TAKE AWAYS FROM THE FEI IN-PERSON BOARD MEETING IN HONG KONG
The FEI Board held its second in-person meeting of the year on Monday the 4th of November in Hong Kong, alongside the FEI General Assembly 2025. The key resolutions and decisions were:
FEI CHAMPIONSHIPS ALLOCATION:
- FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses 2027 was allocated to Buftea, Romania (10-11 September 2027).
- FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders and Juniors 2027 was allocated to Samorin, Slovakia (16 September 2027).
GOVERNANCE & ELECTIONS:
- The Board approved the ‘Rules for Election of the FEI President 2026’, which will be published in early February 2026.
- A dedicated session on the ‘President Role Description’ will take place on Thursday the 6th of November.
The terms of reference for the ‘Grooms Consultative Group’ were modified, and new members were approved, including Amelia Gomez-Su (FEI Officials Representative) and Olivier Phillipaerts (Jumping Athlete).
DECISIONS ON RUSSIA & BELARUS:
- Effective immediately, the check of neutrality for athletes from the Russian Equestrian Federation and Equestrian Federation of Belarus will be delegated to the relevant National Federations (NFs).
- Effective 1st of January 2026, Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to participate in team competitions under a neutral flag.
- Effective 1st of January 2026, the organisation of FEI Events in Belarus will be allowed.
The requirement for Officials from Russia and Belarus to maintain their status via the CES Officiating Review was suspended due to their inability to officiate.
APPOINTMENTS TO TECHNICAL COMMITTEES:
Several appointments and re-appointments were approved for four-year terms (2025-2029) to various committees, including Jumping (Guilherme Jorge), Dressage (Peter Storr, reappointed), Eventing (Martyn Johnson), and Veterinary (Bruno Van Cauter).
SPORT-SPECIFIC APPROVALS:
- Jumping: The venue for the first leg of the Longines League of Nations™ - Abu Dhabi 2026 was changed to the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club instead of Al Forsan International Sports Resort.
- Eventing: The FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Rules 2026 and FEI Eventing World Athletes Rankings Rules 2026 were approved. CCIO4* Boekelo (NED) was designated as the 2026 series final.
VETERINARY MATTERS:
- The FEI is monitoring the West Nile virus and surveying its spread globally.
- The FEI is involved in the consultation process regarding the European Union's legislation on the protection of animals during transport.
- Concerns regarding the international movement of horses were raised with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
PRESIDENTIAL WELCOME & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
The FEI President welcomed the Board and thanked the Equestrian Federation of Hong Kong, China, and the Hong Kong Jockey Club for the excellent organization. He also thanked outgoing Board members and acknowledged the new auditorium at the FEI Headquarters, named after FEI Honorary President HRH Princess Haya.
--ENDS--
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