FEI World Equestrian Games: Spectacular preliminary canter at Brandenburg Gate
Ludger Beerbaum: Main target is the gold medal


Berlin. Black, red, GOLD...for Germany. Germany's top riders are fit for the WEG in their own country. With a colourful show in front of the Brandenburg Gate, Ludger Beerbaum and co. got everyone in the mood for the World Championships that begin in two weeks time in Aachen (August 20th - September 3rd). Over 2,000 spectators made sure they didn't miss the preliminary canter in the heart of Berlin - the grandstand around the especially created dressage arena was completely full.

Wearing black, red and gold riding hats the German show-jumping team made it quite clear, what aim they have set themselves for the World Championships in Aachen. "Of course our main goal is to take the gold medal," said Ludger Beerbaum. Previously to which he had, together with the other four members of the German Show-Jumping team, spectaculously jumped over an obstacle simultaneously - with the Brandenburg Gate in the background. "That was a grandiose prelude, a very emotional appetizer to the FEI World Equestrian Games," Beerbaum commented happily after the cheering from the equestrian fans. The seven WEG disciplines were presented in the capital city in a diverse show programme that lasted just over an hour - the participants included, among others, the reigning double World Champion, Nadine Capellmann; the four-time World Champion and Olympic gold medallist, Isabell Werth; as well as Nadia Zülow, many-time World and European Vaulting Champion.

"No building is more symbolic for Germany than the Brandenburg Gate," said Klaus Pavel, President of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e.V. (ALRV), the WEG organisers. Therefore, "there is no better place, to show what we will experience at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Germany for Germany."

In total 16 gold medals will be awarded between August 20th - September 3rd in the disciplines show-jumping, dressage, eventing, driving, endurance, vaulting and reining. 500,000 visitors will be travelling to Aachen, around one third of them will come from abroad. Just under 1,500 journalists will be reporting on the World Championships, TV images will be broadcast in 140 countries and national television will be dedicating approximately 60 hours to the event.



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