Welcome to the start of the LONGINES GLOBAL CHAMPIONS TOUR and an exciting 8th season for our championship series. which opens a fantastic new chapter in international equestrian sport.
This season our calendar has again expanded and contains 13 events, which will showcase the very highest calibre show jumping in some of the world’s most exciting and dynamic destinations.
It is a great pleasure to welcome our new main partner and official timekeeper Longines and I look forward to a successful relationship in the years to come. LONGINES GLOBAL CHAMPIONS TOUR is all about world class sport where precision, speed, talent and hard work create thrilling competitions. Our goal to continuously raise standards in show jumping has been a catalyst for improvement across the sport. LONGINES GLOBAL CHAMPIONS TOUR now regularly attracts the Top 30 riders and I’m confident of a thrilling series of Grand Prix during 2013.Since I founded Global Champions Tour in 2006, I have been delighted to see the growth of our sport in terms of participation and audience. This popularity continues to increase as new nations step forward to host the events and attract the top riders and horses. In turn this enthusiasm has generated more interest from sponsors and the media.
LONGINES GLOBAL CHAMPIONS TOUR will be making its debut in Madrid, London and Shanghai this year and the Championship Series Final will be staged at the magnificent, world class equestrian facility of Al Shaqab in Doha, Qatar. The 2013 season looks set to be a true classic and will once again set the benchmark for top-level show jumping. Our goal is always to bring the sport we love to more and more people in new parts of the world and it gives me real pleasure to see this becoming a reality.
Once again, I am pleased to say Eurosport will broadcast each Global Champions Tour Grand Prix and fans will be able to watch all the action on our livestreaming service.
I would like to personally thank all our sponsors, partners, staff, officials and the extraordinary athletes and their horses who never fail to deliver great competition.