Tryon International Equestrian Center Gearing Up To Host 2018 World Equestrian Games
Make plans to join the world in western North Carolina for the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018 from Sept. 11 through Sept. 23. Showcasing eight FEI equestrian disciplines — reining, vaulting, dressage, para-dressage, driving, eventing, jumping and endurance — the games will be held at the Tryon International Equestrian Center at the Tryon Resort in Mill Spring, N.C.
The inaugural FEI World Equestrian Games were hosted in Stockholm, Sweden in 1990.
Since then, the games have been staged in The Hague in the Netherlands in 1994; Rome, Italy in 1998; Jerez, Spain in 2002; and Aachen, Germany in 2006.
The first games to be organized outside Europe were held in Lexington, Ky., in 2010, where 57 countries were represented by 800 human athletes and their horses. The games returned to Europe for the 2014 edition in Normandy, France.
The 2018 World Equestrian Games has the potential to be the largest sporting event in North Carolina history with 500,000 attendees expected over the 13-day event next September.
The Tryon International Equestrian Center is busy preparing for a daily attendance of 40,000 to 50,000 people. The 2014 games in Normandy delivered more than $400 million in economic impact, and attracted 984 athletes, 1,234 horses, 74 nations, 1,900 accredited media from 52 countries, and 575,000 spectators.
The global competition is being held at the Tryon International Equestrian Center, a sister venue to Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington.
PBIEC CEO and Managing Partner Mark Bellissimo is also founder and CEO of the Tryon facility. The 1,600-acre equestrian lifestyle destination is a spring, summer and fall haven for eastern and northeastern American equestrian competitors and enthusiasts, and a year-round destination for connoisseurs of diverse cuisine and family entertainment.
The venue currently provides outstanding facilities for hunter/jumper, dressage and eventing competitions, and will host all eight FEI disciplines following the 2018 World Equestrian Games.
With onsite shops, dining, entertainment and plans for more — including the current development of a 50-acre Tryon Village — non-equestrian visitors are equally marveled by the Tryon Resort experience.
From carousel to competition, the mission of the Tryon International Equestrian Center is to celebrate the magic of the horse, grow equestrian sport and increase access to this majestic animal. The 2018 World Equestrian Games builds on this mission with a theme of, “Celebrate the Horse, Celebrate the Sport.”
“The love of the horse is universal and profound,” Bellissimo said. “The games are an incredible stage to show the world how important and valuable this creature is and celebrate our relationship with them.”
The legacy of horse and rider penetrates all of human history. Nearly every facet of life is connected to this extraordinary creature. As partners, horses have discovered with us, transported us, sustained us, worked with us and protected us. As friends, they have mourned with us, healed us, loved us, entertained us, trusted us and comforted us. As athletes, horses have competed with us, won with us and celebrated victory with us. This message is portrayed beautifully in the film “#together” that is featured on the Tryon2018.com web site.
Complementing the unparalleled opportunity to watch the world’s top riders and horses compete is the chance to discover the distinct culture and adventures within the Carolinas region.
The Tryon International Equestrian Center is centrally located within an hour of some of the United States’ top destinations, including Asheville and Charlotte in North Carolina, and Greenville in South Carolina. World Equestrian Games attendees are encouraged to plan excursions to experience the collection of small towns and dynamic cities that surround the venue.
So, make plans to join the global community of horse enthusiasts as we celebrate the horse and celebrate equestrian sport together!
Tickets to the 2018 World Equestrian Games are on sale and can be purchased at www.tryon2018.com, where information about corporate hospitality, accommodations, competition schedules, media credentials and volunteer opportunities can also be found.
