EA High Performance Update on Tokyo 2020 Qualifications and Looking Ahead to the Resumption of Competition in Australia – 25th May, 2020

We hope you have all been keeping safe, well and healthy.  

We continue to look to the future with an optimistic approach as developments around the globe begin to see the potential return of equestrian sporting events, albeit under altered conditions adhering to strict social distancing regulations. Domestically in Australia competition is yet to resume, however our athletes remain focussed on their individual training programs and continue to prepare for the post Covid-19 competition landscape.

In light of the recent positive developments in containing Covid-19 the organising committee of the 2020 Australian Jumping Championships have announced that they are confident they can move ahead with the Championships as scheduled, 4-8 November 2020, whilst adhering to government regulations and minimising the spread of Covid-19. EA High Performance recognise this will be a welcome relief to many of our jumping riders who will use the National Championships as one of their key preparation events leading into Tokyo 2020. 

Last week the FEI announced that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) had approved the revised qualification systems for the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Games in 2021.

The IOC and IPC confirmed that all National Olympic and Paralympic Committees that have been allocated a quota place will retain that quota place for the rescheduled Tokyo Olympic Games. Taking the postponement of the Games into consideration and the impossibility for athletes to compete currently due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the following modifications were made to the Athletes Eligibility section:

• Introduction of a new concept: “Confirmation Result” for the three Olympic disciplines (Eventing, Dressage and Jumping) only for those Athlete/Horse combinations that had achieved the Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MER) during the period 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019. This has been introduced to ensure that all Athlete/Horse combinations that will compete at the rescheduled Olympic Games have achieved an appropriate result during a reasonable period of time before the Olympic Games;
  
  
• Rescheduling the Olympic MER Deadline to 21 June 2021 (three weeks later than the corresponding deadline in 2020) to maximise opportunities for Athlete/Horse combinations (including new combinations) to obtain the MER;
  
  
• 21 June 2021 has also been set as the Olympic deadline for Athlete/Horse combinations to achieve the Confirmation Result (where applicable);
  
  
• The qualification start date for the Paralympic Games will now be 1 January 2019 and the deadline extended to 5 July 2021.

The details of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Qualification systems for each discipline are available on the FEI website here.

EA High Performance welcome the decisions made by the FEI, IOC and IPC and are committed to working with our HP athletes to ensure they are best placed for potential team selection and to maximise their individual performance plans ahead of the postponed Games in Tokyo.

In light of the new qualification criteria the EA High Performance Panel and the Chairs of the National Selection Panels have now been able to progress in reviewing the Australian Olympic and Paralympic selection polices. As this information has only recently been confirmed we are working hard to ensure these polices are ready to be reviewed by the Australian Olympic Committee and Paralympics Australia so they can be made available to our riders in a timely manner. We will continue to work in the best interest of the sport and endeavour to update the equestrian community where possible with any further developments, as always we remain available to our stakeholders throughout this process.

In addition we have been continuing to review the logistical and operational impacts that Covid-19 has had on our Tokyo preparations and remain confident in the strength and resilience of our team, athletes and supporters and we look forward to the Games of the XXXII Olympiad with anticipation. 

The health and safety of our people and horses remain our priority as we work together as a broader community in order to navigate through these unprecedented times. 

We thank you all for your understanding and continued support and please feel free to contact the High Performance team directly if you have any questions or queries.