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Last July, the International Olympic Committee approved the 2010 Youth Olympic Summer Games and the 2012 Youth Olympic Winter Games. The Youth Games offer a significant opportunity for young athletes, ages 14 to 18.
“This is an historic moment for the Olympic Movement,” said IOC President Jacques Rogge after the decision was made to move forward on the Youth Games. “We owe this to the youth of the world.”
Five cities have been short-listed to host the inaugural 2010 Youth Games: Athens, Bangkok, Moscow, Singapore and Turin. A final decision on which city will host the Games will be made in February.
To date, the only equestrian sport being offered during the Youth Games is show jumping; traditionally, Olympic equestrian sports also include dressage and eventing. The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has confirmed the competition will be on borrowed horses.
So far, the United States hasn’t announced a Youth equestrian team and according to a spokeswoman for the United States Equestrian Team, it’s still very early in the process. According to the FEI, only six teams will be competing at the Youth Games and it’s unknown whether the United States will be one of them.