Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

I think the one issue that Kat did not address is securing the course. In
all future Olympic games security will be paramount. We have already had
terrorist attacks in the Olympics ( '72). The logistics and cost involved
in securing a 100 mile, or even 50 mile course would be almost prohibitive
- especially considering the event would likely not produce much revenue.
>From what I read the security issue is having a major impact on the '04 Olympics
as it is. 

I suspect that security in and of itself will be a major deterrent to endurance
ever being in the Olympics. And yes I think those that see endurance in the
Olympics are in a state of self delusion. The IOC sure doen't want to see
a replay of '72 where the terriorist attact took center stage. 

Truman

Laura Hayes wrote:
> I am not saying I totally disagree with Ms Swagert, or that I wish to see
> endurance as an Olympic sport, but being soooo adamant about certain topics
> lays you open to scrutiny.  Here are some holes in this post that I thought
> of in my pre coffee haze this morning.
>
> > > > > Kat Wrote: 1) For starters, endurance riding is almost totally
> > > > >         
> > > >       
> > >     
> >   
> uninteresting to non-participants<<<<
>
> Interestingly, my webcast said that it was being viewed by almost 45,000
> people - not bad for a first minor effort.
>
> > > > > 2) An endurance ride is a very expensive event to stage.<<<<
> > > > >         
> > > >       
> > >     
> >   
>
> You forget the money thrown into this sport by those who have it.  At WEG,
> it was very apparent who had it and where they wanted it to go - to promote
> and run endurance.  In today's Olympics, money talks, and there is no
> shortage of it among those who wish to speak.
>
> > > > > 4) Sometimes, horses die at endurance rides, and that is a PR nightmare
> > > > >         
> > > >       
> > >     
> >   
> that the IOC wouldn't want go get anywhere near<<<<
>
> Horses die in all events at some time, my thought is that they would just
> sweep it under the rug and not make it public.  There was a near death in
> show jumping at WEG from an exhausted horse - it just wasn't public. I am
> not saying this is right, but I am guess that it is not a huge concern of
> the IOC.
>
> > > > > because he had never ridden the horse before.  It was bred, raised,
> > > > >         
> > > >       
> > >     
> >   
> conditioned, trained, owned,
> handled, and cared for by somebody other than the person who got the
> medal.<<<<<<
>
> Olympic caliber horses in other disciplines are rarely bred, raised, trained
> and handled by the eventual rider.  I can't imagine the IOC gives a hoot
> about this either.
>
> My thoughts are: While I do not care one way or another about endurance
> becoming an Olympic sport (other than then I won't have to explain it so
> much to those who have never heard of it ;-))  I don't believe it will
> impact the way we ride our local rides anymore than the FEI selection
> process does now - certain rides for those few who are seeking that venue.
> I had aspirations in this vein many years ago, but I don't like the
> direction it is going - I was in Spain- but I felt there were some
> inaccuracies in the article I am quoting.  Also my sense of fair play
> doesn't like to see anyone called names...
>
> The bottom line in my mind is MONEY.  The Arabs have it and they are willing
> to spend it to get what they want - I won't be surprised if it works.
>
> Laura Hayes
>
>
>
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