By TIM THORNBERRY
Kentucky Correspondent LEXINGTON, Ky. — In a state where the equine industry is paramount, the horse is about to reach a new status high.
The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) are taking center stage for more than two weeks in an Olympic-type atmosphere at the Kentucky Horse Park, with hundreds of thousands of guests from all over the world expected to attend.
The 16-day competition consists of world championships for eight equestrian sports including dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, jumping, para dressage, reining and vaulting. The WEG is governed by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the international governing body of equestrian sport recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
Like the Olympics, the games are held every four years with the 2010 event marking the first time it has been held outside of Europe. But getting the event here wasn’t done overnight. It has taken years of planning to get to the point of the opening ceremonies, taking place Sept. 25.
The process began in 2004 when then-Gov. Ernie Fletcher made a pitch to FEI for the games. Upon sending a committee to Bahrain in 2005 to make the official bid, he said, “Kentucky is the horse capital of the world. We know that. America knows that. I believe the FEI will recognize that and award the 2010 WEG to America.”
And it did. The announcement came Dec. 6, 2005, and the work began. Since then, a flurry of activity has taken place to prepare, from designing a logo to major construction projects at the Horse Park to accommodate the events.
Perhaps the biggest news concerning the games came in June 2006 with the announcement of Alltech as the title sponsor, a first for the games. Alltech, a world leader in the field of animal nutrition, is headquartered in Nicholasville, Ky. Company President Dr. Pearse Lyons said the FEI Games are world-renowned, world-class events, and that Alltech is proud to be the title sponsor.
The last six years have been spent getting all the components in place for such an event, and has included many things to show off the state for the multitudes who will come from other parts of the world.
Getting ready in tough times
Putting on such an event as the WEG is no easy task logistically or financially. Adding to that is an economy that went south in the middle of all the preparation, but organizers have worked creatively to keep the games on track and to make sure the experience is second to none.
A host or sponsors have signed on to provide everything from equipment for groundskeeping, to ceiling fans for the many venues in the park. The University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture Department of Horticulture recently stepped up to provide plants and ornamentals for decorations.
“Our department recognized how important the games are to this city, to this state,” said Robert Houtz, chair of the department. “We knew we had the resources and dedicated people who could help beautify the games.”
More than 70 container full-grown hydrangeas, 1,000 pots of petunias, several 30-inch pots with varied arrangements, 85 pots of periwinkles, 100 pots of sweet potato vines to layer in other arrangements and a variety of other items harvested from College of Agriculture farms will be going to the games, according to information from UK.
WEG planners have also enlisted the help of some big hitters to help promote ticket sales to the games. UK basketball coach John Calipari has been promoting the games by way of his million-plus followers and friends on Twitter and Facebook. “Our nation will not see a bigger sporting event this year than these Games and I’m thrilled to be able to help show the world how special our state, our region and our University are. I hope to see all of the Big Blue Nation enjoying all the benefits and affordable activities that come with these Games,” Calipari said.
Uniquely Kentucky
As host to the equine world, it stands to reason visitors will get a taste of what Kentucky is all about. An area within the park has been created to do just that.
The “Kentucky Experience” pavilion will feature nearly 25,000 square feet of exhibits, displays, products, entertainment, food and art from throughout Kentucky. The area will include a welcome center, entertainment pavilion, exhibit pavilion and product pavilion, plus a large courtyard, according to information from the Kentucky Department of Travel.
“We are assembling – in one spot – the best of Kentucky for the world to see,” said First Lady Jane Beshear. “Our visitors will be able to walk through ‘The Kentucky Experience,’ find out what’s available in Kentucky and then make plans to visit that specific region of the commonwealth.
“Visitors also will be able to see how bourbon and wine are made, and purchase Kentucky-made products and food. In essence, it is a mini-World’s Fair focusing entirely on all things Kentucky.”
Marcheta Sparrow, secretary of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, said, “Seldom does any city, state or region get an opportunity of worldwide significance as large as the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games. The Kentucky Exper-ience will showcase Kentucky’s assets, not only to those who come to the games, but also to their friends, associates and others who watch from anywhere in the world. That will increase interest – and business – in Kentucky over the long term.”
The games are expected to generate an economic impact of more than $150 million initially, but it is the hope of state and local officials that that number will increase as the impact of the games is realized in the months and years ahead.
For more information about the WEG, visit online www.alltechfeigames.com |
