest equestrian event on Danish soil. The value speaks for itself, and we are excited about this great opportunity. Thanks to Sport Event Denmark, Herning Municipality, Casper Cassøe, and Jens Trabjerg, we will have a unique collaboration that vouches for world-class. We are looking forward to getting started, says the Danish Equestrian Federation's president, Ulf Helgstrand.

The World Championships will be staged in the MCH Arena and Messecenter Herning, where both the FEI European Championships 2013 and the annual Danish World Cup have previously been staged.

The Danish Equestrian Federation, Herning Municipality, Sport Event Denmark, and the World Championships organization have the experience and the framework to make the event world-class.

The event is expected to attract thousands of international spectators, who traditionally will stay several days during the event.

- We are extremely excited. The Danish bid has great relevance to the Danes, and the sport and Denmark have vast experience in these disciplines. The new bid process allows for the sustainable and cost-effective use of existing equestrian sports facilities, which is what we intend to do in Denmark. We look forward to hosting the international and the Danish spectators, says Lars Lundov, chief executive, Sport Event Denmark.

- We are thrilled by this news. As a city we are accustomed to having many visitors, and we always enjoy their company. As the Danish hub for large equestrian events, and more than 100.000 annual guest for existing equestrian events, we are ready to build on our experience from i.e. the 2013 FEI European Championships, and the annual World Cup, and we look forward to once again hosting the international equestrian community, says Lars Krarup, Mayor of Herning Municipality.

- Today has been long awaiting the decision. When we got the message, we were touched, and super proud. We are looking forward to getting started. It is a tremendous honor, and we can only take on that responsibility because we have great support both financially and from the many volunteers. We are delighted with the awarding from FEI. We cannot thank Herning Municipality and Sport Event Denmark enough for their support throughout the process. Now, we will go to work mode, says Casper Cassøe and Jens Trabjerg from the World Championships organization.

In 2013, there was a European Championship in dressage, para-dressage, and jumping in Herning, where Denmark received a lot of international and national recognition. It was the start of the World Cup Herning, which today is a party for all horse enthusiasts, and is staged every year during the school's autumn holidays. This year with Danish Cathrine Dufour and Bohemian as World Cup winners.

Equestrian sports are extremely popular in Denmark, where horseback riding is the 7th largest sport under the Danish Sports Confederation and National Olympic Committee, and riding is one of the few sports where men and women compete equally.

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