San Patrignano CSI-A (ITA) Equestrian sport against drugs and social outcasting

Scent of Europe in San Patrignano

While the expectation for the decision of the International federation about the San Patrignano candidature to host the European Jumping Show Championships 2005 is growing, the arena of the largest European Community for drug addicts is opening its doors, from Friday 19 to Sunday 21, to the VI International Jumping Show "Challenge Vincenzo Muccioli".

Three competitions a day, 45 riders (10 within the first thirty of the world ranking) and 120 horses, representing 16 Countries, a prize-money of 220.000 €, grass arena of 110 m x 90 m, new covered grandstands able to host up to 2500 attendees, are the numbers of an event that in a very few years, as Giacomo Muccioli (President of the Show) said, gained an important place among the big events of the worldwide equestrians: "We got several recognitions in Italy and abroad for the quality of our work, and we created a strong and fruitful relationship with the FISE but we want to do even better. The candidature to the European Championships it is a new, important, objective that we strongly wish to achieve. It would be an unprecedented event in the whole worldwide sports to organize such an event within a community for the rehabilitation of drug addicts. We would be able to communicate to the whole world a strong message against drugs and social outcast and the main characters this event will be, as always, the 1800 guests of San Patrignano. With their willingness to concretely demonstrate the principle which stands on the basis of the Community: you can get rid of drugs".

A message which has been taken and understood by managers, riders and equestrians' fans, as underlined by Emile Hendrix, the Dutch ace since two years technical counsellor of the Show, because during the three-days of San Patrignano "the basic sport principles are concretely expressed, self respect, respect for others, friendship and solidarity. Coming to San Patrignano is enough to feel the warmness of people, of the audience, of the guests: you can, really, take part to a special Jumping Show".

For the audience there will be therefore the possibility to attend, in a such important moment of the competitive season, several of the possible protagonists of the Jerez World Championships on next September, such as the Belgians Philippaerts, Lansink and Van Dyck, the Swiss Fuchs and Melliger, the Dutch Dubbeldam and Raymakers, the French Robert, Pomel e Bourdy and the Italian main team with Smit, Arioldi and Bologni. Together with them, and accompanied by the sympathy of the audience also the HRH Haya of Jordan and the Spanish Fernando Fourcade, representing the "San Patrignano Jumping Team", will be part of the Show on the always hard and selective paths designed by the German Olaf Petersen.

Great satisfaction has been expressed also by Eleonora Ottavini, show director of the event: "I believe there are all the ingredients to attend to a top equestrian Show. In particular, the audience is very pleased to attend to the night competition, the Lamborghini Prize on Friday, the Tamoil Prize on Saturday and, of course, the final event of the Show: the Infostrada Grand Prix on Sunday. Moreover, this year it has also been added, in the late afternoon, the Acqua Uliveto Grande Chasse, a hunting category which is making uses of the naturals obstacles of the race field."

As always, for the San Patrignano show very cheap tickets: 10 € for a whole day and 20 € for a three days subscription. The ticket offices will be open every afternoon from 16.00, a hour before the start of the competition, always planned at 17.00.
Rai Sport (satellite TV) will follow live the most important races of the Show and recorded reports will be on air within the space devoted to the sport on Rai 3 on Saturday 20 and Monday July 22.

www.sanpatrignano.org

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