General

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Dear ladies and gentlemen,

We are offering you rights-free and cost-free video material for the CHIO Aachen 2024. The prerequisite for the free use of the material is up-to-date, event-related and exclusively editorial reporting.

An overview of our offer:

– 3-5min rough cut of the most important tests of the day (free of charge for daily, event-related reporting of up to 90 seconds)

– Completed video news report with English voice-over, approx. 2-3 min (also as youtube embed code)

– Short social media clips (e.g. emotions, curiosities), can be uploaded to your own channel with #chioaachen

The video material is made available via our Scoopa download platform. We will be happy to send you the access data.

Contact:

Saskia Stahl-Farrell
+49 (0) 241-9171186
saskia.stahl@chioaachen.de

In addition, you will find daily updated radio reports for download on our press platform under Downloads. Here you can also download current statistics, graphics, interviews, background information and interesting facts from the CHIO Aachen database on a daily basis.

#chioaachen
CHIO Aachen website

Everyone was amazed when the CHIO Aachen mascot, Karli, suddenly turned into a conductor and dancer and transformed the Elisengarten in Aachen into an open-air concert stage together with four musicians from the Aachen Symphony Orchestra. “Viva España” gave an impressive preview of what awaits the visitors next week at the “Horse & Symphony”. The concert traditionally forms the breath-taking prelude of the CHIO Aachen. These two spectacular evenings in the Deutsche Bank Stadium live from the fascinating interplay between the Aachen Symphony Orchestra and a unique horse show. This year the theme is history and heroes. On June 28^th and 29^th, the “Horse & Symphony” will exclusively revolve around the “100 year equestrian show history” at the Aachen Soers. And Spain plays a key role here too. In 2001, the tradition of having a partner country at the CHIO Aachen began, namely with Spain. Together with the horse show star, Laury Tisseur, the horse trainer, show rider and actress, Kenzie Dysli, will whisk the visitors off back there, or more precisely to wonderful Andalusia.

The journey through the early years of Aachen’s equestrian show history also holds further highlights in store for the spectators. For example, among others the German four-in-hand drivers, Michael Freund and Daniel Würgler, will enchant the crowd with a show performance in the sand of the Deutsche Bank Stadium, which will bring the driving sport from the Forest of Aachen to life again. Another true crowd-puller will also be performing at the “Horse & Symphony”: Ingrid Klimke. Together with her daughter, Greta Busacker, the Master of Riding will present a pas de deux in remembrance of their father and grandfather, Dr. Reiner Klimke. The first note of the popular format will ring out at 8.30 p.m. on June 28^th and 29^th respectively, conducted by Christopher Ward, the General Music Director of the City of Aachen.

Tickets for the “Horse & Symphony” concert are available online, from the hotline: +49-(0)241-917-1111 and from the ticket office at the showgrounds.

The “Moments of Luck” charity cooperation between the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein (ALRV) and the German Curatorship for Therapeutic Riding (DKThR) in aid of therapeutic riding and riding for the disabled has been an integral part of the World Equestrian Festival since 1999. Following tradition, donations will be collected once again this year during Soers Sunday. The entire proceeds will be donated to the campaign.

The ALRV makes a clear statement for inclusion with its long-standing cooperation with the DKThR. Every person is quite naturally included in everything at the CHIO Aachen – whether they have a disability or not. Everyone is allowed to take part, everyone can interact if they want to. Social contacts are promoted here and participation is lived out.

Therapeutic riding and riding for the disabled are offered a stage in Aachen year after year. The CHIO visitors can experience up close the effect horses have on people. In addition to relief, promotion and prevention, horses bestow courage and joie de vivre.

The campaign kicks off with the collection during the Ecumenical Service in the Deutsche Bank Stadium on Soers Sunday, the official Open Day (June 30^th, starting at 11.30 a.m.), announced by Jaycen Schlesinger. The 16-year-old was born with Down Syndrome and his love for horses developed before he was even able to walk. At birth he was given the pony “Glücksbär“ (Lucky Bear). The two of them are meanwhile inseparable and have become real stars on Instagram and serve as role models for an entire community.

During the afternoon programme, at around 1.40 p.m. the agenda continues on the big jumping warm-up arena with “Therapeutic Riding in the land of unlimited opportunities.” As “Moments of Luck” the therapy centres from the region of Aachen will present themselves and their work. On board: Lohner Hof Riding & Therapy Centre (Eschweiler), Abenteuerland Riding Therapy Centre (Stolberg), Rattenhaus Riding School (Eynatten/Belgium) and Kid`s auf Trab, Centre for Therapeutic Riding (Stolberg).

