“A team competition for EEF Countries”

to replace Division 2 as part of the LONGINES FEI Nations Cup Series

THIS PRESENTATION

This presentation is prepared to provide the General Assembly and the Board of the EEF an insight and understanding of a new concept for a Team Competition for national teams from EEF member NFs in a form of a series in stages.

This competition will replace the Nations Cup Division 2 and will still be part of the LONGINES FEI Nations Cup Series.

ABOUT THE EUROPEAN EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION (EEF)

The EEF was formed in 2009 to address equestrian sport matters of European interest and to increase the influence of the European NFs within the FEI.

In 2018 the FEI Groups I & II were merged into the: EEF Regional Group, which now includes and represents 38 European NFs.

MISSION OF THE EEF

● To develop and promote the equestrian sports across Europe. ● To support European regions in upgrading the level of equestrian sports. ● To improve communication between all stakeholders in the European equestrian sports. ● To protect the equestrian sports by ensuring and promoting the highest Standard of Horsewelfare.

The EEF will achieve the above in close co-operation with European NFs, the FEI and representative European Stakeholders.

THE NEW EEF TEAM COMPETITION CONCEPT

This is a concept for a European Team Competition series in Jumping TO BRING TOGETHER all European NFs, riders and stakeholders.

It has an initial duration of five (5) years to allow enough time to create and establish a succesfull, sustainable and enduring product and system.

GOALS OF THE TEAM COMPETITION IN JUMPING

● To create an attractive and exciting competition specifically targeted at 3* level National teams in Jumping, where teams from all EEF NFs have a reasonable chance to compete on par level.

● To develop this team competition between all European countries (Division 1 and Division 2) and make it the most talked-about jumping competition in the annual calendar for Europe.

● To reactivate and enhance national team spirit and competition and to help teams/riders/horses prepare for future Championships.

● To offer a platform for upcoming European Riders and NFs for their development in the Jumping sport.

● To encourage European owners to invest in younger horses for the teams and OCs to organize shows.

● To motivate and engage all stakeholders , media and audience in the European Jumping sport. THE TEAM COMPETITION IN SUMMARY

● Only teams from EEF member NFs are eligible to take part in the Team Competition and win it. ● Combinations of rider/horse from Division1 NF’s that have competed in a CSIO 5* in the current calendar year are not allowed to compete in the EEF Euro League. ● The Team Competition series consists of 8 Regional Qualifiers (RQs), 2 Semi-Finals (SFs) and the Final. ● EEF NFs are divided in 4 Regions for regional qualification purposes. There are 2 RQs in each Region. ● Teams qualifying from RQs take part in one of two SFs (as designated below). ● Teams qualifying from SFs take part in the Final. ● Winner of the Final is promoted to Division 1 of next calendar year.

THE TEAM COMPETITION STAGES Winner

FINAL Division 1

SEMI-FINALS

REGIONAL QUALIFIERs REGION SOUTH (12 countries) – Turkey – Greece – Bulgaria – Romania – Montenegro – Albania – Serbia – North Macedonia – Bosnia Hercegovina – Moldavia – Ukraine

REGION CENTRAL (9 countries) – – Slovakia – Hungary – Czech Republic – Austria – Slovenia – Croatia – Liechtenstein

REGION NORTH (9 countries)

Norway – – Finland – Denmark – – Estonia – Latvia – Lithuania – Israel

REGION WEST (8 countries) – – Luxembourg – – – Portugal – Ireland – UK

REGIONAL QUALIFIERS - RQs (2 per Region)

● The RQs will be at 2*- 3* level. ● Teams have to compete in both RQs in their Region to get points to qualify for the SFs. ● The best five (5) placed teams in a Region will go to the designated SF. ● Points are allocated according to the existing Division 2 Nations Cup points system. ● The time between each RQ in the same Region will have to be a minimum of 2 weeks ● The number of teams competing in RQs is freely determined ● RQs are open to NFs outside the EEF, provided NFs from the respective EEF Regions are guaranteed a starting place SEMI-FINALS – SFs (2)

● The SFs will be at 3* level. ● Each SF will have ten (10) teams and is reserved only for teams from EEF NFs. ● The five (5) best placed teams from Regions South and Central will qualify for SF 1. The five (5) best placed teams from Regions North and West will qualify for SF2. ● In case of non-participation of a qualified team in a SF, such team is replaced by the every-time next team in the points in the same Region. ● In case of non-participation of five (5) teams from one REGION in a SEMI-FINAL, the vacant places are filled by teams from the other Region in the same SEMI-FINAL according to their points.

