September 21, 2004

Arestote, a 16 year old horse ridden by French rider Valerie Salles, collapsed and died just as it was entering the competition ring to begin the Paralympic dressage competition at the Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Center

Salles had ridden the horse in competition at least since 2001. A preliminary examination has concluded that the horse died instantly of heart failure, but a more detailed investigation continues.

Salles was an equestrian rider thrown from her horse in 1996, and lost the use of both of her legs. She continued to compete in dressage competitions, overcoming a fall and broken arm last year to qualify for the 2004 Paralympic Games.

At the Olympic Games in August, the horse Over and Over, from Belgium ridden by Joris Vanspringel, broke a leg during the cross country portion of the event and had to be euthanized.

July 10, 2004

Kentucky has announced that it will try again to earn the right to host the World Equestrian Games. Kentucky lost out to Aachen, Germany for the 2006 Games.

Declarations of intent to bid are due July 15, with final bids due October 15, 2004. Other bids are expected from Normandy, France; Melbourne, Australia; and the United Arab Emirates.

Spruce Meadows, on the outskirts of  Calgary, Canada, and England have both abandoned bids for this edition of the games, Canada in November of last year, citing the awarding of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games to Vancouver as a conflict, and England earlier this month citing lack of resources and the need to focus on other commitments.

US Equestrian officials looked at six sites around the US before deciding in July of last year, that the Kentucky Horse Park is the only location where all of the WEG events could be held in one place.

The Kentucky bid proposal is expected to include building a $30 million dollar indoor equestrian arena and a 300 room hotel at the Kentucky Horse Park.

The Kentucky Horse Park opened in 1978 and is home to the National Horse Center, the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, the International Museum of the Horse, Hall of Champions, an arboretum, Man O'War Memorial and this month, a memorial to Secretariat will be unveiled.         

Tragedy hits World Transplant Games

July 24, 2003

The local organizing committee of the World Transplant Games in Nancy, France has announced the death of an athlete during competition at the games. The death is the first ever in the games which began in 1978 and have been held annually since 1980.

Alan Ayre, of Great Britain, was competing in the games badminton tournament when he suffered a heart attack and could not be revived.

Ayre was the badminton champion of the last World Transplant Games in Kobe, Japan, and had also been a participant in the games in 1995 in Manchester, England, and 1997 in Sydney, Australia.

Ayre had recovered from a kidney transplant, and had passed the games physical at the beginning of competition.

The mayor of Nancy, Andre Rossinot, sent a message of condolence to the British team and to the family.

Organizers decided to continue the games without postponement stating, "by carrying on the competitions, the values of generosity, of sharing, of the surpassing of oneself, expressed and lived by all since the beginning of the games, will be the best homage that can be given to him."

Games in France 2003

January 2003

France will host two international games during the summer of 2003.

Nancy, France hosts the World Transplant Games July 19-27. The games for athletes that have had life-saving organ transplants should attract at least 1500 participants from over 50 nations.

The European Youth Olympic Festival will be held in Paris, July 29 - August 4. This will be the 7th edition of the biennial games that were begun in Brussels in 1991. 

2005 World Dwarf Games

July 2002

The next World Dwarf Games have been awarded to France. No details have been released.