The team of the DKThR looks forward to plenty of visitors throughout the whole of Soers Sunday at the donation and information desk near to the main entrance. Beyond this, donation boxes will be on display at the CHIO info desks throughout the whole week of the show.

Half of the donations that are collected in the scope of the “Moments of Luck” charity campaign will go to the German Curatorship for Therapeutic Riding and will be implemented for the association’s Children Support Fund. The rest will be divided up between the four curatorship-approved therapy centres in and around Aachen.

The DKThR is a non-profit making association for the promotion of therapeutic riding (horse-based therapy, support and sport). It has been the key point of contact for all questions on this topic for over 50 years and is the oldest association of its kind in the world.

For further information see: www.dkthr.de

When on Thursday evening the floodlights are switched on, the spectators flood into the Main Stadium and you can feel the tension in the air at the Soers, traditionally one of the absolute highlights of the CHIO Aachen is about to commence: the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup. Anyone, who has ever experienced this ‘international game’ of the show-jumpers live, is fascinated by the fantastic atmosphere, but also by the fairness of the fans. 40,000 in number, they hold their breath when the pole rocks, but doesn’t fall and they cheer every horse and rider that reaches the finish line clear. Standing ovations, rhythmic applause and a sea of waving flags all-inclusive.

Mercedes-Benz has partnered this worldwide famous class now since 1981 already. However, the car manufacturer from Stuttgart’s commitment at the World Equestrian Festival reaches much further back than that. The luxury automobile brand was already represented with an advertisement in the programme in the 1920s, when the first events were staged on the “racetrack at Soerserweg near Aachen”. The CHIO Aachen and Mercedes-Benz, they were already a fantastic match back then and still are today. A perfect partnership that grew together from a joint passion: the fascination for horsepower. And in this way Mercedes-Benz has been part of the CHIO Aachen since its inception through to this very day, initially with advertisements placed by the local subsidiary and since 1954 as an official sponsor and for some time now as the General Sponsor. And that is not all: Today, the luxury automobile brand is omnipresent at the traditional showgrounds. For example, not only is one of the stands in the Main Stadium named after it: the Mercedes-Benz Stand, the company has also been responsible for providing the shuttle service for athletes and guests at the CHIO Aachen since the 1990s. And the exhibition space in the CHIO Aachen Village, right next to the main entrance, is traditionally a classic and a crowd-puller.

Whereby for Mercedes-Benz it is not only the reputation of Germany’s biggest sporting event that is decisive for the unique partnership: “What distinguishes the CHIO Aachen, has not changed over the course of time and is a perfect fit with our company,” explained the Chief Executive Officer of the Mercedes-Benz Group, Ola Källenius. “The permanent strive for further development, combined with sensitivity for tradition and values, plus that special atmosphere, the proximity to the spectators that one senses every day at the grounds. That is unique.” And the crowd will definitely create that magnificent atmosphere on the evening of July 4^th again. Namely when the floodlight is switched on in the Main Stadium and the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup begins.

Wednesday evening at the CHIO Aachen, the floodlights are switched on, the Turkish Airlines-Prize of Europe begins. When the best horses and riders in the world are competing on the Holy Grass in the Main Stadium this year, it will be easier for blind and visually impaired people to take part in one of the most famous jumping classes on the equestrian sport circuit. Because for the first time the CHIO Aachen is also offering a professional audio description for this class.

This service entails offering blind and visually impaired people a description of what is happening. A speaker translates his impressions of the images in explanatory language. The team of HörMal Audiodeskription will describe two jumping competitions on that day. In addition to the Turkish Airlines-Prize of Europe in the evening, the inclusive offer will also be available for the Prize of StädteRegion Aachen in memory of Landrat Hermann-Josef Pütz in the afternoon. This will allow blind and visually impaired guests to experience the happenings up close and learn for instance whether a pole has fallen and how well the horse and rider are harmonising together.

A further highlight is a guided tour of the grounds through the CHIO Aachen Village with its approx. 230 exhibitors. Here, HörMal will provide an audio description about the horse and its equipment for all blind or visually impaired interested parties. For example, the participants will be allowed to touch bridles and saddles and will have these explained to them. Furthermore the participants will learn interesting details about the stadium and about the history of the CHIO Aachen.

“Implementing audio descriptions is an important step on the way to more accessibility and an integral part of our overall strategy for social sustainability,” emphasized Philip Erbers, board member of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein. To enable more people to participate in the World Equestrian Festival, the audio description offer is to be further expanded over the coming years.

