17th April 2007
Lee Pearson, winner of 6 gold Paralympic medals for Great Britain, will be the first chairman of the FEI's newly formed Athletes' Committee. The Athletes' Committee is a consultative body of the FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale) and will give athletes an official voice at the FEI for the first time. The committee has been formed as part of the FEI's determination to modernise and to ensure the voice of its athletes are heard. It will comprise 8 members, to include one from each of the world equestrian disciplines.
The first committee will comprise:
- Para Equestrian Lee Pearson (GBR) Chair
- Dressage Isabel Werth (GER)
- Show Jumping Cayetano Martinez de Irujo (ESP)
- Eventing Andrew Hoy (AUS)
- Driving Barry Capstick (IRL)
- Reining Jeannette Krahenbuhl (SUI)
- Vaulting Megan Benjamin (USA)
- Endurance Mercedes Tapia (ARG)
The formation of an Athletes' Committee was initiated by FEI President, HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein in response to requests from athletes at the World Equestrian Games in 2006. Each National Federation was asked to put forward candidates from which the President nominated 8 candidates and proposed its Chair. The Committee, its members and Chair were ratified at the FEI General Assembly on 15th April. The Committee will serve until the Alltech FEI world equestrian games in 2010 when the next Committee will be elected.
Hugh Thomas, Chairman of the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) said "We are delighted that our candidate has been chosen to head up this new international Committee. Lee is one of the most successful riders in the world and this choice of Chair reflects the importance that the FEI attaches to Paralympic sport"
See here for full press release.