FINAL (1)

● The FINAL is at 4* level ● Ten (10) Teams compete in the Final, which is reserved only for teams from EEF NFs. ● The winning team will be promoted to NC Division 1 for the next calendar year, unless such winning team comes from an NF eligible to compete in Division 1 in the next calendar year. In such case, it will be the each time next ranked team in the Final promoted to Division 1, provided always it does not come from an NF eligible to compete in Division 1 in the next calendar year. ● In case the winning team comes from the same NF relegated in the current calendar year from Division 1, then same team will still be promoted back to Division 1 for the next calendar year.

TIME SLOTS FOR THE TEAM COMPETITION STAGES IN THE CALENDAR

Regional Qualifiers Semi-Finals Final

May 1 ------June 15 June 25 ----- July 10 End of July

All shows to be entered in the FEI calendar by September 30th of previous calendar year ALLOCATION OF EVENTS FOR REGIONAL AND EUROPEAN IMPACT

Allocation of the events (RQs, SFs and Final) is very important for the success of this series in order to create the conditions for :

● team and audience participation and excitement ● promotional value of media exposure ● general spending (hospitality, travel, side activities etc) ● sponsorship opportunities and promotion of the sport

ALLOCATION OF EVENTS FOR MEDIA IMPACT

The objectives:

● Sponsor intergration ● Focus on distribution in developing markets ● Enhanced media coverage for SFs and Final ● Content material to allow fans to engage through mobile devices ● Co-operation with home broadcast LOCATION – VENUES

● The RQs, SFs and the Final will be allocated only to countries that compete with a team in the Team Competition. ● Locations and venues for RQs, SFs and the Final will be determined and allocated by the EEF in consultation with the NF’s and the Sponsor/Partner. ● The choice for a location and venue will be based on criteria like : facilities, quality of OC, attractivity for sponsors, accessible location etc. ● The SFs and the FINAL will be large-scale appealing events offering : - maximum prize money for their respective star level - best venues and competition conditions - good media coverage ● The CSIOs of the Team Competition (RQs, SFs and Final) can be hosted by an NF already hosting a CSIO5* (subject to FEI Board approval)

(PRIZE) MONEY ON OFFER

● To attract the best riders and horses at this sport level the total (prize) money on offer for the Team Competition will be € 1.200.000 * on annual basis, distributed as follows : RQs € 75.000 * for the Nations Cup class per show (x 8 shows) SFs € 150.000 * for the Nations Cup class per show (x 2 shows) Final € 300.000 * for the Nations Cup class (x 1 show)

* These amounts represent maximum funds in cash available in relation to the Team Competition on an annual basis and the final form of availability of such funds may be adjusted uniformly after deliberation with NFs and Organizers.

THE ROLE OF THE EEF - MANAGEMENT

● The Team Competition is an EEF PRODUCT, run according to FEI approved rules.

● The EEF will manage the competition.

● The EEF will allocate participating teams to RQ’s and Semi-Finals.

● The EEF will secure a Partner (name sponsor) for the whole Team Competition.

● The EEF will arrange for any contracts with OCs/venues.

● In consultation with the Partner and the NF’s, venues will be chosen (and assigned the ‘O’ status) to ensure the best possible organization of the event and to achieve maximum exposure for the Team Competition and for the Partner.

THE ROLE OF THE EEF - SPONSORSHIP

In co-operation with the Partner, the EEF will make available a sponsorship package to OCs consisting of : ● the prize money for the Nations Cup class ● free Timekeeping and Results for the whole event

The sponsporship package does not prohibit the OC to contract other sponsors for the whole event, the GP and/or individual classes, subject to same brand limitations.

THANK YOU