Governor McCrory Supports Effort to Host 2018 World Equestrian Games | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Press Release:

WEG has estimated economic impact of $200 million

    Raleigh, N.C.     Governor Pat McCrory is supporting efforts for North Carolina to host the 2018 World Equestrian Games (WEG). Administered by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), the WEG occurs every four years in the middle of the Olympic cycle and is the major international championship event for equestrian sport. The 2010 WEG were held in Lexington, Kentucky and had an economic impact of $201.5 million over the event's 14 days, according to a financial study commissioned by the state.

    "North Carolina's infrastructure and natural beauty make our state a natural fit to host the 2018 World Equestrian Games," said Governor McCrory. "We will support efforts to host the Games in our state which will provide not only a positive experience to all those attending, but a significant boost to North Carolina's rapidly growing economy."

    The Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park in Quebec, Canada had been awarded the 2018 Games however announced last month they were no longer able to host the event. To ensure the WEG remain in North America, the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, N.C. has expressed interest in hosting the 2018 Games.

    In addition to Governor McCrory's support, the United States Equestrian Federation has communicated to the FEI their strong support of the bid to host the 2018 Games in North Carolina.

    The Tryon Equestrian Partners has invested over $125 million over the last two years developing 1,500 acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains to create an equestrian lifestyle destination and resort. The Tryon International Equestrian Center is the centerpiece of that effort. This venue includes 1,200 permanent stalls, 12 competition arenas, a lighted international arena that seats 6,000 to 12,000 with multiple VIP areas, a large covered/indoor arena that seats 5,000, as well as a world class cross country course which support both Eventing and Driving. The site is located in North Carolina horse country which is accessible to hundreds of miles of equestrian trails to support Endurance.


    The Games are the major international championships for equestrianism administered by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI). The FEI disciplines - Jumping, Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage, Eventing, Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining - are all included on the competition schedule. The Games have been held every four years, in the middle of the Olympic cycle, since 1990. The modern WEG runs over two weeks and, like the Olympics, the location rotates to different parts of the world. The inaugural FEI World Equestrian Games™ were hosted in Sweden in 1990. Since then, the Games were staged in The Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Germany. The first Games to be organized outside Europe were the FEI 2010 World Equestrian Games™ in Kentucky, where 57 countries were represented by 800 people and their horses. The Games returned to Europe for the 2014 edition of the FEI World Equestrian Games™, which were held in France.

• Contact: Crystal Feldman
•     govpress@nc.gov