WEG in Aachen from August 20

The World Equestrian Games 2006 in seven equestrian disciplines will be held in Aachen, Germany from August 20 to September 3, 2006. It is going to attract around 800 sportsmen and women with their horses and 500,000 spectators to the show grounds of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein (ALRV). The participants originate from 50 nations and 1,300 journalists will be reporting from Aachen. TV broadcasts will be transmitted in 140 countries. The Games are being held in the Federal Republic of Germany for the first time.

The seven disciplines include show-jumping, dressage, eventing, driving, endurance, vaulting and reining (Western dressage) and the participants will be vying for the 16 WEG titles.

The United Arab Emirates, UAE, will be taking part in endurance and show jumping disciplines. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum from the UAE had won the Endurance Championship in WEG in Jerez in 2002. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was placed second in World Endurance Championship in Dubai in January 2005. The UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, in close co-operation with the Federation Equestre Internationale, FEI, the only world body to organize equestrian activities, is preparing the riders and jumpers to take part in this prestigious event.

The tournament will kick off with a magnificent gala in the jumping stadium on Sunday, August 20, 2006. "The pre-sales for the opening ceremony are going very well," commented Michael Mronz, member and spokesman of the Organising Committee of the WEG. The planning of the opening ceremony started quite a while ago, the programme was presented in November. "Since this presentation there has been a real scramble for tickets," Mronz commented in the official Aachen website. The visitors are looking forward to experiencing World and Olympic Champions, equestrian sport legends of the past and of course horses, horses, horses. Incidentally, the additional strain will not damage the grass at all. "The floor of the stadium was completely replaced last summer," explains OC member and show director, Frank Kemperman. This floor stands up very well to all possible demands.

Dubai Equestrian Club and Dubai Racing Club are two of the major partners of the WEG in Aachen.

"The Dubai Racing Club is an extraordinary partner," commented Klaus Pavel, President of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein. "And the WEG Aachen 2006 is an equally extraordinary event." In this respect the ALRV is happy and proud to be able to present the Dubai Racing Club as a partner of the WEG Aachen 2006, according to the website.

Saeed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Dubai Racing Club, stated: "It is a great honour to announce the participation of Dubai Racing Club as a world partner of the most important international equestrian event, the World Equestrian Games Aachen 2006."

The UAE is itself a 'land of the horse' with the origins of the modern day Thoroughbred being traced back to the region. Horses, by tradition, have always been a part of the culture and heritage of the people of UAE. The recent appointment of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, Wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Dubai Ruler, as the President of the Dubai Equestrian Club, further strengthens region's commitment in enhancing the equestrian sports locally and internationally. HRH Princess Haya is the current president of the FEI and will hold this post till 2010.

Michael Mronz stated: "The Dubai Racing Club harmonises perfectly with the strong international orientation of the World Equestrian Games in the year 2006."

The Dubai Racing Club hosted the 2006 Dubai International Racing Carnival encompassing 11 race meetings at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse attracting international horses and horsemen to Dubai, which began on January 19 and culminated with the world's richest race meeting, the Dubai World Cup, on Saturday, March 25, 2006.