All information and tickets are available here. (LINK: https://www.hoermal-audio.org/events/chio-aachen-mit-audiodeskription/)

IOC President, Dr. Thomas Bach; RWE CEO, Dr. Markus Krebber; SAP Germany CEO, Sven Mulder; STAWAG Board Member, Dr. Christian Becker; Chairman of Westenergie, Katherina Reiche; IOC Executive Board Member, Ivo Ferriani; Sports Manager, Oliver Bierhoff; Bayer 04 Leverkusen‘s CEO, Fernando Carro; Bayer CEO, Bill Anderson; VfB Stuttgart’s CEO, Alexander Wehrle, the two IOC members, Petra Sörling and Britta Heidemann, and many more: The list of speakers and visitors at the #neuland Congress (July 2ndand 3rd, 2024) reads like the who’s who of the sports, business and social-political scene.

The CHIO Aachen stands for top international sport with a long tradition. But at the same time it is also a place of encounter and exchange. The #neuland congress has been held during Germany’s largest sporting event since 2018 and thus offers scope for an exchange at the highest level. Together with the ATEC, the congress unites sport with deep tech, entrepreneurship and innovation, to lay the foundation for an efficient and equally ecological and economic sustainable future. In the scope of a pitch battle, it gives start-ups the opportunity to present innovative ideas in a dynamic competition. The focus lies above all on the exchange of knowledge, promoting discussions and establishing new contacts. Over the course of two exciting days, the participants at the #neuland congress can look forward to current trends, concrete examples of good practice, lively discussions, stimulating lectures and a fabulous networking atmosphere revolving around current, social themes. “The idea behind the congress is to decisively push the vision of a sustainable future forward,” explained Michael Mronz, General Manager of the Aachener Reitturnier GmbH and CEO of the organisers, Rhein Ruhr City GmbH.

Immediately prior the CHIO Aachen, which kicks off on the evening of July 2^nd, with its spectacular Opening Evening, and when the celebrities walk over the most famous red carpet of the equestrian sport scene on their way to the traditional gala evening, the “Media Night“, the first day of the congress at the traditional showgrounds at the Aachen Soers, will be brought to a close with an impulse lecture by the President of the International Olympic Committee, Dr. Thomas Bach. Hence, this offers the speakers and the guests a unique opportunity to experience the breath-taking atmosphere of the CHIO Aachen and engage in an exchange and network in this first-class ambiance. Accredited journalists also have the chance to attend the impulse lecture.

Furthermore, on both days the congress will examine the important role sport plays within the society, especially with regards to sustainable financing models and its contribution towards social integration and social cohesion. “Sport is an important social axis of our society. It holds great social potential and at the same time bears a far-reaching economic responsibility,” stated Michael Mronz. “Particularly the theme of the sustainable financing of clubs, associations and sporting events takes on an ever-increasing significance in the planning and strategic alignment and will in future also be of key importance for the sports industry.” Celebrities such as the DOSB President, Thomas Weikert or the CEO and founder of Dyn, Christian Seifert, will be present when together with further high-ranking representatives of the sports industry, solutions for sustainable financing models and the related preservation of the important role of sport for the society are jointly discussed at the #neuland congress.

The CHIO Aachen Scientist Circle will be one of the themes addressed on the second day of the congress. This project brings equestrian experts together with leading scientists from Germany, Belgium and Switzerland and the focus of its work lies on the well-being of sports horses. Prof. Dr. Dirk Winter from the Nürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Science; Dr. rer. nat. Arne-Rasmus Dräger, an expert for artificial intelligence and developer of AI-based camera systems for monitoring the health of horses and CHIO Aachen Head of Sport, Birgit Rosenberg are participating.

“We are looking forward to providing the CHIO Aachen Scientist Circle with a stage amid this impressive setting, but at the same time also to the top level, interdisciplinary exchange on major sport-related and socially relevant future themes,” commented Philip Erbers, who in his capacity as a member of the board of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein, organisers of the CHIO Aachen, is among others responsible for the areas Digital Technology and Innovations. “I am convinced that ultimately the outcome will be interesting ideas on all themes.”

Tickets for the congress are available immediately here: www.neuland.today. Journalists, who are accredited for the CHIO Aachen 2024, have the opportunity to attend the congress and there will be a shuttle to drive them to the event location.

Over 50 journalists and onliners, social media stars and media companies have submitted entries – three of them are now nominated for “The Silver Horse”. The equestrian sport online and social media award.

For 30 years, ‘The Silver Horse’ was the most prestigious media award in the areas of print, TV and radio. For some years now, it has paid tribute to a changing media landscape as the ‘Online and Social Media Award’. The jury – consisting of Dr. Ute Countess Rothkirch (DRFV board member), Wolfgang Brinkmann (German Riding and Driving Association, DRFV), Nadine Capellmann (dressage rider), Philip Erbers (ALRV Board Member) and Tobias Königs (Press Officer/CHIO Aachen) – were impressed by the diversity and quality of the submitted entries. These included both blogs and social media platforms as well as classic media, which have mastered the transformation into the digital world in totally different ways.

