By Duane Fonseca Impressed by the state of the art facilities on offer, the Federation Equestre International (FEI) has decided to award the postponed FEI Endurance World Championship 2022 to Abu Dhabi’s world renowned Boudheib International Endurance Village (BIEV).

The biennial World Championships were due to be held at Isola della Scala in Verona, Italy, from 1923- October 2022, but were postponed with a decision to reopen the bidding process for a venue after concerns were raised by the FEI regarding track readiness, athlete safety and a lack of plans concerning the event.

And the decision to award the Worlds to BIEV was taken last week during an FEI board meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, after the venue was strongly recommended by the FEI endurance committee. BIEV is situated on the outskirts of the UAE capital and is about an hour’s drive from the city centre.

The UAE’s endurance season got underway a few weeks ago and runs the course of the country’s winter until the end of March and the World Championships have been pencilled in for 2026- February 2023, with the main ride scheduled for 25 February. Making the announcement via a media statement, FEI president Ingmar de Vos said: “We are very pleased with the decision to award the FEI Endurance World Championship 2022 to Boudheib.

“The FEI board was impressed with the world-class permanent infrastructure and facilities offered by the BIEV and the proven ability of the organisers to guarantee all the logistical organisation for our human and equine athletes in a short period of time.

“The safety and security of human and equine athletes is the FEI’s top priority, and the organisers’ track record of commitment to horse welfare was a key factor in the decision to award this championship to Boudheib. “We are confident that the organisers will give our athletes a championship to remember and that the venue will deliver on all its promises.”

Since 2004, around 147 FEI and 153 National Endurance events have been held at the BIEV, which will host the FEI Endurance World Championship for the first time ever. The venue has earned global recognition for its modern and well-equipped clinic, highlyqualified veterinary staff and laboratory technicians, examination areas and stables for in-patient treatment as well as observation and administrative areas.

The track passes through a forestry reserve and is designed to naturally regulate pace and to challenge the skill of the riders.