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≡ MORE VENUE MOVES ≡
/Updated/In the bid stage for the 2024 Olympic Games, the Los Angeles team proposed a temporary facility for Equestrian in the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, which remained the plan for the 2028 Olympic Games, awarded in 2017.
That was changed in a 21 June 2024 announcement that the 242-acre equestrian facility at Galway Downs in Temecula would be the site for all of the equestrian events: Dressage, Jumping and Eventing.
This followed a stated desire by Olympic Broadcasting Services, the television production arm of the International Olympic Committee, to place all of the equestrian events in one place to increase the drama and reduce costs and production complexities. The selection of Galway Downs was approved as a venue change out of the City of Los Angeles on 28 March, subject to LA28 moving sailing to San Pedro; nevertheless, LA28 announced the approvals in a statement.
However, last Wednesday (9th), the LA28 organizers informed Galway Downs that it would not be hosting equestrian; Galway Downs owner Ken Smith said in a statement:
“We are extremely surprised that we were suddenly removed from consideration. We don’t understand how, based on the March 28 [Los Angeles] City Council’s vote of approval, that this could happen.
“When we started this process more than four years ago, we understood the equestrian venue selection for LA28 would be a highly competitive, evolving process. Being selected as the proposed equestrian venue put Galway Downs and Temecula Valley on the world stage. We’re very proud of that, and we’re just getting started. Galway Downs will continue to host elite national and international competitions as well as additional sporting events.”
And he wasn’t the only one surprised:
● Said Temecula Mayor Brenden Kalfus:
“Galway Downs has showcased its equestrian center in Temecula Valley as the superior venue capable of hosting all Olympic equestrian games.
“While the city is disheartened to learn of this abrupt change, particularly in light of LA28’s venue approval granted by the Los Angeles City Council just two weeks ago, we remain confident that Galway Downs will continue its legacy and mission uninterrupted as a vibrant, world-class Olympic-caliber equestrian presence in Temecula Valley.”
● U.S. Representative Darrell Issa (R-Temecula) said in a published statement on Saturday:
“I’m deeply disappointed to learn that Galway Downs in Temecula is reportedly no longer LA28’s proposed host site for equestrian events at the upcoming 2028 Olympic Games. This abrupt move appears arbitrary, unwarranted, and our community deserves a clear explanation of the process that led to this change. At this time, a satisfactory reason has yet to be offered.
“It must be said that for several years, the state-of-the-art facility at Galway Downs, the city of Temecula, and the Riverside County community have prepared to host these important events and showcase the very best that all three have to offer. Significant investments in time, material, and preparation have already been dedicated to serving as the host site, and Galway Downs is the only equestrian venue in the greater Los Angeles region with the existing infrastructure to accommodate all Equestrian Events, including a full-length cross-country course.
“I look forward to productive and informative conversations and a more comprehensive transparent process that provides fundamental fairness to Galway Downs and unifies our Southern California community as we welcome the world to our home in 2028.”
LA28 has not revealed a new venue for equestrian. The sport was held at Riviera Country Club for dressage and jumping in 1932 with the cross-country competition on a road course in Westchester. In 1984, Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California hosted dressage and jumping, but the cross-country event was held at Fairbanks Ranch Country Club in San Diego, California.
San Diego is also the home to the 212-acre Del Mar Fairgrounds, which includes a long-established – since 1937 – thoroughbred racing meet, now from 18 July to 7 September in 2025 plus 30 October to 30 November. It will host the Breeders’ Cup world championship on 31 October and 1 November this year. Del Mar could be an alternative if a suitable course for the cross-country event can be determined.
/Update/A post on dressage-news.com reported that Santa Anita would be the 2028 site, as it was in 1984. Part of the permanent grandstand and temporary seating was used to create a 33,000-seat venue for Dressage and Jumping then, but the summer weather was considered too hot for horses for the cross-country event and so it was held at Fairbanks Ranch, requiring the horses to be transported south and then north again. No announcement from LA28 as yet.
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At present, there are nine full sports, two sports disciplines and the football prelims sites which are not located as yet for the 2028 Olympic Games:
● Boxing
● Cycling/Road and Mountain Bike
● Equestrian
● Football preliminaries (to be held out of state)
● Sport Climbing
● Surfing (expected to be Huntington Beach or Lower Tresles)
● Shooting (expected to be Prado Olympic Shooting Park or another local site)
● Volleyball (Beach and Indoor)
● Baseball (expected to be Dodger Stadium)
● Cricket T20
● Squash
While the International Olympic Committee approved the overall venue master plan at its Executive Board meeting last week, it has left announcements of specific venue moves to the LA28 organizers.
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