The nominees are (in alphabetical order):

Christoph Hess

Gianna Regenbrecht

World of Showjumping

The winner will be announced during the Opening Ceremony of the CHIO Aachen 2024 on 2nd July.  The winning entry will be honoured with the ‘Silver Horse’ and a cash prize of 3000 euros. Second place will be honoured with 2000 euros, the third-placed entry with 1000 euros. The prize is jointly organised by the German Riders‘ and Drivers’ Federation (DRFV), the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e.V. (ALRV) as well as Gina Capellmann-Lütkemeier and Nadine Capellmann.

It is an absolute premiere: In line with this year’s partner country, the USA, the equestrian sport stars are bringing a touch of Hollywood to the Aachen Soers. The dressage rider, Dinja van Liere, has slipped into the role of Marilyn Monroe, the recently-crowned World Cup winner, Patrik Kittel, is doing a fantastic impression of Elvis Presley and the winner of the Rolex Grand Prix in 2005, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, is personifying Audrey Hepburn. And as much as the wow-effect motifs differ, they all have one thing in common: The similarity to the original characters is astounding!

The new edition of the CHIO Aachen Magazine additionally looks ahead to the World Equestrian Festival, the CHIO Aachen 2024, and beyond that also holds many exciting background stories and interesting interviews in store. For example, the show-jumper, Willem Greve, opens up the gates of his riding establishment in Markelo, the Netherlands; the dressage Queen, Isabell Werth, talks about her Olympic career and the Swiss high-flyer, Edouard Schmitz, reveals how he succeeded in joining the ranks of the world elite in a flash. On top of that you can learn everything about the partner country, the USA, about the 100 years of equestrian show history at the Aachen Soers and the exciting offers of the CHIO Aachen CAMPUS. As a special bonus, you can find further digital contents by scanning the QR codes. Extras stories that didn’t fit into the printed magazine.

The magazine appears twice a year. It costs 6.50 Euros and is available from the CHIO Aachen fan shop. It is also sold at the offices of the ALRV.

A few days before Germany’s biggest sporting event begins, a man with a rake is stood where the best horses in the world leave their traces in the stand during the CHIO Aachen. The man’s name is Martin Stockberg. And the designer and land art artist didn’t need more than his rake to conjure up a magnificent piece of art in the sand in the shadow of the Deutsche Bank Stadium. The fascinating piece of art measures around 70 x 70 metres. Recognise it from the ground? Impossible! It is necessary to view it from an aerial perspective to recognise the biggest homage to “100 years of equestrian show history”. “The first riding and driving show took place at the Aachen Soers in 1924, Birgit Rosenberg, ALRV Board Member, explained. “And of course we want to celebrate this remarkable anniversary in style.”

Martin Stockberg’s piece of art, which is equally impressive and transient, forms the prelude to these celebrations. Because the impressive motif will become a thing of the past after the next shower or two at the latest. But Stockberg, who regularly creates breath-taking sculptures in sand, in forests or in the snow, explained that precisely this transience is an essential element of his art. Before setting to work on-site, Stockberg makes a drawing, measures a few key points, the rest he carves out in the sand from memory. “It is a question of rhythm and concentration,” reports Stockberg. And then it almost becomes meditative, when he spends an hour or sometimes much longer tracing out specific patterns that are only recorded in his head. Thanks to a huge portion of overview, stamina and precision, but also the necessary joy in his work, extremely precise results ensue, which amaze the onlookers – the same is also true in Aachen.

However, beyond the impressive piece of art the organisers in Aachen have plenty more things planned in commemoration of the anniversary. Just a few days before the start of the CHIO Aachen 2024, the ALRV is already bringing the CHIO atmosphere to the city centre. From June 20^th – July 7^th, the exhibition at the ElisenGalerie is looking back on unique victories and highly emotional incidents from the 100 years of equestrian show history. On top of that posters, programmes and diverse “treasures” from the CHIO Aachen archive will trigger off plenty of CHIO feeling – from nostalgic to present day. And the two “Horse & Symphony” concerts, which traditionally serve as the breath-taking prelude of the biggest and most famous equestrian sport event in the world, will also pay homage to the 100 years of equestrian sport history this year. “The concerts promise to be musical, sporty and of course visually an historical event with many unforgettable moments,” assured Birgit Rosenberg, who in her capacity as Head of Sport at CHIO Aachen is also responsible for the show programme. The journey through the early days of show history in Aachen will thus hold plenty of spectacular highlights in store for the spectators. And on the evening of June 28^th and 29^th at the latest it will be lots of horses, who leave their magical traces in the sand at the CHIO Aachen grounds.