Friday July 21, 2006

World Equestrian Games in Germany for Germany – Wowereit: Superb event

From August 20th - September 3rd Germany will once again be hosting a World Championship tournament. 500,000 visitors are expected to attend the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, 150,000 will be coming from abroad. The prelude to the championships is already scheduled for 6.30 p.m. on August 6th, at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Together, the current Lord Mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, and Michael Mronz, member and speaker of the OC WEG Aachen 2006, informed the media and Mercedes Benz – one of eight world partners - about the event.

31 days before the World Championships kick off, “we are very pleased that Aachen is promoting the World Equestrian Games here in the capital city," announced Klaus Wowereit. Over the past weeks Germany has demonstrated that it can be a wonderful host. "I am convinced that we will experience this positive atmosphere at the World Equestrian Games too. After the FIFA World Cup, it is the sporting highlight of the year. It was an excellent decision to award the World Equestrian Games to Aachen, and it will most certainly prove to be a superb event."

Michael Mronz then motivated everyone for these World Championships "in Germany for Germany". “It is our aim to celebrate German World Champions in the 2006 year of sport.“ First of all there is going to be a spectacular show programme in front of the Brandenburg Gate on August 6th. “Because no other building is more symbolic for Germany than the Brandenburg Gate,“ commented Mronz and thanked Klaus Wowereit for his personal commitment. The German jumping team as well as the dressage World Champion and Olympic gold medallists Nadine Capellmann and Isabell Werth will be participating in the celebrations. And of course the seven WEG disciplines show-jumping, dressage, eventing, driving, endurance, vaulting and reining will be presented. The show arena at the Brandenburg Gate will be 23 metres wide and 40 metres long. "The event will serve as an impressive preliminary canter into the World Equestrian Games,“ said Michael Mronz.

Tickets for the World Championships are available from the hotline on +49-(0)241-917-1111, all infos can be obtained online at www.aachen2006.de.

Photo: Klaus Wowereit, Mascott Karli, Michael Mronz. Photo by Eckhard Herfet.