Equestrian event a runaway hit: 30,000 spectators fill the Bird’s Nest
The 2013 Longines Equestrian Beijing Masters held from April 18 to 20 at the Beijing National Stadium (Bird's Nest) has successfully come to an end, leaving the audience with some unforgettable memories.
The event, organized by the Chinese Equestrian Association, has been built up to an equestrian event of international standards thanks to the collaborative efforts of Dashing Equestrian, well-known organizer of CHIO Aachen, Aachener Reitturnier GmbH, and Ludger Beerbaum, a four-time Olympic Gold-winning equestrian. The renowned Swiss watchmaker, Longines, continued to act as the event's official timekeeper. The event aims to promote the culture of equestrian sport and demonstrate to the world the unique fusion between tradition and modernism that represents the city of Beijing.
In the disciplined sport of equestrianism, tacit understanding and cooperation between horse and rider stand as the essential skills. Both the rider and his or her horse are athletes in a competition. "To be one with the horse" is the highest pursuit for the competitive sport. The subtle communication between horses and their riders, their perfectly timed technique and meticulous control are essential to performing.
These elements also create the aesthetic beauty of equestrianism. Before the event, Ludger Beerbaum was especially looking forward to once again experiencing the atmosphere of the Bird's Nest.
"As an Olympic rider, I had the fortune of experiencing the 2008 Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony. It is an excellent experience to perform in the incredible stadium," he said.
This year's event incorporated a sand pit in the Bird's Nest for the first time. Special guests included Stephan Hellwig, the Chief Jury of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports, as the Chief Jury for this year's event. Audiences were treated to performances from 12 internationally distinguished riders hailing from nine different countries.
After three days of intense competitions, Laura Kraut with her horse U-Prova leapt over the last obstacle and won the Grand Prix of the competition.
Presenting the highest level of China's professional equestrian events, the 2013 Longines Equestrian Beijing Masters attracted more than 30,000 people to the Bird's Nest, with around 1,000 celebrities and 200 members of the media in attendance.
People from all professions said they rated the 2013 competition highly. Wang Wei, vice president of the Chinese Equestrian Association said that the event proved to be "on a first-class level."
On the final night of the competition, Chinese Equestrian Association Secretary General Li Nianxi, Global Longines Vice President Juan-Carlos Capelli, Longines Vice President Li Li, Dashing Equestrian President Li Jing and other distinguished guests attended the gala dinner.
While maintaining performances at a professional standard, this year's Longines Equestrian Beijing Masters also managed to merge elements of fashion, fitness and entertainment. The event's photo contest invited many photography enthusiasts to capture the momentous occasion and to help promote equestrian sport culture.
Global Times