Longines Beijing Masters: Not Your Average Horse Show

The Preparation of the Training Arena (Photo: Longines Equestrian Beijing Masters).

It is one of the most exciting projects on the international equestrian sport scene: At the 6th Longines Equestrian Beijing Masters, ten international top riders will be competing against 150 Chinese riders. The aim: the sustainable promotion of the equestrian sport in China.

The aim of the project is to bring some of the best riders in the world together with the most promising Chinese athletes in order to sustainably promote and motivate them. The organisers have chosen one of the most famous sports venues in the world for this show: The "Bird's Nest", the Olympic stadium in Peking. A lot of work still has to be completed before the first competitions kick off here on Friday. Due to a concert being staged in the stadium beforehand, the approx. 3,000 workers only have 80 hours to get everything ready. For the training and competition arenas measuring approx. 7,000 square metres in total, around 1,600 tonnes of sand have to be acquired, distributed and prepared. Stables and the entire infrastructure for the 158 horses have to be installed. The distance from the stables to the arena through the stadium catacombs alone measures several hundred metres.

The tented area also spans 7,000 square metres. High-quality exhibitors as well as restaurants, VIP and media areas will be accommodated here in the striking, white tents in the heart of the “Bird's Nest".

The installations for the broadcasting station CCTV are also on the agenda. The camera positions have to be determined, a temporary studio has to be erected. The Chinese TV will be transmitting eight hours of live coverage on the "Longines Equestrian Beijing Masters", CCTV will be broadcasting a further six hours of non-live coverage.

For more information visit www.beijingmasters.com