[CAEN, France] – After a successful 15 days of competition and celebration, the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy have come to a close this evening with a farewell ceremony in the Michel d’Ornano Stadium in Caen. A cast of close to 2,000 of the world’s best equine and human athletes, more than 570,000 on-site spectators and 3,000 volunteers all helped make the 2014 Games in Normandy a stunning showcase of world class horse sport and the largest equestrian event ever organized in France. The seventh edition of the Games broke numerous records in terms of the number of participating nations, athletes and the reach of international press coverage.

As the title sponsor, Alltech enjoyed the unique opportunity to share its passion for animals and agriculture with the global Games audience over the past two weeks. The Alltech Pavilion and Equispher sponsored by Alltech, both in the heart of the Games Village, welcomed more than 100,000 visitors who learned about agriculture and the impact Alltech is making with progressive solutions for farming for the future and feeding the burgeoning global population. More than 50,000 visitors attended eight nights of concerts at the Alltech Music Festival within the Games Village, with international and regional acts including Kool and the Gang and Aloe Blacc.

In addition, Alltech’s impact on Normandy tourism and hospitality was also significant. Alltech hosted several events in conjunction with the Games. These events drew nearly 100 leading agribusiness presidents and more than 700 global farmers to Normandy.

“We are incredibly pleased with the number of visitors who have joined us at the Games over the past few weeks,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech. “Congratulations to all the athletes and the horses who were naturally the true stars of the Games. These Games have truly showcased animals performing at their peak and drawn together people from all over the world for a world-class competition.”

Alltech’s flagship beef and dairy event, Global Dairy & Beef, was another huge success. Hosted in France for the first time during the Alltech Games, the two-day event broke numerous records with 700 attendees coming from a record-breaking 43 countries, requiring eight live language translations. The farmers also represented a staggering half-million cattle.  During the event, Alltech examined the current economic landscapes for both industries and looked at future trends, specifically addressing how farmers and producers can stay ahead of the curve.

“The Games have elevated the Alltech brand and allowed us to shine the spotlight on agriculture,” said Catherine Keogh, chief marketing officer at Alltech. “It’s also been an invaluable opportunity for our global partners who took part in the Alltech Official Partner Program. This program enabled them to differentiate their feed and be involved in the excitement of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy.”

Overall, Alltech welcomed more than 4,000 customers, business partners, friends and employees to Normandy during the Games.

The 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games are set to take place in Bromont, Canada.

For further information on the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy, please click here. The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy are organized every four years and represent the most important equestrian event in the world.