There are sixteen sets of medals to be awarded during the triple European Championships in Herning next week. The official name is ECCO FEI European Championships where a string of equestrian sport stars, riders and horses, will go into tight battle for the medals.
Normally the expensive legs of footballers roam around on the grass at the MCH Arena, the MCH Messecenter Herning football stadium. From the 20 to the 25 of August there will be horse legs cantering around on a 15 cm thick layer of a special sand mixture – all battling for honour, glory and medals together with their riders. Because the stage is set for a magnificent European Championship in three equestrian disciplines: jumping, dressage and para-dressage. The countdown is on, the gates of the great exhibition area in front of MCH arena in Herning opens on Tuesday 20 of August at 16:00. As a sign of good will the organisers European–Herning keep the exhibition area open for free, no admission at all on opening day for Danish and foreign horse lovers. It will give the already smitten and passionate equestrian enthusiasts and those yet to be convinced a possibility to get a feel for the ambience and see the impressive structures in place all around the event area.
The preparations have entered their final phase
Until now the pre-work has been of an administrative type but now the mere physical frames of the event are being put into place at the MCH Messecenter Herning’s huge parking lot in front of MCH Arena and Boxen.
In this area busy hands are fully occupied with raising the 2,400 m2 huge food and party tent which is located in between the warm-up area and JYSK Arena – and it is 120 m long.
Large heaps of sand and rubber mats lie in specific spots in the area ready to be transformed into warm-up arenas and competition courses. It is Neergaard Stald Design by Allan and Bent Neergaard, who has the responsibility for the establishment and maintenance of the all in all 23,000 m2 footing that will be prepared in and around the arenas at MCH Messecenter Herning.
The competition course MCH arena in itself will be covered with 8,000 rubber mats as a ground for 1,300 m3 of sand mixture.
Entertainment, food and beverages and loads of shopping
The exhibition area is under its final construction and ready for the many companies with stands from Denmark and abroad. The smallest stands will be about 36 m2 so you can easily exercise your shopping genes during the European Championships. You can see the list of stands here.
In the exhibition area where the many stands are located there will be a food court where you can satisfy any cravings for food and drinks. There will be many different food stands offering a large variety of Danish specialities but also an international cuisine with for example Mexican and Italian food among other assorted cuisines. In addition there will be a large gastronomy tent, managed by MCH Messecenter Herning with a broad choice from the Danish and international cuisine.
450 volunteers
Over the last three years the organisers and an enthusiastic staff of volunteers have worked hard to make the Championships in Herning a good and memorable experience for all participants. During the actual championships around 450 volunteers will work on site and fill various functions throughout the competition and exhibition area.
The many volunteers are lead by appointed area managers who have met several times in the last year to cooperate and coordinate their efforts before and during the championships. During the event all volunteers will wear identical clothing to make everyone easily identified among the many visitors.
There is a really fun and good atmosphere among the many volunteers who are looking forward to get hands on with the tasks in Herning. They look forward to welcomming riders, horses, sponsors, spectators and press representatives to the ECCO FEI European Championships.
This event is organised in a cooperation between European-Herning ApS, Sport Event Denmark, the municipality of Herning, and the Danish Equestrian Federation.